Chapter 24

After Paul's colleagues leave, Dawn and him lay back down on the bed. Even though Dawn has a lot of questions, she's exhausted, and she can tell Paul is very annoyed at the situation. Maybe she'll ask him tomorrow when they're more awake and refreshed. "Paul?" Dawn asks into the night.

"Hm?"

"Can I hold your hand?"

"You haven't asked for permission before. Why are you asking now?"

This makes her blush, and she grabs his hand in hers. "Thanks." Eventually, the blushing Dawn falls asleep, but Paul can't.

His heart beat is starting to slow down while his blush cools; however, he can't let her get hurt. For some reason, he cares about her, and he hates it because now she's his weakness! Damn it, Paul! Nevertheless, he'll protect her. He'll protect her with his life since she doesn't deserve all this suffering. This life isn't for her, and he's already pissed that she's so involved. Gosh, this troublesome woman always does as she pleases without thinking of the consequences.

Although Paul is exhausted, he can't fully fall asleep. The slightest movement or sound wakes him, so when Dawn moves into his chest, he wakes up. Blushing profusely, he looks down at her blissful white face. How can this woman sleep so peacefully while someone placed a hit on her a few days ago? Yes, the hit was called off, but one can never trust gangsters.

Dawn is so small compared to him. She fits snugly in his arms, and Paul just wants to keep her there. He just wants to keep her safe in his arms. Heck, he just wants to keep her safe in general. But now that junior has his eyes on her, there's nowhere she can escape to. The only place he trusts is wherever he is. However, he goes to some pretty dangerous places, so even he isn't safe for her.

Sighing, Paul wraps his arms around her tighter. If he dies tonight, he's fine with it. The only thing keeping him alert is that he doesn't want her to die. Eventually, Paul closes his eyes and falls asleep. Of course, he wakes up every few minutes due to Dawn's breathing getting his attention.

By morning, Paul has given up on sleeping, so he just chooses to watch the snoozing woman in his arms. She really is beautiful. How is she single? How could all these men in her past treat her poorly? Stop, Paul. Why should he care? He shouldn't care. But he fucking does! He cares about Ash, and he cares about this troublesome woman. And he can't even protect them!

As Paul is deep in thought, Dawn opens her eyes. She sees black, but it's not still night time, is it? And it's very warm around her. What's this weight on her? She slowly looks up to see Paul's frowning face, which makes her quickly back away with a deep blush. How did she end up in his arms? How long was she there? Why didn't he do anything? Did he do anything?

He now obviously glares at her before getting off the bed. Paul shouldn't care about her or Ash, but he does, and she knows that. Even if he never said anything to her, he knows she can read him like a book. Does he like that though? Paul doesn't like talking, so it does save him a lot of words if she just knows what he's thinking. But does he mind that she can figure him out? "Let's go, troublesome."

Their day is spent the same as the previous one, with Paul also training Dawn. Fortunately for Paul, he's good at being emotionless, so he's able to focus throughout the day. He's also used to the physical contact he has with Dawn; thus, he's unfazed by her in his arms. Of course his heart still pounds from her, but that's not important right now.

After the two shower for dinner, Dawn cooks it. Paul enjoys her cooking, and if they weren't scared for her life right now, he'd be very content with keeping everything as it is. Gosh, he can't wait for all of this to be over so he and her can figure out what to do together. She does like him too, so maybe it'll work? Paul can't see himself without her anymore.

"What am I gonna do about work tomorrow?" she asks while eating.

"We'll find out after the meeting tonight."

"You said I can't use my phone. I need to inform my boss that I'm okay. Kenny will freak out if I don't show up tomorrow." Dawn knowingly tells him, which annoys Paul since she's talking about some other guy worrying about her.

Sitting back in his chair, he gives her a scowl. "Fine. Call in for the next week or two, and then turn your phone off again." Hayden Family hasn't tracked his phone yet, so he assumes she should be fine with a quick call. Plus, the Hayden Family is still on the manhunt for Leaf rather than a weak regular interior designer they can get later.

