Both men heard that soft vocalization and stopped talking, their gazes snapping toward the bedroom.<i>Great,</i>Andreas thought,<i>now he’s going to have the wrong idea.</i>Not that it was necessarily all wrong, because there was definitely the fact that he’d used Alex to carry out the hit, and he couldn’t deny that it had been his goal from the start.  That was why he’d ended up in that damned club.  He’d gone there with the purpose of picking up that pretty face and getting past the security.  Andreas had just never counted on finding out how sick and twisted things were at home.<br/><br/>Compassion wasn’t something he normally risked.  People were terrible, evil things that didn’t deserve it, anyway.  But when he’d found out those dark secrets concerning the Tramdan family, he knew that Alex was different.  Being near him, watching him, hearing his hopes and fears only shone light on how innocent he was.  And yes, there were strong parallels between what they had both gone through, even if Andreas’ past was more brutal.  Even for him, it was hard not to feel for that gorgeous man.<br/><br/>“Stay out of sight,” he grumbled at the Italian.  There was no guarantee the oversized assassin would listen, but at least his own preferences were known.  “Alex?” he called, already hearing the water coming from the bathroom.  He tucked the envelope under his arm to free up a hand, the other still holding his guy, and knocked.  When no immediate answer came, he reached for the doorknob.  Locked?  Big surprise.  “Your paperwork is here.”<br/><br/>Andreas licked his lips and sighed.  Was honesty the best policy?  He wasn’t all that great with being up front about anything, let alone what was going on in his mind.  His past was all part of it, and he was still a little surprised with himself that he’d spilled so much about it to Alex.  That was probably one of the reasons he’d made it as far as he had with the pretty thing, though.  He’d been relatable.<br/><br/>“Listen… I know you must have heard some things,” he began.  “I wanted to wait to tell you so you could heal and have some fun.  I’ll explain everything.  Just… open the door.”