“So was Andrei, from what I hear.”
“Yes, he was. I arrived after most of the hell had gone down but it was still weird to see Calvin in wolf form.”
“But not Ross?”
“I had seen him before that. The day you walked out of Ross’ house when I went there to thank him for saving Cole’s life.”
“Well, what was I supposed to do? Stick around and tell you the whole sordid story then?”
“Well, that would have been ideal,” Chaz drawled.
“Whatever,” Lev sighed. “Seems I can’t do anything right anyway.”
“So was the whole ‘first time’ and ‘virgin’ thing a lie, too?”
Lev’s shoulders tensed and his cheeks heated.
“No, that wasn’t a lie. I’d never been with anyone.”
“How do I know you’re not lying now?” Chaz cocked a brow.
“You don’t,” Lev snapped, glaring at Chaz. “The person you were with back then? That was all me, Chaz. I didn’t pretend to be anybody else.”
“No, you just tricked me into liking you.”
Lev balled his fists. “I didn’t want to do it at all! I had no choice! Even then I protected you above all else!”
“Whoa, what is going on out here?”
Lev turned to see Samson standing in the hall, jaw dropped.
“Nothing! Are you done?”
“Yeah.” Samson nodded.
“Fine! Let’s go.”
The ride to Chaz’s was quiet. Lev let Wayne know they were on their way. As soon as he pulled into the driveway, he was out of the car and checking around the house as Samson stayed with Chaz. He unlocked the house and did a quick check of the inside before allowing Chaz in. Lev turned to Samson.
“I’m going to go shower. Watch him.”
Chaz went to the kitchen and poured himself a glass of water.
“You want something to drink?” he asked Samson.
“What do you have?” Samson strolled into the kitchen, looking around.
“Well, do you need something strong or light?”
“Well, I’m guarding you, so water will do.”
Chaz offered Samson a glass and leaned against the counter as he sipped it. The guy was taller than him; it was a little unsettling. What did he know about this fellow anyway? He worked for the Mob as a killer.
“So, kill me, huh?”
Samson swallowed and stared at Chaz. “That was the job.”
“And so — what? All of a sudden you grew a conscience?”
Samson placed the glass on the counter and fixed Chaz with a hard look.
“I didn’t like what they did to Lev all those years ago. He was innocent, but they wanted him to pay for the sins of his father. I was raised the same way; they thrust me into the job of enforcer at eighteen.” Samson tilted his head. “What were you two arguing about?”
“I wanted to know if it was all an act with him six years ago. He got to me as no one else ever had. He was sweet and vulnerable, and I fell for it.”
“It wasn’t an act, Chaz. Lev was all those things. That’s one of the reasons I volunteered for the job to come here and get him the first time. I knew what Mario wanted. Hell, he outright told us to kill Lev. My plan was to save him. He didn’t want to leave you. In fact, after he was bitten he almost shifted for the first time right out on the street because he didn’t want to leave you alone.”
Chaz looked up the stairs. “So he was sweet.”
“Oh, yeah. Mario knew Lev was gay, and used that as leverage. There are no gay men in the Mob.”
Chaz laughed out loud. “Does Stefan Santorno know that?”
“He’s an exception and trust me, Mario doesn’t want to be anywhere near Stefan. He’ll send his rogues to do his dirty work.”
“What do you know about the business?”
“I’ve heard a few key players over the years, but you never really see their faces. They’re very good at covering their tracks, too.” Samson regarded Chaz. “Whatever Lev said or did while he was here with you, it wasn’t an act. He’s not that good.”
The doorbell rang, interrupting Chaz’s next words. He crossed to the front door and found Wayne smiling on the other side.
Chaz stepped back, letting the man in.
Wayne’s gaze fell upon Samson and he moved to the kitchen.
“So, Alexander tells me you’re still in the beginning stages of transformation.”
“So that’s good, right?” Chaz asked.
“Yes, it means I can reverse it. As a created one, my line is extremely powerful, super-charged, if you will.” Wayne turned his attention to Samson. “I won’t lie; it will hurt like a son of a bitch.”
“But I won’t be one of the yellow-eyed bastards, right?”
