Into the Lyons Den

by Sandrine Gasq-Dion

  “Come sit by me, FBI guy,” Chris grinned.

  Devin sat down and pulled the napkin into his lap.

  “What’s for dinner?”

  “Pot roast.” Andrei sipped his water. “Do not worry; Ivan tasted it first to make sure it wasn’t poisoned.”

  Devin chuckled.

  “I’ve met Irina - not only does she cook and clean, but she is practically another bodyguard for you, Panchenko. I took her off the list of possible suspects within a minute.”

  Irina Doskiev was one hell of an opposing woman. She had towered over Devin when they first talked. After about a minute of feeling small, Devin took a seat and asked her to sit also. Her green eyes had been fixed on him the whole interview.

  “She has been with me since I was a little boy.” Andrei felt a swat to his head and sat up straight.

  “Do not slouch, Andrei.” Irina tsked him.

  Devin chuckled.

  Irina glared at the FBI agent at the table. “You! Sit up straight! Important men do not slouch!”

  Andrei covered a grin with his hand as Lyons straightened in his chair.

  Irina let her gaze wander over Chris and Ivan. “I see Christophe has learned his lessons?”

  Chris smiled wide and pulled the napkin off of his lap. “See? I put it in my lap and everything.”

  “You are good boy, Christophe.” Irina winked. Turning her attention back to Andrei, she palmed his cheek. “I have made you hot chocolate.”

  “With the little marshmallows?” Andrei grinned.

  “Yes. Now eat all your dinner.”

  Devin cocked a brow at him and Andrei pursed his lips. “I like the marshmallows.”

  “You have all washed your hands?” Irina asked, hands on her hips.

  “Yes, ma’am!” they all said in unison.

  Irina chuckled at Agent Lyons. “You will do well here. I hope.” She winked at him and went back to the kitchen.

  “She scares me, Andrei,” Chris laughed.

  Devin sat back as talk flowed around the table. As always, he stayed quiet and listened. That was the beauty of his job – well it actually was his job. Listening to Andrei Panchenko for years had given him an insight to the man. He didn’t sleep around, that was for sure. Then again, most men cowered in his presence. Devin tilted his head watching Andrei smile at something Ivan said to him. He had a great smile. Devin shook his head clear. Now that his job of watching and listening had come to an end with Andrei joining James’ team, Devin was clear to do the job he loved - killing low life scum. Too bad Panchenko was off that list now. Devin felt a poke to his ribs and looked over at Chris.

  “What?”

  Chris leaned into Agent Lyons’ ear. “You’re staring.”

  “No, I’m not.”

  “It’s okay, Lyons. Andrei is hot; I don’t blame you.”

  “Are you sure you’re married?” Devin raised his brows.

  Chris turned in the chair to face Lyons and lowered his voice. “Yes, I’m sure. Doesn’t mean I can’t find another man attractive - and trust me, Andrei is smokin’ hot. Anyone with a pulse can see that. As much as you say you can’t stand him, you’re attracted to him and that’s just fucking you all up, isn’t it?”

  “You’re full of shit,” Devin whispered, averting his eyes from Chris’.

  “Uh huh,” Chris smiled and turned back toward the talk at the table.

  Andrei stood and smiled when Ivan and Viktor immediately got up with him.

  “It is all right, I am going to my room for a bit.” Andrei motioned to Chris. “Christophe? Are you coming with me?”

  “Are we going to watch porn?” Chris leered comically.

  Andrei chuckled. “I’m sure you brought some with you.”

  “I did.” Chris stood up and grabbed his plate. Making his way over to Andrei, he grinned. “Maybe you can try out your gift?”

  Andrei knew his cheeks were red. Dammit. Christophe and his mouth.

  “A gift?” Viktor raised his brows.

  Andrei clapped his hand over Chris’ mouth. “Yes, I shall see you in the morning, Ivan?”

  “Yes, do not worry about the dishes, Andrei. Viktor and I will help Irina.”

  “I will go say goodnight to her,” Andrei grabbed his plate and pushed Christophe ahead of him.

  Devin watched them leave and then looked at Ivan and Viktor. “Don’t you have people to wash dishes?”

