Burning Bright (9 page)

Paul and Carlos plopped down on the huge couch that ran the length of Neal’s office. In a moment, Mario joined them, minus the assault rifle.

Sasha gazed around, curious; Neal missed showing this during the tour. His cock twitched remembering how they started in the club playroom area and didn’t leave until he resembled a puddle.

The floor continued the concrete of the dining area, but the long couch’s rich forest green gave the room color. A huge black-and-white photo, framed in black lacquer, dominated the wall. In it, tigers played in the snow. From their size and coats, they must be Siberian tigers. Neal’s desk, a monstrosity of gleaming cherry-wood, showed some small scars while a cheap computer chair sat behind it, almost hidden. Two chairs, filched from the restaurant, waited in front.

Neal perched on the corner of his desk while fiddling with the phone. He gestured to one of the chairs, after looking up and seeing Sasha hovering near the door. Sasha flipped it around to face both Neal and the couch.

“There. I think I’ve got TJ on speaker.”

“Yeah, ya do.” The tinny voice sounded long suffering. It also held a faint drawl and Sasha listened with interest to the shy Marine that avoided him. “I’m freezing some pics of the perps and sending them to ya on your computer.” A paused followed. “You do have it on?”

Neal leaned over his desk. “Yup.”

“What’s going on?” Paul folded his arms over his chest, hints of tattoo ink showing from under the sleeve of his T-shirt.

“The Russians seem to be interested in us again,” Neal admitted.

“Again? I didn’t know they were sniffing around before. Did you? Carlos, Mario?”

Sasha, happy to be ignored for once, watched Neal rub his face before answering. “They approached me about giving us protection. I convinced them the Factory didn’t need it.”

“Crap. When was this?” Carlos demanded.

The other men just glared.

“They cornered me alone when I went to apply for zoning. We played the shove-you game. The next time, a few weeks later, I went to get our booze license they changed tactics. Offered to have us work for them. My refusal was stronger.” Neal’s smile possessed a feral quality.

His men looked less pleased. Sasha could feel the waves of pissed-off wafting from the couch.

“I did mention we needed to look sharp while settling in,” Neal muttered defensively.

“Implying gang-bangers and not gangsters,” Paul countered.

TJ’s voice interrupted them. “Look at the monitor and see if we can get IDs.”

Neal turned his flatscreen around and Sasha leaned forward. The heavy face filled with malicious glee brought back the events in the alley. “That’s Petya. He seemed to be the leader.”

“And that’s one of the guys who approached me,” Neal added.

“I’ll try to dig up some intel,” the disembodied voice promised them.

Carlos turned to Neal. “Why didn’t you tell us?”

A stern look from Neal made the younger man squirm. Sasha winced in sympathy. Neal could sure look intimidating when he tried to.

Paul exhaled in annoyance. “You can’t decide what’s ‘need to know’ anymore. We’re a business and family now.”

Mario folded his huge arms over his chest. “Yeah, I have my guys and some gals pop out of the kitchen all the time to dump trash. I tell them need to go in pairs, but they forget. Kids.”

“Sorry, guys. But we were having such a hard time settling in. Didn’t want to add stuff.” Neal tilted his head toward the phone, his expression sharpening as he gazed at the others. “And they stayed away, not a peep, and we’ve been open for a while.”

Mario snorted. “I bet what got their attention again was that damn review. The critic practically drooled over us. And to think I was happy he liked my lasagna.”

“Yeah, if we tanked and made no profit they probably would’ve lost interest. Let us go belly up and not bothered with us,” Paul agreed.

“Now we know we got slack. What happened with Doc could’ve been any of our patrons. They should be under our protection while they’re with us. We’ll meet up in an hour to compare notes of measures we need. TJ, make a wish list.”

As the unseen Marine started making happy noises and going back and forth with Paul, Neal turned to Sasha. “Sorry to drag you into this.”

“No problem, I sort of started it. But I should get going.” Sasha stood. “I’ve got to run some errands and clean my apartment.”