“Correct.”
“Well then.” Samson moved to stand in front of Wayne. “Do it.”
“Wait!”
Chaz spotted Lev flying down the stairs.
“I want to see this.” Lev rubbed his hands together in glee.
“Really, Chirkoff? After everything I’ve done for you?” Samson narrowed his eyes.
“Yep.” Lev hopped up to sit on the kitchen counter. “Okay, Wayne. Bite.”
Chaz stepped back as Wayne growled and long canines dropped from his mouth. He grabbed Samson’s arm and leaned his neck to the side. Chaz shivered at the sound of canines meeting bone. Samson howled in pain and then fell to the floor, writhing on the tiles.
“Can we help him?” Chaz watched in fascination.
“No, he has to go through this alone.” Wayne said quietly.
Lev jumped down and took Samson’s hand as the man howled in pain, thrashing and rolling from side to side.
“Don’t fight it, Samson.” Lev squeezed the other man's hand.
“Oh fuck! Shit it hurts!” Samson wailed as heat sliced through his body.
“Look at me.” Lev took Samson’s face in his hands. “Don’t fight; look me in the eye. See your wolf, okay? Picture him in your mind and let him take over.”
Samson nodded and brought forth his wolf. It did seem to ease the pain, at least a little. He shifted and lay on his side panting as blood pumped in his ears. He could hear everything as if it were right next to him.
“It will take some getting used to, Samson. Lev will help you with the power that comes with my lineage. Don’t make me regret helping you. If you think Stefan is scary?” Wayne left the threat unfinished.
Chaz backed into the wall as Wayne shifted into his wolf form. Samson whimpered and whined as Wayne leaned into his face, snarling.
“And he’s in a good mood right now,” Lev smiled, running his fingers through Wayne’s coat. “I’ll get you some pants, Wayne.”
“I’ll go with you.” Chaz hurried to follow Lev up the stairs. “I think I have some pants that may fit him. Damn! I’ve never seen a wolf that big!”
“We’re all pretty big, but Wayne dwarfs us.”
“He looks like Bradley Cooper.”
Lev chuckled. “So he’s been told. Sweats still in the second drawer down?” Lev walked to the dresser.
“Yes, how do you remember that?”
“I remember everything, Chaz.”
As they descended the stairs, Lev noticed Samson still in wolf form on the floor. He eyed Wayne, who merely shrugged. He handed Wayne the sweat pants and coughed when he realized Chaz was staring at Wayne’s dick.
“Really?” Lev raised a brow at Chaz.
“You can’t expect me not to look!”
Wayne chuckled and pulled the sweat pants on. He ran a hand through his hair and smiled at Lev.
“You going to be okay with this one?” he motioned to Samson.
“Yes, Samson may be an ass, but deep down he’s a good man.”
“Should I get him some sweats, too?” Chaz asked.
“What? You mean you don’t want to see his dick, too?” Lev drawled.
“Sure I do, but he needs clothes.” Chaz went back upstairs.
/> “Seems you have your hands full, son.” Wayne took Lev’s hand. “If you need anything, you holler, hear?”
“Will do, Wayne.” Lev walked him to the door and smiled as Wayne searched his eyes.
“Chaz will forgive you, Lev. That man is in love with you.”
“Thanks Wayne.”
Lev closed the door and then plopped down on the floor next to Samson. He ran his hand through the soft blond fur and chuckled. Samson raised his head and stared at him.
“You’ll be okay now, Samson. I need you to shift back, though, so I can help you. We’ll go for a run in the morning.”
Samson’s body shook and then slightly shimmered as he made the change back to his human form. A loud sigh escaped him as he rolled into the fetal position.
“Jesus.” Samson’s head fell back and he closed his eyes.
“Samson?”
“Yeah.”
“Thank you, for what you did for me all those years ago.”
“I couldn’t let them kill you, Lev. You and I, we’re — ”
“I got you some pants.” Chaz interrupted them, coming back down the stairs.
“Thank you.” Samson nodded. “What I really need is a long hot shower.”
“Up the stairs, first door on your left. Take your time.” Chaz smiled.
