by Eva Gordon
“And your mother?”
“Mom and Stepdad were killed in a car crash a year ago.” Why am I telling this complete stranger my story? It’s not like I’m under the influence of truth serum. To think she tried contacting Howard before the funeral. It was as though he’d disappeared from the face of the world. He only found out recently and begged for forgiveness. On what she thought her deathbed, she forgave him for missing her mother’s funeral.
“Sorry.”
“My last home was with a boyfriend I broke up with five months ago, so I didn’t really have any other place to go.” She bit her lip. Why can’t I shut my mouth?
Lev frowned and pressed his thick thumb over her lower lip, then as quickly released it. “Will you make a full recovery?”
“My liver has improved, but now it’s just the fatigue. I lost twenty pounds. I’ve gained five back. I hope to return to normal soon.”
His voice grew stern. “I forbid you to go back.”
Rachel frowned. “Excuse me?” Maybe due to his limited understanding of the English language he confused the word “forbid” with “should not.” He didn’t mean to be bossy or did he?
“The risk is too great.”
“Not that it’s any of your concern, but I’m not allowed anyway. I have a price on my head.”
He narrowed his eyes and stared into nothing as if angered that someone wanted her dead. He turned to her. “Good, we agree. There are plenty of hospitals here that will hire you.”
“No, we don’t agree. To be honest, I’m not sure what my plans are, but I’m not working for some bureaucracy.” Who the hell did this macho dominant man think he was telling her what to do? And why did part of her feel compelled to obey him? Just because he was the hottest all-man hunk she’d ever met didn’t mean she should be so freakin’ submissive. And yet if he asked her to get on her knees and pleasure him, she’d obey.
Lev took her hand and gazed into her eyes with those feral gray-blue eyes. “You are a brave woman.” His warm lips gently kissed her cold hand, warming her heart and feminine parts dormant for much too long. Her panties shamelessly soaked from being in his presence. Heck, even her nipples pressed against her layered clothing, tingling in anticipation of his lips licking, biting, sucking. Geez, Ebola must have damaged my brain.
Why did she want this enigmatic, much too dominant, strange man? Not her type. Sure, she fantasized about brawny guys with Greek god bodies, but for long term she favored older brainy guys. Equal outside and inside the bedroom. A man like him went after hot supermodels. No, most likely strippers. Yet, he moved to kiss her. Apparently, he didn’t care one least bit she had been an Ebola patient, or that she wore pajamas and looked gaunt. Not to mention her lack of makeup and displaying the mother of all bad hair days. Her thick blonde curls probably made her look like Goldilocks and Medusa’s love child.
Howard’s car pulled up just at the moment Lev’s mouth almost made contact with hers. Lev stood and backed away as if worried she might still be contagious, or that she was the farmer’s daughter and dad brandished a shotgun. He straightened his black leather coat. “Your father is here.”
Boy was he off about what Howard was like. “Umm. Good. I’m sure he’ll be happy to see you.” Howard had not been around to catch her making out on the couch as a teenager. Her stepfather had been there for that teen scene. He’d taken her first boyfriend, Steve, to another room and had the treat-my-daughter-with-respect-or-else talk.
The door opened, and Howard glared at Lev. “What the hell are you doing here?”
Rachel had only seen her father look worried during her bout with Ebola. But never this pissed off. What was Howard thinking?
Her heart raced. Oh, shit. Had Lev been paid to bring her back to Africa? The militant who thought she died vowed to behead her on hearing she and the girls had survived. No. Lev made her feel safe. She was being paranoid. And so was Howard. “Chill, he brought you a gift.”
Howard lowered his gaze as if Lev had some leverage over him. As if he was some freakin’ king who required obedience and respect. Yeah, I felt that, too. “You should have called first.”
“You are right, Dr. Becker. Apologies.”
Howard turned to her as she lay on the sofa with her head propped up by pillows. “You should not have come down.”
“I’m feeling much better.” She wanted to add, even turned on, but thought better of it.
