Ivan arched a brow. “Just go inside and sit down. Keep your mouth shut.”
“Excuse me?” Devin’s voice rose.
Ivan pushed Lyons into the room and turned his attention back to the people in the hall. He nodded to an older looking woman and she smiled, entering the library.
Devin sat on one of the high backed chairs in the corner, far enough away as to not be a threat, but close enough to keep his eyes on Panchenko. An older lady came in and sat down on the love seat next to Andrei. Devin was especially glad he knew the Russian language. He listened in as the old woman told Andrei about her store and the problems she’d been having. Drug dealers had taken up a spot in front of her store, chasing away her customers. Panchenko listened, nodding his head now and then. Devin sat back in shock as Panchenko wrote her a check for her lost business and promised to take care of the drug dealers.
It went on and on. Four hours later, the line in the hall was gone and Devin sat back in the chair exhausted. He’d lost count of the amount of checks Panchenko had written. Where had this been in all his years of watching the man? He’d never seen the meetings with the people from town. Was this some show the man had put on for him? Devin stood up, excusing himself and hurried out of the mansion. He saw a van being loaded with all the people who had come to ask for help. He noticed the old lady and ran over to her.
“Ma’am?” Devin tried to smile as she turned to face him.
He asked in Russian how long people had been coming to the mansion. Devin held his mouth shut as she gave him an answer. He helped her into the van and waited for it to head down the long driveway. Devin stood in utter shock in the middle of the driveway. Ten years. Devin dragged his fingers through his hair. Who the fuck was Andrei Panchenko? Cold blooded killer? Philanthropist? Devin walked to the garden and sat down on the bench of the gazebo.
The Russian sun was dipping below the mountains, casting a glow over the frozen lake. Devin rubbed his face with his hands. Years he’d watched Panchenko, knew the cold blooded killer side of the man. He’d never seen the humanitarian side. Devin released a frustrated growl and thought back to his time in Russia. His assignment had been infiltrating a human trafficking ring. That was when he’d seen Alphonse Rizzo - along with his brother, Carmine, and Borkosky for who they truly were: mindless, bloodthirsty killers. Panchenko had called Alphonse a cold, sadistic killer. Could he even argue that Panchenko had not done the world a favor? When the complex had gone up in flames, he’d barely made it out alive. Worse, all the women inside had died. Borkosky and the Rizzos had walked away with smiles on their faces, laughing jovially.
He’d been shot that night as well. The bullet had missed his vital organs and he’d only seen the back of the shooter’s head. He had jet black hair and was at least six feet tall. Then the laughter had floated on the night air. Devin closed his eyes, and balled his fists. He needed to focus on that and nothing else. Whatever game Panchenko was playing, Devin wasn’t going to play.
~~Chapter Five~~
Chris found Andrei in the TV room, looking out the window. He peeked over Andrei’s shoulder and saw Agent Lyons sitting in the gazebo. He looked to be at war with himself.
“What is it, Andrei?” Chris hugged his friend from behind.
“I do not know. Lyons seems angry.”
“When isn’t he?” Chris grinned. He stepped away from Andrei and turned him around. Searching Andrei’s face, he saw sadness there. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
Andrei sighed and walked to one of the chairs in the middle of the room. They had turned the TV room into a makeshift theatre. Seats were grouped in a half moon around the massive flat screen. He loved having the kids from the orphanage over to watch a Disney movie once a month. Since they didn’t get out much, Andrei loved making popcorn and eating candy with them as they watched the newest releases. He sat down and ran a hand through his hair.
“Oh shit,” Chris knelt down in front of Andrei. “You have feelings for the guy!”
Andrei’s head shot up and he growled at Chris. “Keep your voice down!” He put his face in his hands. “It makes no difference how I feel. That man hates me.”
Chris took the seat next to Andrei and smiled. “He left the meeting.”
“And?”
“He left your side and I saw him talking to one of the town residents. He went to the gazebo after that. Now he seems to be wrestling with something.” Chris put his arm around Andrei. “Maybe your behavior is confusing him?”