“Sounds good. I’ll walk you down, I want to work out.”

“You have a gym nearby?”

Neal held the door for him and followed him out of the office. “No, I have some equipment outside in the lot. Free weights.”

“Sounds good.” Sasha didn’t remember seeing them in the earlier excitement. He also suspected Neal wanted to check out his car again. Maybe even guard it until the gate got fixed. He suppressed a smirk.

Sasha got the rest of his things and by the time he was all ready, Neal had changed into his workout clothes.

Tight pants and no shirt. Crap.

Neal grinned at him. “You ready?”

“For what?” Sasha shot back. “You look like a centerfold.”

Neal grinned, clearly flattered. “Maybe that’s the point.”

Maybe laundry could wait…

“Come on, Doc,” Neal said, and opened the door to the hallway. “I’ll walk you down.”

Sasha followed him. Steve and Carlos sat at a booth near the door, drinking iced tea.

“Leaving so soon?” Steve called.

“I have to run some errands,” Sasha told him. “You know how it is.”

He must be imagining the look of disappointment in the big man’s eyes. Steve had changed into a wine-red button-down shirt, open at the throat, that highlighted the smooth texture of his skin. The color of dark chocolate, its appearance made Sasha want to run his hands over the other man’s chest and…

Well. He looked down, face flushing. He turned away to find Neal watching him. He didn’t seem jealous; more amused.

“I’ll walk you to your truck. You have your keys, yeah?”

“Yeah.” Sasha cleared his throat. “Thanks.”

He didn’t regret leaving until he pulled out of the alley and headed toward his apartment. Neal watched him, standing by the broken gate, until he turned the truck onto the street and drove away.

Chapter Ten

Chicken Soup for the Heart

Sasha woke late on Saturday, but his body hurt less. His face still looked awful, the bruising faded to an ugly yellowish brown. His ribs seemed fine, unless he monkeyed with them, which he found out the hard way in the shower. Pressing on them brought tears to his eyes and he wanted to howl with frustration.

Doing laundry and cleaning grounded him. He’d been at it all day but the apartment sparkled, as much as the run-down place
could
sparkle. He sat on his bed and looked around, seeing Neal’s place in his mind.

His aunt’s number popped up on his mobile as it buzzed and he flipped it open. “Auntie.”

Aunt Z laughed. “You’re certainly in a good mood. How are things in Chicago?”

“Excellent.”

“Oh? Do tell…”

“You’ll tell all those other old ladies at the quilting circle and gossip about me.”

“You
know
that’s the highlight of the evening, Sasha.”

He chuckled. “I met someone.”

She waited. “That’s all?”

“His name’s Neal Harrison.” He lay on his back on the bed, his legs over the side, and told his aunt about Neal. It didn’t take long before he expanded and told her about Steve and Carlos too.

“That sounds like
three
someones, honey. How’d the interview go?”

“He’s got a Scarlet Macaw, Aunt Z. His name is Faust and he likes grapes. And me, I guess, he sat on my shoulder the whole time. I think Doctor Salisbury really liked me. I got an email from him the other day. Hang on… I’ll get it…” He read it to her.

“That’s really exciting, Sasha.” She hesitated. “I’m afraid that’s not the only reason for my call.”

A chill went through him and he sat down. “What’s wrong? Is Mom okay?”

“Well, she’s had another episode. Doctor Malden thinks it’s only a matter of time.”

“How bad is Mom? Really?”

She didn’t answer right away. “She doesn’t know what’s happening, honey. She’s not in any pain.”

His eyes filled with tears and he sat back in his chair. “But…”

“But it’s only a matter of time. She has good days and bad. Alzheimer’s is deceptive, and you don’t always have a lot of warning.”

“Should I visit again, or come back for good?”

“You were just here, honey. She’s back at Haven Home. I’ll let you know if it gets any worse. You deserve a chance to make a real go of it. When do you find out about the job?”

“Soon, he says.”