Giving him a smile that makes his heart skip a beat, Dawn says, "Thanks, Paul! No need to worry! I'll be quick!" she then places her empty plate in the sink before running off down the hall.

Paul sighs and follows to make sure she stays safe because they are supposed to be sticking around each other right now. He watches from the doorway of the bedroom as she makes the call to her boss. Obviously Dawn is on the phone for a while trying to quell Zoey's worries and convince her that Dawn is just taking an impromptu vacation. Dawn shoots Paul a smile as she finishes talking to Zoey, which makes Paul shake his head with a chuckle. This troublesome woman is always so bubbly. She's nothing like him, but they somehow mesh so well.

When Dawn finishes her call, she turns off her phone and skips over to the amused man at the door. Looking up into his grey eyes, she grins. "Thanks, Paul!"

"Sure." He mutters nonchalantly and grabs her hand to lead her back to the kitchen where his unfinished second helping is.

Dawn rolls her eyes while washing the dishes. "You're cuter when you smile and laugh." She recalls his chuckle earlier, which shows his little dimple.

"My looks shouldn't be your concern right now."

"I'm just making small talk." Dawn shrugs. "Unless you want me to ask about your relationship with Leaf?" Groaning, the man just shoves another bite of food in his mouth. However, Dawn's interest is piqued, so she turns to face him now that she's done with the dishes. "Are you guys a thing?"

"I'm not a thing with anyone."

"But she was flirting with you."

"She flirts with everyone!" Paul isn't sure why he's even entertaining this conversation with her, but it is very annoying. "Stop being troublesome!"

Glaring at him, she asks, "Is that why you don't like me? Because you're with her?" The woman then thinks about all the contact she's had with Paul, making her feel guilty for trying to court a taken man.

"Leaf and I used to be coworkers! That's it!" The irritated Paul looks into her midnight blue eyes as he's just finished his food, and he's not in the mood for this stupid argument.

"It seems like she likes you!"

"She's a flirt!"

"Do you like that?"

"I like you!"

Dawn's arms fall to her side at this confession. With her mouth slightly open in shock, she just stares at the man whose face is now starting to turn red at realizing the words that had escaped his mouth. Gosh, this troublesome woman always gets him to do and say things unlike him!

Standing abruptly, Paul turns away from her in embarrassment. Now is not the time for any of this, and as much as he wants to run and hide, he can't leave her out of his sight. Anything can happen, so he opts to just avert his gaze. Paul wishes an assassin would just kill him right now though because this is the most uncomfortable he's ever been.

Unfortunately for him, Dawn slowly approaches him until she's directly in front of him. Although she'd like to ask him to repeat himself, Dawn knows he won't. Paul doesn't talk much to begin with, especially about his feelings. She, instead, opts for bringing out a soft hand to move his face to meet her eyes. With a warm smile on her lips as she gazes into his confused grey orbs, Dawn tiptoes to close the space between them.

When Dawn's soft lips touch his, Paul can't help but kiss her back while he wraps his arms around her. All the stress these past two months have been worth it since it meant he got to meet this woman. As Paul melts into the kiss, his thoughts and worries are forgotten due to the euphoria he's feeling. This troublesome woman always brings out a different Paul that even he didn't know was inside of him. However, Paul doesn't mind. She can do whatever she wants to him because he likes her.

Soon, they make out along their way to the bedroom where Dawn pushes Paul onto the bed. She's liked him for so long, and he's done a lot for her; thus, her feelings for him are very strong. It's okay for her to give into her desires, right? Paul isn't like her exes, and Dawn has grown from those experiences. She isn't the same Dawn anymore because of this man right here. He's made her stronger as well as made her realize her worth.

Once Paul's shirt is off, Dawn can't help but feel those muscles she's always wanted to touch. Whenever her and Paul would train together, he would wear a shirt, so she never touched too much of his skin. The two continue to kiss with Dawn on top of Paul, but when she tugs on his sweatpants, he instantly freezes.

