Pleading the Fifth

by Sandrine Gasq-Dion

  necessary,” Jaxon glanced over at Justice. “Any

  ideas?”

  Justice mockingly furrowed his brows.

  “Hmmmm. Maybe he smelled Salvatore all over

  his mate?”

  “Are you guys done yet?” Scott covered

  his face with his hands.

  “I don’t know,” Jesse tapped his chin with

  his forefinger.

  “Oh shut up,” Scott grumbled.

  “I like him,” Justice said with a smile. He

  regarded his youngest brother. “You have good

  taste, little one.”

  Jesse blushed. “Yeah, well, he’s already

  mated. Besides, I’m not a werewolf, who knows

  if I’ll ever find ‘the one’.”

  “How are you feeling?” Scott changed the

  subject as fast as he could. He found Jesse attractive, but he knew now where he belonged. “Better, Doc says I can go home soon.” “What happened to the rogue that attacked my brother?” Jaxon asked.

  “He’s being interrogated by some of our

  guys.” Scott scooted closer to the bed. “I’m so

  sorry this happened to you.”

  Jesse shrugged his shoulders. “It won’t be

  the last time they come after me to get to my

  brothers. I’m used to having to watch my back.”

  Jesse took Scott’s hand. “I’m more worried about

  you. Walter said they know who you are, who

  your mate is. That’s freaky, Scott.”

  Scott nodded with a sigh. “I know.

  Tristan left to go question Walter again. They

  must have caught Walter when he was vulnerable, they kept him pumped with his favorite

  substance—”

  “Booze,” Jesse nodded.

  “And God knows what else. I wonder if

  he even realizes what they’ve done to him?” Justice cleared his throat. “We’re staying

  for a few weeks, just to keep an eye on Jesse. If

  you could tell Tristan to keep us informed?” “Yes, I can do that,” Scott smiled, palming Jesse’s face. “I’m glad you’re okay.” “I’m glad you found your mate, Scott,”

  Jesse said.

  “I never thought I’d say this about him,”

  Scott took a deep breath, “but I am too.”

  Chapter Five

  Two weeks. That was the last time he’d seen Tristan. Two weeks had gone by and Scott hadn’t heard one word from the man. He’d called around and found out the team had been sent to Siberia instead of Denali to drop off Walter, then had the unpleasant task of checking on the females there.

  Scott sighed, exasperated. He’d been so damn horny over the last two weeks; he’d gone out to the club with Chaz and Cole. He also went home alone each time. No one came close to Tristan, not one of them. Right now he was on his way back to the apartment to change. Caden and Riley had called, both letting him know that the outreach center benefit was taking place at the Hotel Monaco. Scott looked at the time. He had just over an hour to shower and pull himself into a tux. Scott unlocked the apartment door and walked through a haze of cologne.

  “Jesus, Jude!” Scott coughed, fanning the air with his hand.

  Jude came out of his room with a grin. “Hiya, sexy. How was work?”

  “It sucked; you could have let me know you took the day off. I was stuck with Lester.”

  Jude pouted. “Sorry, I wanted to have enough time to get ready.”

  “Speaking of that,” Scott threw his keys on the glass side table and stalked past Jude. “I have to shower as well.”

  Jude followed Scott to his room. “I got a call from Noah, seems they are going as well.”

  “So you finally get to have a face to face with Hayden?”

  “Nope, he’s on a mission somewhere. Thank God.”

  Scott turned and raised a brow. “Come on, Jude. It’s been years. The guy has changed.”

  “You don’t know what it was like for me. He made fun of me on a daily basis.” Jude crossed his arms. “He called me a fag and pushed me into my locker. I was locked in my own locker!”

  “Give the guy a chance; you haven’t seen him since you were twelve.” Scott walked into the bathroom and turned the shower on. “Besides, Noah and Ross say he’s a completely different person. As are you, I would like to point out.”

  “Well, yeah, he’s a werewolf now,” Jude grumbled.

  Scott’s hand stopped at the hem of his shirt. “Wait, he wasn’t always one?”

  Jude shook his head. “No, his dad was. It skipped him. Hayden’s father was forced to bite him when rogues attacked them. It was the only way to keep him alive.”

