Russian Roulette Read online

  When they arrived back at the mansion, Andrei strolled into the sitting room, the day was not over. There was a crowd of people waiting and Andrei greeted them as he came in. They all sat down and Vince listened as one by one they explained why they were there. He watched as Andrei smiled or looked sad at each tale. By the time the last one had left, Andrei had written over fifty checks. He walked over to the drink cabinet and poured himself a glass of vodka.

  “Would you like one?” he asked.

  “Please.” Vince replied. Andrei had an air of confidence about him that you couldn’t ignore. No wonder the heads of the families had put him in charge.

  “Andrei, you gave them money again?” Yuri stood at the door.

  “Get out, Urine. Now, I’ve got my gun and I am prepared to use it,” Vince said, forcefully.

  “Andrei will not let you kill me.”

  Vince stalked over to him. “I’m not asking for permission shithead, now get the fuck out.”

  “Yuri, you will do whatever Mr. Markov tells you to do. If he says jump you will ask how high. Now leave us,” Andrei growled.

  The look of shock on Yuri’s face made Vince smile. “Run along now.” Vince turned to see Andrei rubbing his hands over his face, He strode over and crouched in front of him. “You’re tired.”

  “It has been a long day.” Andrei sighed. Vince took his hand and a small current run through him leaving his body tingling.

  “Come on, let’s get you in bed.” Vince pulled him up.

  “Are you hitting on me?”

  Vince came within inches of Andrei’s face. “Believe me, you will know when I’m hitting on you.”

  All of the new dads were over at Mark and Paul’s, planning Brandon and Justin’s wedding to be held at Stefan and Jordan’s. Paul ordered the flowers, Mark the food. The wedding cake was three tiers of a simple white cake as that was what Brandon wanted.

  “Justin’s so cute when it comes to Brandon.” Jake sat back smiling at his daughter.

  “He has changed much.” Lorenzo laughed. “He was a lot like Vince when I first met him, cold and ruthless.”

  “He had never been in love?” Reece asked.

  “No, neither has Vince, nor I until Reece.”

  “I thought I was.” Dante smiled at Kyle. “I know now that I wasn’t.”

  “I didn’t even want to admit I liked men,” Kyle said.

  “Matt was a stepping stone for you.” Parker pointed out. “He brought you out of your shell so that you could fall in love with the man you were supposed to be with.”

  “I’ll always be grateful for that.”

  They both laughed when Katiana let out a loud giggle as Landon crawled on top of her. Dante picked her up and Kyle picked up Landon.

  “Jay, really?” Kyle teased.

  “What?” Jay chuckled. “So he likes her.”

  “Yeah, he does.” Greg agreed when Landon grabbed her hand and giggled.

  “Hey, were back.” Jason called out as he, Josh and their infant son, Joshua, came in.

  “Where are Damon and Tyler?” Paul asked.

  “Picking up the tuxes.” Jason replied as his son giggled at the sight of Katarina.

  “I spoke to Dimitri and Chris and they will be back from a mission in a few days. Justin and Brandon are on the team also with Brandon doing the intel with Chris as back up. I miss Dylan,” Lorenzo said.

  “We all do. I just hope Vince is okay.” Josh sounded a bit worried.

  “I hope he doesn’t kill Andrei,” Kyle chimed in.

  “Somehow I think Andrei is safe with Vince.” Stefan had come in with Jordan.

  “Oh, yeah?” Jake cocked a brow. “Could it be because he’s smoking hot?”

  “God, yeah he is.” Mark sighed.

  “Oh, please.” Dante rolled his eyes.

  “What?” Mark laughed.

  “We all know who the best looking one is.”

  “I am.” They all said it at once and Stefan and Jordan laughed.

  After a week of Vince’s protection, Andrei was getting irritated. Vince was nothing but professional, and Andrei was used to having a less formal working relationship with his guard. Then again, he had never been attracted to his guard.

  Tonight, however, Andrei was bored out of his mind. They were sitting at the dinner table and it was so quiet Andrei wanted to yell just to see if it would get a reaction from Vince. He stared at him and finally Vince looked up and cocked an eyebrow.

  “What?”

  “Are you always so serious? Do you ever have fun?”