Andrei shrugged. “It does not matter. Agent Lyons hates me. He has made it clear over and over.” Andrei stood and smiled at his best friend. “We should clean up for dinner. Monday is the meeting of the families. I must get my affairs in order.”
Chris watched as Andrei left the room. He looked back out the window to see Lyons walking back towards the house. He seemed to be talking to himself. Chris grinned. Special Agent Lyons was seeing the Andrei who Chris considered his best friend. He narrowed his eyes at the agent.
“Oh, you’re so going down, Lyons.”
~*~
The weekend passed in a blur and Devin kept his thoughts in check. Monday morning, Andrei went to work out and Devin followed. Andrei was in sweats, shirtless. He was taping his knuckles, getting ready to spar with one of his employees. The guy was huge and Devin had found out from Ivan that he regularly sparred with Andrei. Devin chuckled because his name actually was Boris. Devin crossed his legs at the ankles and leaned up against the wall. Andrei bumped his gloves together and bounced on his toes, motioning to Boris to begin. Devin licked his lips as Andrei’s pectoral muscles twitched. He wasn’t as big as Vince or Nikolai, but he wasn’t small either. Devin winced as Andrei delivered a perfect right hook, sending Boris down to the mat. Then it got really interesting.
Andrei had learned all forms of martial arts as well as cage fighting. And it showed. Music blared from somewhere in the room and Devin glanced to his right. Chris was smiling, watching Andrei spar. Devin shot him a look and sighed in frustration as Chris waggled his brows and made his way over.
“Look at him move,” Chris whistled softly. “He moves like a cat.”
Devin couldn’t argue that. Boris delivered one hell of a blow to Andrei who took it and delivered one right back. Boris went down again.
“Why don’t you get in there, Agent Lyons?” Chris smiled wide.
Devin looked over his shoulder. “Because I’d kill him, that’s why.”
Chris laughed. “Oh please. You’re turned on right now watching him. You’d probably get him on the mat and fuck him.” Chris furrowed his brows. “He needs that actually.”
Devin sighed in frustration. “Are you always like this?”
“Yep, just ask any of my friends. Been this way since I met them. I even told Mark Greystone I wanted to bite his ass.”
“Paul’s husband?” Devin cocked an eyebrow.
“Yup,” Chris nodded. “You really need to meet our friends, Devin. You can’t get a good feel for how we really are unless you spend time with us.” Chris eyed Devin Lyons. Something was very familiar about the man.
“What?” Devin crossed his arms, looking at Chris. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I don’t know,” Chris rubbed his face with his hands. “You just remind me of someone.”
Devin felt a presence next to him and turned his head to see Andrei looking at him. Sweat trickled down the man’s chest, pooling at the waistband of his sweats. Andrei knocked his gloves together.
“Time for the pool, Agent Lyons.” Andrei turned on his heel and headed for the locker room.
“He swims naked,” Chris whispered in Devin’s ear and smiled when he stiffened.
“Will you stop that?!” Devin smacked Chris’ arm.
~*~
Thank God Chris was wrong. Andrei swam in trunks, which wasn’t much better. Devin stood by the edge of the pool watching Andrei doing laps, his strong biceps slicing through the water with ease. Devin’s dick hardened in
his jeans. Fuck. Irina came out with lunch and smiled at him as she put the tray on the table. Devin walked over to it and lifted the cover on the plate. Two turkey sandwiches with baby carrots and a huge mug of hot chocolate with tiny marshmallows on the side were on the first tray. Devin picked up the other lid and found roast beef on rye. Mash potatoes and gravy occupied another tray along with vegetables. He looked up at Irina and smiled.
“Thank you.”
“My pleasure, Devin.” Irina patted the agent on the back. “Now, eat!”
“Yes, ma’am!” Devin sat down at the table.
“Do not touch my marshmallows.”
Devin quickly turned to find Andrei drying himself off with a towel.
“I’m too old for tiny marshmallows, Panchenko.”
“We are the same age, are we not?”
“Do you always answer a question with a question?”
“Do you?” Andrei grinned, sitting down.
“What are you, twelve?” Devin scowled.
“I love life. I refuse to act like I have a stick up my ass.” Andrei bit into his turkey sandwich and moaned.