  “That is so weird; it’s the same with Jesse. His brothers are werewolves and it skipped him.”

  “I still can’t believe that Jesse’s brothers are the guys from the Arizona pack.” Jude sat on the bed as Scott got in the shower. “Are they hot?”

  Scott stepped into the shower and immediately moaned as the hot water soothed his muscles. “Yeah, they are. Justice is taller than me and Jaxon looks like a UFC fighter.”

  “How come we’ve never seen them at the mines?”

  Jude stretched back on the bed staring at the ceiling.

  Scott ran his hands through his hair, massaging the shampoo into his thick, black hair. “They stayed away from us. Even though we were fighting rogues just like they were, they didn’t know exactly who we were.”

  “Well, I look forward to meeting them. Maybe one of them will be the one for me,” Jude sighed. “As much as you bitch about Tristan, you should count yourself lucky to have found your mate before you turned sixty.”

  Scott banged his head on the shower wall. He knew he should be grateful, but damn Tristan was a colossal pain in his ass. The man was stubborn to a fault. Over the last few years he’d seen how the mate bond worked, namely with his brother Kellan and his husband, Caden. Those two would die for each other. Scott sighed in frustration. Okay, so all of the mated werewolves had that relationship, he just didn’t see himself with Tristan that way.

  “Stop thinking like an ass,” Jude yelled from the bed.

  “Oh, shut up,” Scott chuckled.

  ~~

  The banquet hall was packed. Scott stood with Jude by the bar eyeing all the businessmen and women invited to the outreach charity ball. The gowns were beautiful and the men were even hotter in their designer tuxes. Scott winked at Olivia in her floor-length, royal blue gown - Sean Knight on her arm. Cloth-covered tables spread out everywhere and waiters stopped now and then with glasses of champagne. Scott lifted a glass from one of the passing waiters and scanned the room. He found Caden and Riley speaking with someone who looked like the mayor. Not that he’d seen the man often, maybe a few times on TV. Alexander and Evangeline stood across the way and Alexander lifted his glass in greeting. Scott smiled, lifting his own. He looked toward the entrance and his breathing stopped. His mother and father were looking around the crowded room.

  “Isn’t that…?” Jude whispered.

  “Yes,” Scott scowled. He hadn’t spoken to his parents in years.

  ~~ Alexander sipped his champagne and frowned at the look on Scott’s face. He followed Scott’s line of sight and sighed. Scott’s parents were shaking hands with all the important people. Evangeline’s hand tightened in his and he looked down at his beautiful date.

  “What is it?” Evangeline whispered. “It is Scott’s parents,” Alexander growled quietly.

  “You are his parent, not them.” Evangeline pulled Alex towards Scott.

  Making their way across the room, Alexander noted that Scott’s parents were smiling and kissing Riley and Caden’s ass. It never ceased to amaze him how cold and calculating they could be. Their reason for exiling their son was because he was gay, yet there they stood talking with two gay men at a fundraiser to support a center for teens thrown out of their homes just as Scott had been. And for what
? To look good in the eyes of the community. Alexander pulled Evangeline towards Caden and Riley; he sent Caden a mental message and raised a brow when Caden turned to look at him.

  Caden stiffened; he looked around the room and found Kellan talking with Wayne.

  “Darling?” Caden called to Kellan. Caden turned his attention back to Scott’s parents. Kellan joined him seconds later with Wayne in tow. “Mr. and Mrs. Delange, I’d love for you to meet my husband, Kellan Fournier.” Caden couldn’t help the smile that spread across his face as Scott’s parents tried to keep the disgust off their faces. He nudged Riley in the ribs.

  Riley gave him a confused look, until he saw the faces of the two people in front of him. He looked around the room and found Mateo doing shots at the bar with Sam and Troy. Riley gave a short whistle, which had most of the room turning to look at him. Mateo put his shot glass down, said something to Sam and Troy and sauntered over to his husband.

  “Mateo, darling, say hello to the Delanges.”

  Mateo took two seconds to process the name. Then the pack meetings came to mind. Wayne in his infinite wisdom made it a point to make sure all the packs knew each other’s stories. Wayne had always said that knowing each other’s pain brought them closer together. It applied to the humans of the pack as well. Mateo had laughed in Wayne’s face when the man had said they were going to have ‘share’ time. He wasn’t laughing two seconds later when Wayne was in wolf form, pinning him to the floor and snarling at him.