  “Of course. I got a new knife not too long ago and I used it on my last mission.”

  “That is not what I meant.” Andrei scowled. “We are the same age are we not?”

  “I’m twenty-seven,” Vince said. “Why?”

  “You seem very boring for one so young.”

  “That’s so sweet.” Vince’s voice dripped with sarcasm.

  “Well, you do.” Andrei sat back twirling his breadstick in between his fingers.

  “Whatever.” Vince rolled his eyes. “I didn’t realize you were so soft.”

  “Excuse me?!” Andrei stood up, his hands gripping the wooden table.

  “Giving money to strangers, reading stories to orphaned kids? Yeah, that just screams bloodthirsty, killer mob boss.”

  “Fuck you!” Andrei snarled. “You want to see bloodthirsty?”

  “I think you forgot how.” Vince grinned.

  “Son of a bitch!” Andrei threw his chair aside and stomped over to Vince, yanking him up from his chair.

  “Am I supposed to tremble with fear?” Vince asked wryly.

  Andrei hauled back and delivered a punch to Vince. The next move took his legs out from underneath him. Andrei straddled him, leaning into his face. “Now what?”

  Vince snapped his head forward, catching Andrei off guard. He whipped Andrei to his back and held both hands down with one of his own. “I don’t feel pain, Andrei.”

  “You will!” Andrei rasped.

  Vince dragged Andrei up and threw him almost across the dining room table. Plates smashed to the floor and food went flying. Andrei recovered as Vince reached for him again. He kicked out and hit Vince square in the chest, sending him into the wall behind him. Vince roared and grabbed Andrei, jumping on him across the table. They rolled around, each trying to get the upper hand.

  “You’re spry for a weakling.” Vince chuckled.

  “Asshole!” Andrei gripped Vince’s hair

  It was at that moment that Andrei noticed Vince was lying on top of him and their mouths were mere inches apart. He closed the distance, yanking Vince to his lips.

  Vince was in such shock he didn’t know what to do for a few seconds until Andrei’s tongue made a sweep of his mouth.

  Vince reversed their positions and took Andrei’s mouth. He gripped his hair tightly and kissed him hard; they were kissing furiously and Andrei had a tight grip on his hair, pulling him in deeper. Vince ripped Andrei’s shirt open and licked him from his stomach to his neck before taking his mouth again. Goddamn, he tasted good; Vince wanted to pound the shit out of him. His hand moved to Andrei’s crotch and he shoved his hand into his pants, squeezing his cock.

  Oh holy hell. Andrei moaned loudly and grabbed Vince wherever he could — ass, then cock, before he was rewarded with a loud growl. Fuck, but he was turned on! He wanted to fuck him on the damn table.

  “What is going on?” a voice interrupted.

  They looked up to find Yuri standing near them with his mouth dropped open. They both busted out laughing.

  “We are testing the stability of this table,” Vince informed him.

  “I am not cleaning this up.” Yuri turned and walked out.

  Andrei and Vince looked at each other and started laughing again. Andrei was laughing so hard he rolled right off the table.

  “Ow.”

  “Are you okay?” Vince put his hand out to help Andrei up.

  Andrei smiled and yanked him off
the table. He thumbed Vince’s bottom lip, wiping potatoes off. He looked in Vince’s eyes and noticed that he was looking at Andrei’s lips.

  “Vince…”

  “We should get cleaned up.” Vince stood up and extended his hand.

  The maids came in and stopped short at seeing the condition of the room. Andrei assured them he would clean it up. One of them approached him and said something in Russian. Andrei hugged her and she laughed when he got food all over her.

  “Come on, we should clean up outside.” Andrei pulled Vince behind him.

  They went out to the backyard by the pool where Andrei pulled the hose out, then proceeded to strip. Vince watched him, mesmerized.

  “You are going to get out of your clothes?”

  “I’ll clean you off first, then you can do me.” Vince stopped and wanted to kick himself. Oh shit.

  Andrei cocked an eyebrow. “Oh, really?”

  Vince turned the hose on him and laughed when Andrei let out a stream of curse words. “It is cold!”

  “Aww, poor baby.” Vince cleaned Andrei’s hair then moved closer to get the peas out. “I think there’s a marshmallow in your ear.”