Her father ignored her and checked her pulse. “Wait here. I’ll give you a thorough examination after I have a private conversation with my friend.”
Not former patient? Interesting. “Did you see what Lev brought you?” She pointed her chin toward the samovar.
Howard smiled. “Beautiful.”
“I thought you might like it,” Lev grinned.
“Come, we’ll talk in my office.”
No matter how wrong it was, Lev missed being away from Rachel. Even if she lay in the living room, steps away from the closed office door. “I’m sorry, again, my friend. My intention was to show my gratitude, not cause you distress.”
Becker gestured for him to sit and then poured them both a glass of brandy. “I take it you didn’t tell Commander Rylee you were making a surprise visit?”
He took the glass. “No. If she knew, she’d have more than a few words with me.”
“Only Rylee and Selene know about Rachel.”
“You have a brave daughter. It is not every day I meet a human who survived both Boko Haram terrorists and Ebola.”
Becker sighed. “And the scars of a father who abandoned her and her mother to join werewolf society.”
The ordeal of almost losing his only child had aged Becker. His hair and beard were now more white than gray. His face bore additional wrinkles than the last time Lev saw him. As though he too had suffered from Ebola.
“I, for one, am grateful you saved my life. I owe you a life debt.” He lifted the glass. “To our health and to Rachel’s.”
Becker drained his. “Good news is her boss no longer wants her stationed in West Africa. The militant, a man only known as Yusuf, wishes to behead her. We tried to keep all her contact information from the media.
“You should have sent a werewolf team.”
“Our Navy Seal team did fine without werewolf involvement.” He shook his head. “Anyway, I didn’t know what was going on until after her rescue.”
“So this terrorist, Yusuf, where is he?”
“In hiding. He’s not the big fish, but he’s the one who means to murder Rachel.”
“How is her recovery coming?”
“Slow. I told Rylee I’d be back in another month, but it depends.”
“My bite can help speed her recovery.”
“Damn it. She’s got Stallo’s blood. I can’t let you, or any werewolf become addicted to her blood.”
“I have control.”
He snorted. “Like Dominic had with Mia?”
The werewolf enforcer had chosen Mia, a human as a mate, but in the end because she was Stallo’s descendant the pack allowed their union. “They are married and accepted.”
“Power to them, but not for my daughter. She must never know of your kind.”
His heart clenched. “I understand.”
Becker relaxed. “Selene says you are completely back to normal.” He laughed. “That is, your normal. Super strength and speed.”
“Thanks to you, Dr. Becker.”
“Please, it’s Howard.”
“Very well, Howard.”
“Are you returning to Russia?”
“No. I will temporarily move to LIA headquarters until I find my own place.”
“So you decided to join Team Greywolf?”
“Yes, but I still enjoy being a lone wolf. Rylee understands my need for privacy.” Away from their tactless jokes about his Chernobyl origins. One more crack about his glow in the dark cock and he would break necks.
Dr. Becker stood and bowed. “Once I return to HQ, we’ll share some vodka.”
He obviously couldn’t hide his veiled impatience to get him to leave. Lev smiled. “Let me know, if you need anything.”
“I only need you to stay away from Rachel.”
Lev’s heart hardened with wolfish rage. As grateful as he was to the doctor for saving his life, that was a request he couldn’t promise. In fact, his gratitude to the good doctor was all that stood in front of his enraged wolf, who he’d unknowingly challenged. Lev and his wolf fought for supremacy. “Don’t worry, my friend.”
“Good. Will you return to Montana then?”
“Perhaps soon. I think I’m in the mood for a vacation. Somewhere warm. A little heat will be good for me.”
Lev walked past where Rachel had fallen asleep. The temptation to steal her away and bite her soft throat to deliver healing saliva nearly overwhelmed him. Yet, once he tasted her blood there would be no going back. She’d be his forever. He quietly closed the door.
As he got in the car, his keen ears heard her ask her father where he’d gone. He waited for his answer.
“Lev went home. He won’t be back.”