  Mateo snickered and played oblivious. “As in Scott Delange? Is he your son?”

  “Oh, we don’t have any children.”

  Alexander cleared his throat. “You are right, Richard. When you threw Scott out for being gay, I took care of him. Scott is my son.”

  Riley cocked his head to the side. “Dick, is it?”

  “It’s Richard.”

  “Uh huh, listen Dick,” Riley snarled. “You are in the wrong place; your money is not welcome here. I’m sure Caden and I can cover whatever you would have donated to our cause. Please leave.”

  “Excuse me?” Richard spluttered.

  Mateo grinned as he observed the shocked faces of the alphas and the other pack members. It wasn’t often that Riley got really mad. In fact, he wasn’t sure he’d ever seen that. Until now. His husband was really mad.

  “You are the worst kind, Mr. Delange.” Caden motioned to one of the security guards. “A hypocrite. You denounce your son for being gay, yet you show up to this benefit run by two gay men—”

  “That’s three gay men,” Wayne coughed, throwing his two cents into the conversation.

  Caden smiled. “Oh yes, I’m sorry, Mr. Maccon. Three gay men. Please do not tell me you did not know that. Riley and I are very out. We also happen to know that you give money to organizations that want to ban gay marriage. So again, as Riley has asked, please leave.”

  ~~ Scott could hear every word over at the bar. Riley was getting upset. His parents looked white as sheets.

  “Looks like Riley is having a BF,” Jude chuckled.

  “What’s a BF?”

  Scott started at the new voice. He turned to find Devin Lyons smiling at him.

  “Jesus, you scared me,” Scott exclaimed. “A BF is a bitch fit.” Scott looked past Devin and whistled softly. “Don’t look now, but Panchenko is here.”

  Devin stiffened. “Please tell me you’re joking.”

  “Nope.” Scott watched as Vince’s ex-husband and head of the Russian mob Andrei Panchenko crossed the room towards Caden and Riley. “He’s making his way to the standoff.”

  Damn that man oozed power from every single orifice. His coal black hair was a striking combination with his slate grey eyes. He wasn’t small either, at least six feet tall with a body most would kill for. Including himself. He was wrapped in a tailored tuxedo.

  “Damn, that man has style. You better behave, Lyons. James just got here with Derek.”

  Devin turned to see James raising a brow at him. Keegan stood next to James with his arms crossed. Devin turned back to face Scott and growled. “Dammit.”

  “Damn, dude. You really don’t like that guy, do you?” Jude cracked up.

  Devin narrowed his eyes at Andrei Panchenko as the man stood with Caden and Riley. “Nope.”

  ~~

  “What is the problem, gentlemen?” Andrei wrapped his arms around Caden and Riley’s shoulders.

  “Oh! Hello Andrei.” Riley greeted him with a kiss on the cheek. “Mr. and Mrs. Delange, meet Andrei Panchenko.”

  Richard paled. “Panchenko?”

  Andrei grinned maliciously. “Why, yes.” “Seems the Delanges are homophobic,

  Andrei,” Wayne smiled wide. “And they have been asked to leave, but yet here they stand.” Richard scanned the room; he caught sight of Scott at the bar, grinning like the proverbial cat that just snacked on a little yellow bird. “Are you happy now, Scott? You’ve upset your mother.”

  Scott raised a brow. “Is that right, Richard?” Scott turned his attention to his mother; she looked horrified. Her cheeks were red from her embarrassment and her eyes were wide. “Is that true Anne? Have I upset you? Seeing as you don’t have a son, I don’t know how I managed to do anything upsetting.”

  “We are leaving now.” Richard grabbed his wife, yanking her towards the exit.

  “Oh, Mr. Delange?” Andrei called out smoothly. “I would watch my back from now on.”

  Riley laughed as Richard almost ran out the door, his wife trying to keep up. They all burst out in laughter as the door slammed shut behind them.

  “Was it something I said?” Andrei grinned.

  Riley turned to look at Andrei. “How have ya been Andy?”

  “You know,” Andrei looked down at Riley Flynn-Esposito. “You are the only one I allow to call me that.”