  “Really?”

  “No.”

  “Sooka.”

  “Really? Bitch?”

  Vince turned the sprayer on him and Andrei dove for the hose, and turned it on Vince.

  “Jesus, that is cold!” Vince was fighting for the hose and got it back; Andrei ran for the pool. “Oh, no you don’t!”

  Andrei felt Vince plow into him and they went in together, Andrei came up laughing and Vince was standing in the water with food falling down his hair.

  “Leftovers are a sexy look on you.”

  Andrei reached over and pulled Vince’s shirt up from the bottom. Vince put his arms up and Andrei yanked the shirt off. He stared at the muscular chest covered in tattoos. The six-pack abs flexed and Andrei ran his hands over the ridges.

  Vince couldn’t breathe; he closed his eyes as Andrei’s hands ran slowly over his body.

  They were standing in the pool, Andrei in boxers and Vince in jeans and no shirt. Vince closed his eyes but they flew open when Andrei stroked his cheek. They looked at each other and Vince’s arm went around Andre’s waist pulling him close. Andrei’s breath caught in his throat.

  “Are you cold?” Vince asked.

  “No.”

  “Andrei?”

  Vince let out a loud sigh. Fucking piece of shit, Yuri.

  “Yes?” Andrei looked over Vince’s shoulder.

  “There is a phone call for you.”

  “How convenient,” Vince deadpanned.

  “I will be back.”

  Andrei left and Vince got out of the pool, water pouring from his pants.

  “You want me don’t you, Urine?”

  “What?”

  “I think you are jealous of more than Andrei’s job.” Vince stroked a big hand down his chest.

  “I do not want you,” Yuri sneered.

  “Yeah? Then why do you have a hard-on?”

  Dylan woke up with a note from Alex. He had gone to the store to get more food. Dylan got up and winced when his feet hit the floor. The burns on his feet were still healing but every step felt like the sores were re-opening. Their Turkish enemies had captured him during their last mission and tortured him for information. He walked gingerly to the shower and looked into the mirror. He could open his eye now despite the swelling; his bruised face was all shades of pretty colors now.

  Dylan sighed and turned on the shower. He let the water run down his back and sighed at how good it felt. Hands suddenly began massaging his shoulders and he leaned into Alex, loving the feel of his hands. Alex kissed his shoulder. He turned around and Alex took his mouth. They kissed slowly and Dylan’s arms crept around his neck; Alex picked him up, deepening the kiss.

  “You’re back.”

  “I wouldn’t leave you for long.”

  “I missed this.”

  “I missed you. I missed us, baby.” Alex had only recently regained his memory after a traumatic brain injury left him with temporary amnesia. It had not been pleasant for Dylan when Alex not only didn’t remember him, but showed no desire to do so.

  Alex washed his hair and made sure he soaped him up. Dylan reveled in the shower spray, feeling Alex’s hands smooth all over his body. Alex looked at his face and almost cried, what they had done to him — someone was going to die a slow painful death. Dylan sighed when Alex’s hand stroked his stomach.

  “Please, touch me, Alex. I miss your hands, your touch.” Dylan kept his eyes closed as Alex’s lips massaged his, and then a hand stroked him.

  Alex kissed him, loving Dylan’s taste, he wanted to make love to Dylan but knew his body was still healing. It was too soon. He continued to caress him, loving the sounds he made. Dylan’s tongue was doing a slow search of his mouth and Alex groaned. He had missed Dylan’s kisses so much. It had seemed like forever since they had been together.

  “Alex…” Dylan felt his orgasm closing in.

  “Let it go, baby.” Alex stroked faster.

  Dylan came with a loud cry, his whole body shaking from the force of it. He held onto Alex to steady himself as Alex held him close, kissing his neck and face. He ran his hand into his hair, kissed him, and parted his lips. Their tongues met and Dylan moaned into Alex’s mouth. Alex pulled away slowly and smiled. He turned the water off and wrapped them both in a large towel. He carried Dylan to the bed and put him down gently, climbing in with him.

  “Alex?”

  “What is it, baby?”

  “You really want to marry me?”

  “More than anything in this world. I’m so sorry I hurt you so much, you know I would never —”

  Dylan cut him off with a kiss. “I know.”

