The words hit Julius hard, snapping his mind back to the present. The freezing panic in his chest broke. He blinked away the tears and grabbed the edge of the old rug. With a hard tug, he pulled it back, exposing the small handle of the trapdoor hidden in the floorboards.

"I have it!" Julius choked out, coughing as the air grew thicker.

Harrison did not waste a second. He kept his large body positioned over Julius, firing two more shots down the hallway to keep the intruders back.

Anna scrambled over, her face tense. She grabbed the handle with Julius, and together they pulled with all their strength. The old wooden trapdoor swung open, revealing a dark, narrow opening that led straight down.

"Anna, go first!" Harrison ordered, his voice low and commanding.

Anna nodded once, slipping her weapon into her belt as she dropped down.

"Julius, move," Harrison said, his hand pressing firmly against Julius’s back.

Julius scrambled down the ladder, his boots finding the damp ground below. The air down here was cold, before he could even look up, Harrison’s massive frame came down the ladder behind him. Harrison pulled the trapdoor shut above them, locking it from the inside.

The tunnel was pitch-black and incredibly cramped. The ceiling was low, forcing Harrison to bend his tall frame significantly. The walls were narrow, pressing Harrison and Julius so close together that Julius could feel the rapid, heavy rise and fall of Harrison’s chest against his shoulder.

Harrison’s large hand immediately found Julius’s arm in the dark, his grip tight.

"Are you hurt?" Harrison whispered, his breath warm against Julius’s ear.

"No," Julius panted, his heart still drumming wildly against his ribs. "I am okay. Just shaken."

"Keep moving," Anna’s quiet voice came from a few feet ahead of them. "The tunnel leads toward the lake bank. We need to get out before they search the perimeter."

They walked quickly through the passage. After what felt like an eternity, a faint light appeared ahead. Anna pushed through a thick cluster of bushes and vines, stepping out into the cool morning air near the edge of the water. Julius and Harrison followed, crouching low in the tall grass.

The lake was completely still, but the peace of the morning was shattered when Julius heard a low, painful groan coming from a patch of brush a few feet away.

Harrison instantly raised his gun, stepping in front of Julius. "Who’s there?"

The bushes rustled weakly, and a blood-stained hand reached out. "Boss... it’s me."

"Daniel!" Julius gasped, rushing forward despite Harrison’s warning hand.

Daniel was lying in the dirt, his clothes covered in mud and blood. A deep bullet wound tore through his shoulder. Harrison dropped to one knee, his face dark with anger.

"What happened, Daniel?" Harrison asked, his voice a low rumble.

"They... they came out of nowhere, boss," Daniel panted, his teeth clenching from the pain. "No warning. No sound. They aren’t Arthur Vance’s men. Vance uses sloppy street thugs. These guys... they move like a real army. Highly trained mercenaries. They took out my men before we could even broadcast a warning."

Harrison’s eyes narrowed. "Can you walk?"

"I have to," Daniel grunted, gripping Harrison’s shoulder as he forced himself up. Anna immediately moved to his other side, letting Daniel lean his weight against her shoulder.

"We need to move," Harrison said, looking back at the smoking cottage. "They will find the trapdoor soon. Follow me."

They moved quickly through the deep woods, keeping away from the main road. Hidden behind an old abandoned shed was a plain, old black truck. Harrison jumped into the car opening the doors. Anna helped Daniel into the back seat, immediately tearing her sleeve to tie a tight bandage around his bleeding shoulder.

Harrison climbed into the driver’s seat, and Julius jumped into the front passenger side. The engine started with a low roar, and Harrison hit the gas, driving them away from the lake through a hidden path. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Two hours later, they arrived at one of the safe houses. It was a small, plain hidden in a quiet residential area, completely disconnected from any of Harrison’s main properties.

Anna immediately took Daniel to the back room to properly clean his wounds. The house became dead quiet, save for the sound of the wind outside.

Julius stood in the middle of the small guest bedroom, his hands shaking violently. He looked down at his clothes, which were covered in dust from the pantry and wet mud from the tunnel. The realization of what had happened was finally sinking in. His memory had been perfectly clear. He had been so sure. But the drive was gone, Daniel’s men were dead, and they had barely escaped with their lives.

The door to the bedroom clicked shut. Harrison stepped inside, removing his jacket and tossing it onto a chair. His dark eyes immediately locked onto Julius’s shaking frame.

"Julius," Harrison said softly, walking over.