  Riley smiled giddily and patted Andrei’s back. “I see you brought security with you? Something up?”

  Andrei sighed in frustration. “My head of security feels I need to be protected at all times.” Andrei rolled his eyes. “He feels I am in danger from my Turkish enemies.”

  “Is he right?”

  Andrei turned to find James Jacobs looking at him.

  “Ivan is jumpy,” Andrei said. “I have not been formally threatened.”

  James cocked his head to the side. “You are part of this team now, Andrei. I will need to speak with Ivan.”

  “Can I not have one day to relax?” Andrei raised an eyebrow at James.

  “Sure,” James grabbed a glass of champagne from a passing waiter. “Drink this, and relax.”

  “Very funny,” Andrei muttered.

  “It seems our own security has arrived.” Wayne motioned to the door. Tristan, Jacob and Seth had arrived along with Noah and Ross.

  “Let’s go find out what happened in Siberia,” James said.

  ~~

  “Are you okay?” Jude took Scott’s hand. “Sure, I’m used to their shit by now.” “Look, Dad is coming to this thing you know he loves you.” Jude squeezed Scott’s hand in sympathy.

  “A room full of werewolves,” Devin’s brows lifted. “Interesting,”

  “Excuse me.”

  Scott turned to see Andrei smiling at him. “Yes?”

  “Would you like to dance?”

  “You have got to be shitting me,” Devin

  growled. “Are you trying to die?” Andrei leaned over into Devin Lyons’ face. “Not tonight, G-man.” Andrei fixed Devin’s collar and tightened his bow tie. “Be a good boy.” Andrei patted Agent Lyons’ head.

  Devin smacked Andrei’s hand. “Stop that.”

  Andrei put his hand out to Scott. “May I have this dance?”

  “Sure.”

  Scott followed Andrei out to the dance floor, which was filling quickly. He was so used to leading, it took him a bit to allow Andrei to take charge. An arm snaked around his waist and he was pulled into Andrei’s broad chest. Scott looked up into very grey eyes. To say Andrei Panchenko was good-looking was
an understatement. The man commanded attention with his effortless poise and scared the shit out of most people. Scott had heard the stories from Nikolai about his fathers; they were both vicious in their own ways. As if reading his thoughts, Andrei leaned into his ear and spoke.

  “I am not always a bad man, Scott.”

  “I wasn’t thinking that,” Scott smiled at Andrei. “I know how you came into power though. You killed Vladimir Borkosky.”

  “Well, the older generation wanted a younger leader. Vladimir’s son Yuri wanted that role; in fact, he wanted it so badly he kidnapped my son.”

  Scott nodded. “I heard about that.”

  “Vladimir’s two younger sons wanted nothing to do with the business, I left them alone, but Yuri…” Andrei shook his head with a grin.

  “Died painfully?” Scott asked, swallowing hard.

  “Not by my hand,” Andrei looked up to see Agent Lyons eyeing him with what could only be described as a murderous glare. “He really does not like me.”

  “What gave it away?” Scott chuckled.

  “And you? Do you feel the same?”

  Scott’s head snapped up, he looked into Andrei’s eyes and saw a flicker of mischief. Oh hell, the head of the Russian mob was hitting on him. Hot damn and oh shit. Tristan’s scent whacked him over the head as if he were standing right next to him. Scott scanned the room and that’s when he saw him standing in one of the corners with the rest of the team. Tristan narrowed his eyes at him and Scott turned his attention back to Andrei.

  “I find you fascinating.”

  “Is that so? Do tell.”

  “I think it’s amazing how you grew up, that you married the man who killed your father, had a son, got divorced and run a business with an iron fist. A fair one, at that. I find it extremely sexy that grown men cower in your presence.” Scott swore he saw a slight tinge of pink in Andrei’s cheeks. That only made the man even more beautiful.

  “I have been alone for a long time,” Andrei sighed sadly.

  “But…why?” Scott stood back a bit, taking in Andrei up close and personal. “You are like, smokin’ hot.”

  Andrei chuckled. “Well, thank you.” Andrei studied Scott Delange’s face. He had the most arresting eyes, black pools of sex. “Would you agree to dinner with me one night?”