  “You said in Russia that we needed to see if we were meant to be together.”

  “We are. I love you so much, Alex. I always have.”

  “When do you want to get married?”

  “As soon as possible.”

  Tyler Youngblood was on his way home when his cell phone rang; he looked at the caller ID and smiled.

  “Hello, sexy.” Tyler could hear Vince’s chuckle all the way from Russia. “How’s it going guarding that sexy body?”

  “That’s what I’m calling about.” Vince sighed.

  “Oh, you’ve got it bad for the mob boss.”

  “Come on, Tyler, I need you to be my friend right now. I’m attracted to him and I don’t know what to do.”

  “Well…” Tyler thought about it. “Do you think he’s attracted to you?”

  “Well, he did kiss me the other night.”

  “I’m sorry. Say that again.”

  “You heard me. We got into a fight and he kissed me.”

  “Yeah? Was it good?” Tyler joked. “Wait, you were having a fight? Were you drunk?”

  “No, I wasn’t drunk! And Andrei started it. Anyway, this is so off the point. He can kiss.”

  “Yeah? Is he packin’?”

  “Why, yes he is.”

  “Oh my God, you got your hands on him?” Tyler had to pull the car over.

  “Well…yeah. I mean we were rolling around in broken plates, glasses, and food and he kissed me and I kind of…well, grabbed his cock.”

  “Why do I always miss the good stuff?” Tyler mumbled.

  “What?”

  “Nothing. So did he…you know….”

  “Yes, he got a hold of me too.” Vince sighed. “He’s so…I don’t even know how to explain Andrei.”

  “Oh, Vince.” Vince was developing feelings for Andrei. He was so clueless.

  “What?”

  “As your friend I’m telling you to play this out, see what happens, and be open to it. Okay?”

  “You sure?”

  “I’m positive. If you need me again, call me. I’m always here, Vince.”

  “I know. Thanks, Tyler.” Vince was very attracted to Andrei and he had seen what kind of
man he was. He just wasn’t sure he was the right man for him.

  The sun was out and the parents and kids were at the park. Jason Reynolds, Greg Reynolds, Parker Greco, Reece Costa, and Kyle Russo were sitting around a picnic bench while their men played football. It was almost comical the way they played. Kyle watched Mark Greystone take off at a sprint with Kyle’s husband, Dante, on his heels. Mark skirted out of his reach and flew into the end zone.

  “That’s my man!” Paul whistled.

  “Jesus, Mark!” Dante leaned over trying to catch his breath.

  “Yup, he’s fast.” Jake Greco laughed.

  “So is Tyler. Damn, you two can run,” Jason’s husband, Josh, wheezed.

  Little Stefan and Nico Youngblood were playing a little ways away from the younger kids — Tyler and Damon Youngblood’s twins, Tanner and Damon, Caleb and Heath Youngblood’s daughter, Lily, and Isabelle Youngblood Sanders’ little Jordan. Isabelle had dropped him off for the grandpas, Stefan and Jordan Youngblood, to have fun with and they had fought over who was going to hold him first. The babies were right next to the picnic table lying on a blanket.

  “Dada!” Joshua called to Jason.

  Jason looked at his son. “What’s up, little man?”

  Joshua giggled and put his hands out; Jason picked him up and held him close.

  “He looks so much like you, Jason.” Parker shook his head.

  “I hope so.”

  Joshua pointed at Josh walking toward them. “Dada!”

  “Yep, that’s your crazy, whacked-out Dad.”

  “I heard that.” Josh leaned over and kissed Jason. “How are my two favorite men?”

  “Dada, Dada!” Joshua was jumping up and down in Jason’s lap with his arms out.

  Josh smiled and picked up his son. He kissed his cheek and held him close. “Daddy loves you.”

  Suddenly, young Tanner let out a scream. Nico turned around and noticed an older kid had pushed him off the swing. Damon was in the bigger kid’s face.

  “You don’t touch my brother!” Damon pushed him.

  Stefan and Nico were running as the kid pushed Damon down. Nico got there first, and he stood in front of Damon and Tanner on the ground as Stefan tried to help them.

  “Why don’t you come after me, huh?” Nico threatened. “You only bully kids smaller than you?”