Shoving Dawn off to the other side of the bed, the flushed man sits up and grabs his shirt, much to her dismay. "Paul-"

"No." He cuts her off without looking in her direction. Running a hand through his hair once his shirt is back on, Paul sighs in frustration. What the heck is he thinking? This is not the time for this! Gosh, Paul! He needs to stop losing control of himself, but it proves harder the longer he spends time with Dawn. As much as he enjoyed the kiss and where everything was leading, Paul cannot take this risk.

Although Dawn feels rejected that Paul stopped them, she's now thinking with a level head. With a dark blush on her cheeks, she sits up and avoids looking at him. C'mon, Dawn! She's not an emotional high schooler anymore, so she needs to stop acting like one! It was just, hearing he likes her too made her so excited. And then when she saw that blush on his cheeks after confessing, she just wanted to kiss him. Once he kissed her back, she lost control as her emotions took over. "Thanks for stopping me, Paul."

He nods, even though she isn't looking. Paul is glad he stopped them though because if she had managed to completely strip him, he's not sure he could've controlled himself. Them being together is way too dangerous, so they need to be careful. As much as Paul would've loved to continue doing things with Dawn, his brain is telling him no. And Paul's brain has gotten him this far for a reason; thus, he will trust it.

"C'mon. I need to wash my plate." He reminds her in hopes of leaving the room and the dangerous bed they're both currently on.

"Oh yeah." Dawn nervously smiles as she follows him out of the room. His touch and his lips still linger on her, which makes her blush more. It was very different compared to when he touches her during training. He was a lot more gentle and sensual. Since Dawn's face continues to heat up, she mentally curses herself to stop thinking about the last couple of minutes.

Drew's Apartment

May picks up the phone call from her mother that she shouldn't be getting. About a month ago, she told her family back in Hoenn to hide, and she hasn't heard from them since. Why are they calling her now? Are they getting restless and want to know that they're safe now? Well, they're not safe, so she'll need to tell them to stay in hiding and to turn off their electronics again.

When May doesn't hear anyone speak on the other end, she takes a deep breath to say something first. "Hello?"

"Oh, May!" hearing her mother's frantic voice relieves and panics May at the same time because she at least knows her mom is safe. However, why does she sound so scared? Drew gives May a curious gaze since the two are sitting on the couch together. He had hugged May to sleep last night, which makes him blush as he remembers waking up with her in his arms. Despite his confession last night, they are still able to work professionally, and Drew appreciates how May hasn't let his feelings cloud her focus on the mission. Although, Drew knows it was very selfish of him for confessing.

"What's wrong, mom!"

"Your father!" there's sobbing on the other end, which makes May stand up in fright.

What about her father? What happened? Isn't Hayden Family supposed to be focused on Leaf right now? Drew worriedly gets up to stand beside the fearful woman. "Mom…"

When the sobbing doesn't stop, May hears it getting distant before a new deeper voice is on the phone. "Dad's in the hospital! Someone shot him last night!" The angry voice of her younger brother pipes through the phone. "What the heck are you involved with, sis?"

Her father was shot? Is he okay? How bad is it? Why? All May wanted to do was work with computers! She never wanted this dangerous lifestyle, and her family never raised her to be involved with it. She really should've just stayed back in Hoenn rather than come out to Sinnoh for the big tech job at Hayden Corporation. Had she known of their criminal activities, she would've never accepted the job.

Seeing the tears flowing down her face causes Drew to envelope the woman in a hug as she weeps into his chest. With her now closer to him, he hears a voice on the other end of the phone that sounds too deep to be a woman's. It must not be May's mother! Has Hayden Family gotten to her family already? Drew quickly grabs the phone from her hand, but May isn't putting up any fight while crying into his chest.

"Leave the Maples alone or I will kill you myself!" exclaims the angry man.

"Who are you?" the male voice asks angrily.

"It doesn't matter. Release Mrs. Maple now." Drew seriously responds, which upsets him because he knows his family is the reason why May's is suffering. This is why they need to be stopped!

The furious man holds onto the brunette tighter, and she squeaks out, "He's my brother, Drew."

Drew's demeanor softens from her voice, like it always does, and he sighs. Speaking back into the phone, he says, "I promise I'll protect your family, especially May."

"I don't trust you. She said your name is Drew? Just who are you and what have you gotten my sister involved in?" comes the shout.