"It’s my fault," Julius whispered, his voice cracking completely. He looked up at Harrison, tears finally spilling over his cheeks. "It’s all my fault. I was so sure, Harrison. I dragged you out there. I made you walk into a death trap when your core is still weak from last night. If you had died... if they had caught us..."

"Julius, stop," Harrison said, his voice deep and firm.

"No! The drive is gone!" Julius cried out, his chest heaving as the guilt consumed him. "Everything my father left behind, everything we needed to defeat Arthur — it’s not there. My mind must have messed it up. I ruined our only chance."

Harrison didn’t say another word. He closed the distance between them in one large step. His massive hands reached out, grabbing Julius’s waist and pulling him hard against his body. He guided Julius backward until Julius’s back hit the bedroom door with a soft thud.

"Look at me," Harrison commanded, his voice dark and heavy with raw emotion.

Julius looked up, his vision blurry with tears.

"The drive does not matter," Harrison rumbled, his dark eyes burning with an intense, possessive light. "The trap does not matter. The only thing that matters to me is that you are breathing. Do you understand me? You are alive. You are right here in front of me."

"You don’t get it Harrison, we lost some lives today. All because I messed things up, you cannot understand how I feel." Julius yelled out, his voice trembling a little.

Harrison looked at Julius, hating to see him like this, he looked so broken.

"I love you Julius. That’s all that matters, I know we lost some lives but I did not loose you, fuck it if the world is about to end. I will never loose you. Look at me baby." Harrison whispered, his voice completely vulnerable.

Julius looked at Harrison, his heart skipping from his words.

"Harrison..." Julius panted, the heat radiating from Harrison’s body making his head spin. The intense fear and adrenaline from the escape were suddenly twisting into something else.

Julius leaned closer to Harrison, "I need you right now," he whispered to him.

"I don’t think that’s what you need, baby." Harrison panted out, he was trying to fight the intense feeling now.

"I don’t want to think about all these...just keep shut." Julius whispered, pulling Harrison down and captured his mouth in a deep, bruising kiss.

It wasn’t gentle. It was filled with anger mixed with hunger. Harrison’s tongue slid into Julius’s mouth, claiming him completely.

Julius let out a soft groan in his throat. He pulled himself closer, arching his back to press his chest fully against Harrison.

Harrison’s large hands moved down from Julius’s waist, ripping the buttons of Julius’s shirt open in one tug. The buttons scattered across the floor. Harrison traced the line of his ribs, making Julius shiver against him.

"Harrison, please," Julius panted against his lips, his hips twitching forward, already feeling Harrison’s dick pressing tightly against his thigh through their trousers.

Harrison grunted low in his chest. He broke the kiss, his mouth sliding down Julius’s jawline to his neck. He bit softly at the sensitive skin right beneath Julius’s ear, making Julius gasp. Harrison’s wet tongue trailed lower, licking down the middle of his throat, tasting the sweat and heat of his skin.

"Let Daddy, taste you..huh." Harrison whispered low, his voice sounding deeper.

Before Julius could answer, Harrison grabbed him and carried him to the bed. Dropping him flat as Julius bounced back, his body was fucking turned on.

"Just watch me as I worship your body." Harrison whispered as he gets down on his knees close to the edge of the bed where Julius laid flat with his leg spread open.

Harrison pulled down his trousers and underwear. Julius dick sprung to life, he was fucking hard, already dripping with precum.

"Harrison...please." Julius moaned out as Harrison kept him still with his stare.

Harrison smirked at him, raising his legs to his shoulders, his eyes directly linked with Julius asshole that was clenching subconsciously.

Harrison without any warning, licked Julius asshole, sucking on that pink entry.

"Fucking hell... Harrison." Julius moaned out, his head falling back as he arched his back towards Harrison.

Julius let out a loud, shaky sob of pure pleasure, his fingers tangling tightly in Harrison’s thick dark hair as Harrison began to work his mouth smoothly up and down his asshole.

Harrison sucked him with a steady rhythm, his tongue swirling around the sensitive hole. He pushed his tongue deeper, making Julius’s knees weaken completely. Julius’ leg would have fallen to the floor if Harrison’s powerful arms weren’t holding his thighs up.

"Oh god, Harrison... I’m going to... I can’t," Julius whined, his hips bucking weakly into Harrison’s mouth as the pleasure reached a breaking point.

Harrison pulled away just in time, a low smirk on his face as he looked at Julius’s flushed, desperate face.

Julius looked up at him from the pillows, his eyes dark and heavy, his heart beating fast. "I want you inside me. Right now."

"I am going to take all your fear away, baby," Harrison whispered out, his voice thick.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​