Lev fell back on the tile as Samson made his way upstairs. Chaz pulled a chair out and straddled it, eyeing Lev. The silence in the room was palpable and after five minutes, he finally broke the silence.
“You’d think it was you who got bit.” Chaz cocked a brow.
“I’m just tired. I just got back from a tough mission and I need about twelve hours of sleep.”
“Well, take Cole’s old room.”
“I will, just as soon as Samson comes back down.”
“You really think they’ll send another guy out?”
Lev rolled to his side and hauled himself to his feet.
“Think? No. I know they will.” Lev leaned against the wall and crossed his arms. He could actually feel Chaz’s eyes on him. He glared at the other man. “What?”
“It’s just so weird to see this bad-ass Lev.”
“Yeah, well, I had a lot of time on my own to think about things. I ran to Vancouver and met up with some people, but I still had a hard time controlling my lupine side. It wasn’t until I came across Dane that I finally got a grip on it.”
“Look — ” Chaz began.
“Hey, thanks.” Samson came down the stairs drying his hair. “I feel ten times better.”
“Good, I need some sleep.” Lev eyed Samson. “You good to watch him?”
Samson nodded.
Lev crossed the room and stopped in front of Samson. “Anything happens to him and I’ll kill you. Got it?”
Chaz’s eyes followed Lev up the stairs. He sat down at the table with a large sigh. He leaned forward and met eyes with Samson.
“He’s changed a lot, hasn’t he?”
Samson shook his head. “You have no idea.”
Chapter Five
Lev woke up and took a second to process exactly where he was. He sat up and rubbed his face. Chaz’s house. Lev rolled out of bed and stepped into a hot shower. He’d have to stop by his place and pack a small bag. Dressing quickly, Lev found brewed coffee and Chaz sitting at the table with Samson. A low growl escaped his throat as his eyes fell upon Samson leaning just a little too close to Chaz for his liking. Samson straightened and shot him a look.
“Get ready to leave.” Lev walked to the cabinet and pulled down a coffee cup.
“I see you remember where everything is,” Chaz drawled.
“I told you, I remember everything, Chaz.” Lev turned to stare.
Samson cleared his throat. “Okay, I’ll just…yeah.”
Lev watched Samson as he went upstairs. He turned to find Chaz regarding him intently.
“Yes?”
“What’s going on today?” Chaz asked.
“I have to get a few things from my apartment, and then I have to take Samson for a run.”
“You know, you don’t have to be a dick,” Chaz snapped.
“What do you want from me, Chaz? I told you the truth, I told you how I felt, that it wasn’t just an act for me. I love you.”
“You have no idea how much I want to believe you,” Chaz sighed.
Lev sighed and rubbed his face with his hands. “When are you going to get it? I couldn’t put you in harm's way.” Lev stood up and turned to face Chaz. “Believe what you want, but know one thing: I would have died to protect you.”
Chaz opened his mouth but Samson’s return interrupted him. Samson looked from him to Lev and looked back up the stairs.
“Should I come back?”
“No.” Lev walked to the door. “We’re done here.”
After stopping by his apartment and grabbing the essentials, Lev drove them out to Cougar Mountain. The air was chilly and the sun was just peeking through a thin layer of clouds. Lev parked the car and got out, smiling at the truck parked on the other side. Cole Ryker’s head popped up and he smiled at him.
“Hey, Lev.” Cole waved.
“Naked?” Lev chuckled.
“Slightly, just got done with my run.”
“Where’s Ross?” Lev sniffed the air and turned around slowly at the sound of growling. Ross Collins stood behind him in wolf form. “Hey, Ross.”
“Have you met Calvin?” Cole motioned to a kid walking out of the woods.
“Ah, the little brother?” Lev smiled at the kid. He had dark hair like his brother, and the same blue eyes.
“Nice to meet you.” Calvin shook Lev’s hand. His brows furrowed and then a sigh escaped his lips. “Not you again.”
Lev looked over his shoulder to find Samson naked. He chuckled and turned back to Calvin. “You’ve met?”
Samson stalked over to Calvin and leaned way over, meeting his eyes.