  “Andrei insists on helping. It has always been this way.” Ivan stood and motioned to the table. “Let us take the dishes in.”

  ~*~

  After getting a lesson on loading the dishwasher — Devin ate takeout, no dishes — Devin went back to his room and closed the door. Sounds from Andrei’s room flowed into his and he pressed an ear to the adjoining door. Sounds of men grunting in pleasure met his ears and Devin backed away from the door. Was Andrei fucking Chris? Or vice versa? For some reason that bothered him. What the fuck is wrong with me? I hate that asshole. Devin looked at the time and jumped in the shower. The water was instantly hot and the jets pounded him from all sides. It was the best shower he’d ever had.

  Devin emerged totally relaxed and slipped his jeans on. The grunting was still going on next door. Were they watching porn? Devin knocked on the door and waited.

  “Panchenko?” Devin pushed the door open and looked around.

  The room was empty. The bed was still made and the TV was on at full blast. Devin grabbed the remote, turning the sound down. Two men on the screen were pounding away at each other in a not so comfortable way. Devin tilted his head, watching.

  “That’s just odd,” he mumbled.

  Devin made a slow sweep of the room and then noticed another door in the wall was cracked open. Walking across the room, he yanked it open. Devin flipped up the light switch off to the side. Light illuminated a long narrow passage. His eyes widened and he ran out of Andrei’s room.

  Devin came to a sliding stop in the kitchen and found Ivan and Viktor drinking coffee at the kitchen table.

  “Where is he!” Devin shouted.

  “Who?” Ivan sipped his coffee.

  “Don’t play with me Ivan! Where the fuck is Panchenko?”

  Ivan raised his brows and slid a piece of paper across the table.

  Devin snatched it up and looked at it. “Leatherz?”

  “It is a gay bar,” Viktor smiled.

  Devin’s jaw dropped. “You let him go out?”

  “We do not let Andrei do anything. He is a grown man; he knows how we feel about it, but in the end,” Ivan shrugged. “He is the boss.”

  “Did you at least send someone with him?”

  “Yes, Christophe went with him.” Viktor sat back, crossing his arms over his chest.

  “Seriously!?” Devin shouted. “Oh my fucking God. I’m going to go bring him back.”

  “You’ll have to take the helicopter. The pilot is on a break right now, seeing as he just came back from taking Andrei and Christophe.” Ivan sipped his coffee, watching Agent Lyons’ face turn red with anger. “You know where the helipad is? You can wait for him there.”

  “I’ll take it my own damn self!” Devin turned and ran from the kitchen.

  Ivan turned to look at Viktor. “He seems high strung.”

  Viktor nodded, looking at the monitor in his hand. The one thing they had insisted on as soon as Andrei came into power was that he be outfitted with a tracking device. Andrei had balked at first, until Ivan had threatened to leave his employ if he refused. “Andrei is still at the club.”

  “Good,” Ivan grinned. “This should be fun.”

  ~~Chapter Four~~

  Devin sat in the helicopter and looked over the control panel. Thank God he had learned to fly helicopters as well as planes during his time in the FBI. He was airborne in minutes and headed towards the lights of Moscow. The Radisson Royal gleamed like a beacon and Devin landed perfectly on helipad nine. He jumped from the chopper. The ride had been short; by car it was a little over an hour to Moscow from
Andrei’s mansion on the outskirts of Klin. By helicopter? Not so much. Since the mansion was snuggled up into the mountains, flying out was the best option if you were in a hurry. And Devin was in a hell of a hurry.

  He raced down the stairs to the street and hailed a cab. He was going to strangle Andrei for this shit. He gave the driver the club’s address, and sat back and watched the buildings of Moscow fly by. He hadn’t been here in years. Apartments shared the roads with mom and pop stores and Devin closed his eyes. He hated Russia, everything about Russia. Especially Andrei Panchenko.

  The driver jerked to a stop and Devin put a hand out to stop his forward motion. The driver turned to look at him.

  “This is the club.”

  Devin looked out the window and scowled.

  “Great.”