Lev’s heart tugged as he pulled out of the driveway and onto the road. Not until Rachel is safe. And then I will not betray you, my friend. I will stay away.
Chapter 2
Rachel put her cell phone away and continued her hike down a popular well-travelled trail. Her muscles had made a remarkable comeback and she jogged the last two miles. She took in the fresh crisp morning air and smiled. Back to her old pre-Ebola self. Odd, her health had improved the day after her father’s enigmatic Russian friend, Lev, paid him a visit. Just thinking about him re-charged her. All the time, thinking of mysterious Lev. His rough fingers’ gentle touch, his alpha-male physique, his deep attractive Russian accent had melted her to the bone. Had he somehow sexually charged her into getting better?
At the top of the hill, she stopped to catch her breath. What am I thinking? I’m a physician. Illogical to think his presence sped up her recovery. Despite his visit, her body had already started to mend. Nonetheless, every night, she had erotic thoughts and dreams about the drop dead gorgeous mystery man she’d only met once, and for no more than thirty minutes. Thinking about having sex with him along with minimal self-stimulation had brought her to explosive orgasms. She shook her head and returned to a slow jog. Not even her ex-fiancé had driven her to sexual frenzy like Lev. Must be some repressed sexual issue. Her girlfriends bragged of being tigers in the bedroom, but not her. More like a sleepy kitten. Rachel enjoyed brief sexual sensation and then falling into a deep sleep.
Her former kitten persona now awoke as a tigress ready for action. Was Lev a secret Russian agent trained in mind control? Had he implanted some trigger before leaving? Jerk, probably didn’t even give me a second thought.
Rachel entered the cabin through the mudroom and took off her running shoes. She’d told Howard, she would be gone for a couple hours. She headed to her father’s office. She paused in front of the shut door. He only closed the office door when talking on his cell phone. Probably to that mysterious woman he never cared to talk about.
Like a cat sneaking toward a mouse, she stealthily listened.
“Don’t worry, love. I promise.”
Rachel narrowed her eyes. His lover. The woman named Selene. She’d overheard him talking to her while she rested in the hospital. At the time, he must have thought she slept, because once she reached consciousness, he never called Selene in front of her. Her heart clenched. Howard must have loved her mother like that. Her parents had married when he first entered medical school. Five months later, she’d been born. Talk about stressful.
“Yes, she’s much better. I’ll return by the end of the month,” said Howard.
Rachel smirked. Don’t stay on my account. Who knows? Based on the news her boss told her, she would be safe if she returned to her old post in West Africa. Although, he was adamant, she’d be re-assigned elsewhere.
“No. I don’t want her to stay here. Somehow, I need to convince her to move, maybe to California or even Florida. It breaks my heart, but the farther away the better.”
Breaks his heart. Yeah, right. Can’t wait to get away. No problem. Maggie said I could stay at her place. Maybe she should leave today. Not being a burden for one more second.
“Her safety comes first.”
Huh? Rachel cocked her head. Safety? It’s not like she’d return to West Africa anytime soon. Why did he think leaving her alone here in Portland unsafe? He didn’t seem worried she left to take a jog. Did he really think terrorists from West Africa would hunt her down here? In the scheme of things, she was not that important. Although, he might think so.
“No way in hell am I going to let a warden keep an eye on her. Not after the scare Lev gave me when he caught her scent.”
Warden? A game warden or a prison warden? And what did he mean by Lev catching her scent. He wanted to seduce her, which he did, though it never reached fruition. Still, he made it sound creepy. Was Howard insane or speaking in code? Tempted to open the door and ask him, she instead focused on listening.
“I came so close to losing her, I’m glad I did it. Okay. If anybody can erase our connection, Jesper and Cricket can.”
Was he talking about people or pet dogs? Code names, no doubt. Did he belong to some secret government operation? Mysterious calls, an over the top handsome Russian visitor and a rich benefactor to fly her home on a private plane confirmed her premise; Howard was a super spy. Intrigued and horrified, she understood why he’d been an absent father.