With a shaky hand, May grabs the phone back before Drew can answer; however, she stays in his embrace. "Max, take care of mom and dad, okay? I'll visit as soon as I can."

"May…"

"Max!" May really doesn't want any scolding from her younger brother. Plus, she needs to focus on hacking into those cameras so that all of this can end before anyone else gets injured.

Sighing, Max responds, "Fine. Dad's in critical condition and we have a lot of officers with us at the hospital. You better visit soon! And stay out of trouble! That Drew guy sounds like trouble." The call ends, and May hugs Drew tightly before pulling away to return to her laptop.

He gives her a confused and concerned look because she was just sobbing in his arms. Now, May is sniffling while typing furiously on her computer. "May, are you okay?"

She furiously shakes her head but her gaze remains on the laptop. "They came for my family, Drew, so I'm coming for them." Her angry tone shocks him, though Drew can't help but smirk at this tough woman. Despite not knowing how to fight, she has shown to be a great adversary. Moreover, she's his strength, so he'll do anything for her. While May is focusing on hacking into the cameras, Drew trains to stay in shape for the moment they implement their plan.

Somewhere

"Please tell me you guys haven't slept together." Misty groans since she's endured enough of watching the two flirt.

Since Misty wants nothing to do with Leaf, Gary has been tending to the assassin's wounds. Leaf still blushes and puts up a slight fight when Gary treats the wound under her chest, but he has a better view of it than her. Plus, if he ever tries anything, which she knows he won't, Leaf knows she can easily fight him off. Currently, Gary and Leaf are engaged in playful banter, and this obviously involves a lot of flirting between the two.

"Don't be jealous, Red." Gary winks in Misty's direction, making her roll her eyes.

"I knew I should've left last night." The three are currently in an abandoned building a ways from Paul's, but Gary suggested that the further they are from Paul, then the better in case something happens.

"You can still leave." Leaf tells the former detective who glares at her.

"I don't get why you're working with her?" Misty says to Gary who sighs.

"Ladies, we can fight over me after all of this is over."

"I don't want you." Misty narrows her eyes at the man.

Smirking, Leaf replies, "Good. I need him to be my decoy." Gary rolls his eyes at her comment.

Misty knowingly tells him, "See. You're just a tool to her!"

"I'm using her too, Misty! She's the reason I'm still alive!"

"Because she hasn't killed you yet!"

"Hello. I'm still here." Leaf chimes in, but the two are too heated in their argument.

"She won't!"

"What makes you say that? Once a killer, always a killer!"

"Because she killed my sister!" Gary exclaims in frustration while his heart aches. Ever since he and Leaf started traveling together, he has been trying to ignore the fact that she killed Daisy. He hasn't said it due to the confliction it brings him, but he had to say it now to Misty.

"All the more reason why you shouldn't be working with her!" Misty knowingly shouts at him. Leaf has gone silent as she awkwardly avoids looking at them. The guilt she feels for killing Daisy has grown immensely since she's been traveling with Gary.

"Look, Misty! I know she won't kill me, so drop it! We're all gonna have to work together to rescue your friend!" Leaf can't help but blush at hearing Gary defend her. Even though she's never told him she isn't going to kill him, he believes she won't. That's either blind trust or he can really understand her.

Throwing her hands up in defeat, Misty groans. "Fine! But I'm not saving you if she decides to kill you."

Sighing, Gary replies, "She won't, so don't worry about it."

"Are you guys done yet?" Leaf annoyedly asks since her blush has cooled. Gary's face flushes as he remembers she was here the whole time and heard everything, but Misty just shrugs.

Walking out of the room, the raven haired woman says, "Flirt all you want." As much as Misty doesn't trust or like Leaf, Gary is right. They need everyone they can get, especially with Leaf being the best fighter. Besides, if Leaf cares about Ash enough to have not killed Misty two weeks ago, then Misty can at least trust the assassin on that fact. Misty can't wait to kill that dense childhood friend of hers.