  He gave the man the cab fare and climbed out. Smoke surrounded him in seconds as he made his way to the door. A long line snaked down the street and more than half of the people were smoking, waiting for their turn to go in. The music was shaking the damn building. Devin stepped in front of the line and flashed his badge at the very large Russian bouncer.

  “I’m Agent Devin Lyons; I’m here for Panchenko.” Devin stood his ground as the bouncer leaned into his face.

  “Mr. Panchenko does not wish to be disturbed.”

  “Listen Boris, I’m his bodyguard, so if you don’t let me in that door you’re going to find out real quick what happens to people who piss me off.”

  Boris seemed to eye him for a moment.

  “Did you say Lyons?” he asked.

  “I did.”

  “Markov and Lyons ? That Lyons?”

  “Yes, that one.” Devin hid his smile. He’d been partnered with Vince on more than one occasion and Vince Markov was known globally. Pretty much. He’d have to remember to thank him for being a crazy killer.

  “Go on in.”

  Devin stuck his hand out and thanked him, shaking his hand. He heard the grumbles and protests coming from the people waiting in line.

  “Oh shut up!” Devin waved at them and walked inside the club.

  The floor was shaking from the amount of bass currently pumping through the club. At least he recognized the song playing - Flo Rida’s “Good Feeling.” He narrowed his eyes, trying to see through the absurd amount of smoke in the place. Men were plastered to each other, shaking their hips and grinding on each other. Neon lights flickered on and off, then strobe lights flashed and Devin blinked to adjust his eyes. Loveseats were placed strategically around, filled with men in each other’s laps, oblivious to not only the music, but other men leering at them. Devin felt to make sure his gun was secure in the waistband of his pants. He walked around the club looking for Andrei.

  People parted in the middle of the club and Devin caught sight of jet black hair moving under the flashing lights. Andrei was dancing with Chris. Well not dancing exactly. Grinding was more like it. For friends, they damn sure were close. Andrei’s low rise jeans rode extremely low on his hips, showing off his underwear. Well, now he knew which brand Andrei wore. His muscle T-shirt was soaked in sweat and riding a little high on his abs. Devin snorted in derision and moved around the dance floor, keeping an eye on Andrei and anyone close to him.

  The music changed and Devin leaned up against the bar as the crowd went crazy. He had a perfect view of Andrei and Chris dancing. Another man made his way into the mix, rubbing up on Andrei’s ass. Devin leaned forward and narrowed his eyes. The man behind Andrei was gripping his hips and rubbing his cock all over the man who was the head of the Russian mob. Devin had to give him props, he had some balls. Andrei’s body rubbed against Chris, turning around and leaning back into him. Chris’ hands came around Andrei’s waist as they moved. Andrei was slowly rotating his ass over Chris’ cock, his arms locked behind his friend’s neck. His eyes were closed and his hair was slicked back with sweat. Chris’ hands were sliding up Andrei’s abs, pulling his shirt up a bit higher and Devin licked his lips as sweat rolled down perfectly sculpted six pack abs. The music caught his attention and Devin raised his brows and looked up at the speakers.

  “What the fuck is a G6?” he muttered.

  The people in the club threw their hands in the air and Devin looked to see Andrei and Chris with their hands in the air as well. Only one man didn’t. The man who was currently rubbing up all over Andrei was reaching for something in his back pocket. Devin sprung from the bar and made a beeline for the man. He heard a grunt as he plowed into him, sending him sprawling on the floor. Screams erupted in the club as Devin put his gun in the man’s mouth.

  “Who the fuck do you work for?” Devin snarled. “Start talking or I’m going to expand your pie hole considerably.”

  “Agent Lyons?!” Andrei froze in shock.

  “Mr. Panchenko.” Devin looked over his shoulder at him. “Now that the introductions are done - are you fucking crazy?”

  Andrei crossed his arms and regarded Lyons on top of the man who had been dancing with him.

  “Is he armed?” Andrei asked with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.

  Devin flipped the man on his stomach and frisked him. He pulled a pen and a picture out of the man’s pocket. The picture was of Andrei at a movie premiere. Devin let out a sigh and stood up.

  “Oh no!” Andrei covered his lower face with his hands in mock horror. “He could have killed me with his Bic pen!!”