“You know, for someone so small, you sure have a big mouth.”
Calvin eyed Samson’s naked form. “For someone so big, you sure have a small dick.”
“It’s cold out here!” Samson snapped.
“Uh huh,” Calvin snickered, walking away.
“Ugh!” Samson threw his hands up.
“Well, all righty then.” Lev turned to Samson. “Ready to shift?”
“Could he just stay that way?” Chaz called from the truck.
Lev narrowed his eyes and removed his shirt. He shucked his pants and boxers and stood naked, lifting his face to the sky.
Chaz sat in the truck and willed himself to look away from Lev’s beautiful naked body. Holy hell. The man had put on muscle. His chest was still hairless, but now covered by a defined wall of muscle. His legs were thick and his ass was perfectly rounded. Lev was still the most gorgeous man he’d ever set eyes on. Over the years he’d found other men attractive — present company included. Well, except for Calvin. That was just…ew. Calvin was almost as much his brother as Cole’s.
But Lev?
There was no one who came close to Lev Chirkoff. Chaz shivered remembering Lev’s skin under his hands, his lips pressed to that beautiful body. Lev glanced over his shoulder just then and their eyes met.
Chaz stepped out of the truck and stood in awe as Lev’s back rippled and seconds later a large wolf was in his place. He crossed the space between them slowly and Lev’s light green eyes stayed locked on him.
“Jesus, Lev.” Chaz ran his fingers through Lev’s coat. “You are so beautiful.”
Lev rubbed against his thigh and Chaz wrapped his arms around Lev’s neck, nuzzling his fur.
“Damn, he’s gorgeous, isn’t he?”
Chaz’s head snapped up to see Cole grinning at him.
“Fuck off.” Chaz flipped him off.
Cole smiled.
Chaz turned to find Samson in wolf form, stretching his front legs out in front of him. Calvin trotted by them and sniffed the air, letting out a low growl when Samson tried to approach him. Chaz smiled at
the look of confusion on Samson’s face. Lev nudged Samson and they took off running into the forest. Chaz sat down in the bed of Cole’s truck and took a deep breath.
“So, how’s it going with your new bodyguards?” Cole chuckled, hoisting himself up on the bed of the truck.
“Oh, it’s wonderful!” Chaz waved his hands in the air. “My long lost love and the hired killer. Lucky me!”
“Lev looks great.” Cole elbowed Chaz.
Chaz sighed. “I know. God, he’s even sexier now.”
“Did you get a look at his tattoo?”
“He has a tattoo?”
“Yup. Skull, crossbones and noose on his right bicep. I’m due for mine in a day or so. I guess it’s a Skull Blasters thing.”
Chaz turned and eyed his best friend. The “Star Wars” wedding band glinted in the sunlight. “Are you happy?”
“Hell, yes.” Cole leaned back and rested on his elbows. “I love Ross, he means everything to me. And the mate bond thing? Wow, just the sex alone man,” Cole chuckled, shaking his head.
“That good?”
“Take the best night of your life and multiply that by a zillion.”
Chaz whistled. “Wow.”
“I know. I guess Ross didn’t know he’d been slapped with the mate bond. They say it’s different for everyone. Some know from the second they’re in the same room with their mate and others? Well, they don’t know until they get hit over the head with it.”
“I wonder if Lev has a mate.” Chaz pondered.
“I would think it would be you. Even now, you’re the only man he looks at. That’s saying a lot considering we’re always naked around each other.”
“Yeah, what is up with that?” Chaz laughed.
“Most of the guys don’t even notice it. Unlike Killian, when we shift anything we’re wearing is ripped to shreds. Unless it’s an emergency shift, we just undress first. It’s taking me a little time to stop staring. Although, I do have a pretty big dick,” Cole laughed.
“I’m sure Ross loves that.”
“I miss you, man.” Cole wrapped an arm around Chaz. “I heard you got the whole story from Lev.”
Chaz nodded. “I did. It hurt me to know he only came on to me because he was sent here to blackmail me.”
“You know that’s not true. I remember Lev back then and that man was so in love with you.”
Savage Love Page 7