“I love you, too.”
Okay, her cue to tip toe back to the mudroom. She closed the door, waited a few minutes and then loudly banged it open and shouted, “Howard, I’m back.”
He walked out of his office. “How was the hike?”
“Refreshing.”
“Were there a lot of people on the trail?”
“It’s Saturday, everyone and their dog was out there.” She smiled. “Why? Afraid I might get mugged?”
He stiffened, but then waved his hand dismissively. “Of course not.”
So he did worry about her here in mundane Oregon. Not that bad things never happened here. Serial killers and other nuts occasionally struck, but not Boko Haram death squads or deadly viruses. Rachel opened the refrigerator and took out a pitcher of filtered water. She poured a glass and drank half of it. “By the way, while on my hike I got a call from my regional boss. Kind of weird, but it should bring you some comfort about my new enemies.”
He slowly sat. “Good to know, what about?”
“Yusuf and his terrorist thugs.”
“Go on.”
“Seems like a lion, at least one, mauled Yusuf and his men to death.”
“Lion?”
“Yeah, considering there are less than thirty wild lions left in Nigeria, what are the odds, right? One lion killing at least forty men is impossible, especially considering they all had assault weapons.”
His brow furrowed. “Sounds like it was staged to look like a lion attack. Perhaps by a black ops group or even the army.”
“That’s what I thought, but knowing the army, they would love bragging rights for killing them.” Rachel took out her mobile from her hoodie pocket and showed him the images she’d been sent. “This was no machete slaughter.” Her father once served as an army doctor, so she’d no qualms sharing the gross photos of the gutted mauled men. Nonetheless, he blanched as if he’d seen a ghost rather than a gory scene.
Howard slowly shook his head. “A pride of lions, maybe, but not one.”
“There were witnesses. Kidnapped women in a tent witnessed the attack.”
“They saw the lion do this?”
“They heard him roar and growl amidst gunfire. A single lion. The women being held prisoner were not mauled. The beast targeted only the Boko Haram, even the ones who hid in other tents and the two who tried to drive away. The locals think a powerful witchdoctor cast a juju spell.” She skipped to the last pic
ture. “The last time I saw something like this was a horror movie about a werewolf.”
Howard swallowed. “Nonsense.” He stared at the scene and zoned out.
“Huh? You mean about the lion attack?”
“I meant this lion must have been trained to kill.”
“Actually, that makes sense if it weren’t so illogical. Not only would it have been shot, but locating Yusuf’s hideaway had been impossible. Why bother sending a trained lion instead of a military drone once the elusive terrorists were discovered?”
“That would have cost the innocent hostages their lives.” Howard got up and poured himself a cup of coffee.
“Good point, but…”
“Whoever or whatever killed Yusuf and his terrorists made your life and the lives of others safer.” He sat back down and sighed. “Still, have you considered another post?”
“I’m thinking about it. There’s some talk about Haiti, but nothing solid. I actually need time to see what I want to do. Maybe practicing in the states is not such a bad thing.”
Howard raised a brow. “Good.” He frowned. “About this cabin…you can stay, but…I had planned on renting it out.”
She took the hint. “Maggie has an extra room and she said I can stay with her as long as I want. Until I figure things out.”
“Your friend in Florida?”
“Lived in Florida. Last summer, she inherited her grandmother’s home in the French Quarter of New Orleans and decided to move in.” She met Maggie, a Doctors without Borders nurse, in Africa. Maggie now worked most of the year in Haiti. Though they weren’t related, she and Maggie looked like sisters, almost twins. Same long golden blonde curly locks and slim build. Maggie had blue eyes, though, while Rachel had amber eyes. During a need for a doctor, many had grabbed Maggie thinking she was Dr. Becker.
His mood lightened and he chuckled. “If you don’t mind noise.”
“She lives in a quieter section of the quarter, but to be honest, I think it sounds like fun.” Having survived Ebola gave her a new perspective on enjoying life more. “Until I decide what to do.”
“That’s a great idea.”