  “The edge of that picture is sharp,” Chris nodded earnestly in agreement. “He could have sliced your throat.”

  “Very funny.” Devin stepped away from the man on the floor, nudging him with the toe of his shoe. “Get up.”

  Andrei gave the man a hand up and tried to smile.

  “I am sorry; my associate takes his job very seriously. Would you like me to sign the picture?” Andrei smiled as the man nodded slowly. He signed the picture and kissed the man on both cheeks. “Again I am very sorry. Please come around the house for lunch one day? As an apology?”

  “Yes, thank you, Mr. Panchenko.”

  Andrei pulled a business card from his wallet. “Here is a number to call when you are ready.” Andrei watched as the man sprinted from the dance floor. He glared at Lyons with a frown.

  “Oh don’t even start!” Devin yelled. “I told you not to come out and you did it anyway!” Devin grabbed Andrei’s arm and hauled him towards the exit. Andrei fought him the whole way and Devin tightened his grip on one hell of a large bicep.

  “I am a grown man!” Andrei pried Devin’s hand off his arm as they hit the cold air outside. Devin slammed him into the wall and pinned his hands. Andrei gasped as Devin’s thigh brushed his cock.

  “Don’t ever do that again,” Devin growled. “What if it hadn’t been a pen?”

  “But it was.” Andrei stared at Lyons’ face. “Let me go.”

  “Just as soon as I set some ground rules.”

  “Um, guys?”

  “Not now, Voronova!” Devin narrowed his eyes at Andrei. “You don’t go anywhere without me, got it?”

  “Guys?”

  “Not now, Christophe!” Andrei glowered at Lyons.

  “I’m going to fucking strangle you, Panchenko!” Devin rasped.

  “I am not into autoerotic asphyxiation,” Andrei drawled.

  “He really isn’t,” Chris shook his head sadly.

  Devin eyed Panchenko. “What game are you playing?”

  Chris brightened. “We’re playing games? Can we play naked Twister?”

  “Shut up, Chris!” Devin and Andrei said in unison.

  “Are you quite done?” Andrei leaned into Lyons’ face.

  Devin realized just how close he was to Andrei. He backed off and let Andrei’s hands loose. Turning, he caught the smirk on Chris’ face, as well as the looks from all the people standing in line. Great.

  Devin hailed a cab and threw Andrei and Chris inside before joining them. Except for the noise of the helicopter, the ride back to the mansion was quiet. Andrei was looking out the window. Arms crossed. Stone
-faced. Even motor mouth Chris had nothing to say. As soon as Devin touched down, Andrei was out of the chopper. Devin wound the copter down and threw the keys to the pilot, who had been none too pleased to return from his break to an empty helipad. Devin muttered his apologies in Russian. He caught up with Andrei on his way to the kitchen.

  “You need to take this shit seriously, Panchenko.” Devin followed him into the kitchen. Ivan and Viktor were still sitting at the table. “You’re still here?”

  “We do not go to sleep until Andrei is home safe.”

  “Oh, how good of you,” Devin snapped at them both.

  “Did you have a good time, Andrei?” Ivan snickered.

  “Oh, yes. Although I was held at pen point by a deranged stalker holding my picture. It was very scary. Thank God the big, strong FBI man was there to muscle the pen away.” Andrei grabbed a bottle of water and sauntered out of the kitchen.

  “Not one word!” Devin shot a look at the two men at the table and went after Andrei.

  Chris sat down at the table and covered his face with his hands.

  “Christophe? Are you all right?” Ivan rubbed his back.

  Chris rubbed his face with his hands and then dropped them. He grinned at the men.

  “Is it just me, or is the sexual tension between those two thick as shit?” Chris laughed as the two men at the table with him both nodded.

  ~*~

  Andrei slammed the door to his room open and stalked inside, slamming it shut behind him. The door didn’t slam however. He turned to see Lyons in the doorway.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Sleeping in here.” Devin grabbed a blanket off the back of the couch in front of the TV and removed his shirt. He sprawled out on the couch.

  “You cannot be serious!”

  “Oh, I am.” Devin put his hand behind his head and closed his eyes. “I can’t keep you safe if you’re not with me.”