“Are you saying I act like that?” Devin raised a brow, biting into his roast beef. God, it was so good. He wanted to kiss Irina.
Andrei tilted his head, studying Lyons. “You do not know how to have fun.”
Devin snorted. “Let me guess, you do?”
“I have a teenage son. What do you think?”
Andrei chewed while watching Devin devour his sandwich. Time to see if Lyons knew how to have fun. Andrei picked up a marshmallow and threw it at Lyons’ head. It bounced off him and landed in the middle of his plate. Andrei looked down quickly and tried not to smile.
“Did you really just throw this at me?”
Andrei looked up to see Devin holding the little marshmallow. “Excuse me?”
“Seriously?” Devin narrowed his eyes.
Andrei looked back down and took another bite. Something smacked his forehead seconds later and Andrei looked up quickly. Mashed potatoes slid down his forehead onto his plate. Devin was eating his sandwich. Head down.
“You did not just hit me with potatoes.” Andrei wiped his forehead.
“What?” Devin looked up, taking another bite of his sandwich.
“Oh, it is going to be like that?”
“Did you get that from Nik?” Devin grinned. ”Because we both know you’d never come up with that on your own.”
“Son of a bitch!” Andrei flew across the table, grabbing mashed potatoes on his way. Devin flew out of his chair, grabbing his own handful. Andrei plowed into Devin, sending them both into the pool. Devin mashed potatoes in his hair and Andrei growled. They wrestled in the pool, both trying to get the upper hand. Devin grabbed him around his waist and pushed him into the side of the pool. Andrei’s back hit the steps and he cried out.
“Shit!” Devin pulled Andrei towards him and away from the steps; they lost their footing and went under. Devin surfaced, pulling Andrei up with him. He turned Andrei around and looked at his back. “Are you all right?”
Andrei shivered in his arms and Devin searched him for injury. His fingers glided across Andrei’s back softly. A large red welt was beginning to take form and Devin cursed under his breath.
“I am all right, it is nothing.” Andrei turned around in Devin’s arms.
“It’s not ‘nothing,’” Devin growled in frustration. “That should not have happened! I’m supposed to be protecting you, not hurting you.”
“I’m fine,” Andrei said quietly.
Devin realized he was holding Andrei in his arms, what’s worse, they were inches apart. He released Andrei and backed away.
“Okay, well…good.”
“I need to get ready.”
“Yes, you should do that.” Devin swam to the steps. He got out of the pool, water pouring from his pants.
Andrei covered his mouth and tried not to laugh. Christophe walked out of the house and stopped in his tracks, staring at Lyons. Soaked.
“There’s a story here, I just know it,” Chris grinned.
Devin snarled and stalked into the house.
~*~
Devin stood in the corner of the room as Andrei fixed his tie in the mirror. Damn the man could fill out a suit. Devin chewed his lip, looking at Andrei’s ass. Dammit. They locked eyes in the mirror and Devin looked away first. Clearing his throat he motioned to Andrei’s jacket.
“Are you carrying?”
“That is your job, Agent Lyons.”
Devin’s eyes widened. “You don’t even carry a weapon at these meetings?”
“It does not show trust if I am there with a gun, now does it?” Andrei adjusted his jacket and pants. “Let us go.”
Devin opened the door and looked down the hallway. “Stay behind me. Understood?”
“Should you not wear a bulletproof vest if you are standing in front of me?” Andrei cracked a grin.
Devin turned slowly. “I am usually too fast to get shot. The times I was too slow, I learned from.”
Andrei’s brows furrowed. “When was that?”
“Eight years ago, right here in Russia.”
Andrei’s eyes widened. “You were here? In Russia?”
Devin crossed his arms. “Yes.”
“Where?”
Devin grabbed Panchenko’s arm and dragged him towards the meeting room. “It’s not important.”
Devin found Ivan and Viktor positioned outside the door to the meeting room. He ushered Panchenko in and did a sweep of the room before standing next to Andrei’s chair. A man walked into the room and Andrei leapt from his chair practically running around the table. Devin sighed in exasperation and hurried after him.
“Peter! I am so—” Andrei started.