Paul's Second House

"You're sleeping on the ground tonight?" Dawn asks the man setting up his pillow and blanket. As much as she likes sleeping in the same bed as him, Dawn knows they shouldn't after today's incident. Plus, they'll be having guests in a couple of hours, so she doesn't want them to get caught doing anything.

"Yes." his deep voice makes her really want to pull him onto the bed like she had earlier. Stop it, Dawn! "Stop being troublesome."

"You know my name." she glares at him in the dark room.

"Troublesome suits you better."

"You're a prunehead."

He chuckles, which makes Dawn wish she could see that cute dimple of his. "Get some sleep before they come."

Hours later, Paul instantly wakes up to hit away the gun pulled near his head. "You've gotten better, Paulie." smirks the assassin as Misty turns on the light with Gary following inside. Dawn groggily gets up from the light and notices the three new arrivals.

Groaning, Paul sits up from the ground to glare at them. "I was expecting you, so it wasn't fair." He's still upset that Leaf got him last night since Paul Shinji really shouldn't be losing his edge.

"Always so tough on yourself." Leaf snickers as she puts her gun away.

"Stop teasing him." Gary frowns.

"Aw. Are you jealous?"

"He has a girlfriend, Leaf." the auburn haired man knowingly refers to Dawn who is blushing immensely while wearing Paul's clothes.

"She's not my girlfriend." exasperates Paul.

"We're uh...friends." Dawn smiles nervously.

"I have no friends." Paul gruffly says, which causes Dawn to hit his shoulder.

"We're friends! I'm Dawn by the way." the bluenette tells them because she didn't get a chance to introduce herself last night. Misty had heard of Dawn from May and Drew, so she smiles at the woman.

Leaf and Gary, though, have no idea why Dawn is here. "You're not in the Hayden Family." The assassin notes aloud.

"Uh. I found Ash's stuff and sort of managed to get myself involved."

"Because you're troublesome." Paul narrows his eyes at her, causing her to stick her tongue out at him.

"My name is Dawn!"

"You guys are gonna get found with all this yelling!" exclaims a deep voice walking into the room. The group look over to see Drew and May, making Paul groan.

"How are you all able to get into here without me knowing?"

"Your security sucks, Paul." May nonchalantly responds, but it makes sense since Paul never comes here. He has basic security just to make sure petty thieves stay out, but it's no match for someone of May's caliber.

Dawn pulls Paul's arm so that he's sitting on the bed with her, and everyone else gets comfortable. "So everyone's here." She smiles at the group.

"And alive." Misty mutters.

"Chin up, Red. We'll find your boyfriend too." Gary grins, which makes her blush.

"He's not my boyfriend!"

"Whatever you say." he snickers, earning him a glare from Misty.

Drew, tired of the arguments, and also just tired, says, "We got news, guys."

This gets everyone's attention as May types away on her laptop. She then turns the screen to them with a grin plastered across her face. "Found the secret stairway." The group looks to see security footage of a large office with a man pulling a candle as a lever. The fireplace then moves to reveal the man descending into it before the fireplace moves back into place.

"You got into the cameras!" Dawn excitedly exclaims because she's proud of May. The bluenette has grown to trust May and Drew a lot since they have been kind to her. Plus, Paul seems to like them too.

Drew swings an arm around May's neck, making her blush. "If anyone can do it, it's May!" After the phone call with her family, May had been working hard to get into the cameras. She even declined food, which is very un-May-like, but Drew forced her to eat throughout the day. When May finally found the cameras and hacked into them, the two were ecstatic, causing Drew to almost kiss her.

Smirking at everyone, Leaf says, "Good. I have a plan."

As Leaf explains her plan, the group provides input as well as people stepping up for certain roles and teams. Misty can't help but smile at all of these people willing to risk their lives just to rescue Ash. That dumbass really must be magical to be friends with different people in a gang, and he always gets her to forgive him just by his damn goofy smile. Misty can trust these people because Ash trusts them, right? Plus, they're going to such great lengths for him. "I like it, Leaf."

Since Misty has never said her name or anything nice to her, the assassin gives her a surprised look. Soon, though, Leaf grins at her. "Thanks! And you'll be the first one Ash sees."