The loud slap the man delivered to Andrei’s face resounded in the room and Devin threw the man into the wall, growling in his face. “Do not ever - ever - touch him again or you’ll be sporting a colostomy bag and dentures. Got it!?”
“You killed him!” Peter shouted, looking at Andrei. “You may not have set the bomb, but it was because of you that my father is dead!”
“Let him go, Agent Lyons,” Andrei said, quietly.
Devin eased back on the man’s throat and narrowed his eyes at him. “Get out right now, before I stop taking orders from Panchenko.” Devin looked over at Ivan and Viktor. “Security, huh?”
“Peter—” Andrei started.
“Do not apologize again, Panchenko,” Devin hissed.
He eyed Peter Polzin. “I get that you’re pissed, but Panchenko is not the reason your father is dead. The person who set the bomb is solely responsible for his death.”
Ivan grabbed Peter and ushered him out of the room. Viktor hurried to Andrei and looked him over.
“Are you all right, Andrei? He is just upset. It was not your fault.”
Andrei rubbed his cheek. “He is right. This would not have happened if I had not given up my limo.”
“Fuck that!” Devin shouted, making his way over to Andrei. “I’m so fucking tired of hearing you take the blame for that! It was a fucking accident! You were being thoughtful! You had no way of knowing there was a bomb was in your limo.”
Ivan poked his head into the room. “Andrei? The families are here.”
“Well, that’s just fucking great.” Devin pulled Andrei’s chair out and pointed to it. “Sit. Do not move unless I say.”
“Excuse me?” Andrei glared at Lyons. He sighed in frustration as Lyons narrowed his eyes and motioned to the chair again.
Men filed into the room and Devin stood to the right of Andrei, hands clasped behind his back, his fingers on the butt of his gun. Devin took them in one by one, assessing all of them. A man with salt and pepper hair stepped into the room and Devin narrowed his eyes. Before he could say a word, Andrei gasped.
“Mikhail?”
“Andrei.”
“What are you doing here?” Andrei tried to stand and felt a hand on his shoulde
r. “You have kept out of the business.”
Devin’s mental file cabinet tried to place the man. Mikhail Borkosky. Oldest son of Vladimir. “That is a good question,” Devin crossed the room and stood in front of the man. “Why are you here?”
“Who are you?” Mikhail took a look at the man in front of him.
“Panchenko’s muscle. Answer the question.”
“I was asked by Leonid a few months back to see the changes you have made, Andrei. I felt I owed it to him now that he is dead to fulfill his request.”
Devin regarded Mikhail. Black slacks, expensive shoes and a sport coat. “Turn around and face the wall.”
Mikhail’s eyes widened. “Pardon me?”
“Do it. Right. Now.” Devin pulled the gun from the waistband of his pants and motioned Mikhail to the wall with it.
Andrei sighed. “I am sorry. It is just a formality.”
“Since when?” Mikhail spread his legs out.
“Since now,” Devin ran his hands over the man’s shoulders and frisked him. He turned to the surprised faces of the other men and motioned them over. “All of you, line up. Ivan and Viktor, make use of yourselves, please.” Devin looked at the men staring at him. “If you don’t mean any harm to Mr. Panchenko, then you’ll have no problem being searched. Now will you?”
Once Devin had thoroughly searched each man, he took his position next to Andrei as the meeting started. The men introduced themselves to Mikhail and Devin’s nose twitched.
“That’s an awful lot of Ov’s in one room.” Devin muttered under his breath.
He felt a slight kick to his shin from Andrei, and then Viktor’s snicker from the other side of Andrei’s chair. Talk around the table flowed between Russian and English. The attempt on Andrei was discussed and the families tried to figure out who would try to take him out. Devin did the job he was best at - well, besides killing. He listened. His eyes kept wandering to Borkosky’s son, Mikhail, who was watching Andrei intently. Devin inched closer to Andrei’s side, narrowing his eyes at the man.
The shipping business was discussed and Devin was shocked to hear Andrei argue with the rest of the families. They were concerned about the number of government officials snooping around, making their jobs harder. Andrei had smiled and told them to allow whatever was asked.
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