They hung up shortly after that, but Sasha didn’t really pay much attention. The rest of the afternoon passed in a daze until the phone rang again.

“Doctor Soskoff,” he answered without looking.

“You’re always so formal on the phone.”

His heart flipped over. “Neal.”

“How are you?”

Gods. How was he? “Um…”

Neal paused. “Is this a bad time?”

Should he tell him? They only knew each other for a short time… But his gut said he was right about the man. Of course, his gut
would
say that…

“Doc?”

“Yeah, sorry. I got a bad phone call from home, actually. My mom’s in the hospital.”

“Jesus. Is she okay?”

“Not really, no. She’s got Alzheimer’s and had a setback.”

“I’m sorry.” Neal paused. “I’ll understand if the answer’s no, but I was calling to see if you wanted to do something tomorrow.”

Sasha sat on his bed. “No, I’m just not up for it. Thanks, though.”

“That’s okay. What about Monday?”

Sasha closed his eyes. He received an email from the Columbus Zoo and planned on driving down there. He couldn’t rely on Northwestern if he didn’t want to not go home. Of course, now he didn’t want to leave Chicago, either. “I’m free on Wednesday.”

There was a long moment of silence and Sasha held his breath.

“Wednesday for sure then.”

They spoke for a few more minutes before hanging up. The evening seemed to stretch out in front of him and Sasha almost changed his mind. Instead, he pulled the covers over himself and hid in dreamless sleep.

The meeting and trip had gone well, and it had been great to meet Jack Hanna, but, if hired, he would be the most junior vet on a staff of many. He almost wished they wouldn’t contact him back. Torn, he called the Factory as he pulled up in front of it.

“Hey, babe. Where you at?” Neal’s voice sounded warm and touchable.

“In front.”

“Pull around back. Steve’s down there working out, he’ll let you in.”

“Sounds good.”

He drove down the alley, feeling a chill as he passed the place he was attacked, and pulled into the fenced-off lot. Steve stood inside the open gate, shirtless. His dark skin shined with a light sweat and the bulge at his crotch stood out against the light grey workout pants.

Sasha parked and messed around with his keys to hide his reaction. He left the overnight bag in the passenger foot well. He didn’t want to take anything for granted.

Steve evidently got tired of waiting because he materialized next to the door. His pecs seemed nicely framed by the window and Sasha resisted the urge to lick the light sheen of sweat.

Steve held the door for him. “Neal told me about your mom. You okay?”

“Better now that I’m here,” Sasha chirped.

Steve’s eyes widened and his cheeks got a tinge of cherry red.

A blush? Sasha wanted to grin.

“Neal’s upstairs,” Steve told him.

“How’s your workout?” Sasha blurted as Steve started to turn away.

Steve turned back. “Good. Just lifting.” He motioned to the weight bench and nearby rack of free weights.

Sasha had a sudden fantasy of Steve tying him to the bench and pumping into him with that bulge his workout pants barely contained. He shivered and his cock tightened, ready to awaken.

“Well, see you upstairs,” Sasha said, in an effort to cover his arousal.

Steve twitched like he wanted to reach for him. They stared at each other, both panting slightly. Sasha watched Steve’s tongue, dark pink, peek out of his mouth to moisten his lips.

“Doc.”

They both jumped and Sasha turned to see Carlos standing in the alley. He met Sasha’s gaze with an avid expression in his eyes.

Sasha
had
to be imagining things, dammit. He stuffed his hands in his pocket and pinched himself, hard, in an effort to calm down.

“Hey, Carlos.” Good. Sasha’s voice came out sounding normal.

“Come on in. You done, Steve-O?” Carlos called.

“Nah. I’ve got a few more sets. I’ll be up after my shower.”

Sasha indulged in a short fantasy of washing Steve’s back, among other places, as he walked down the alley toward the Factory’s back door. He nearly tripped over his own feet getting up the steps. What Sasha wouldn’t give to wash that hard body of Steve’s.

“I’m sorry to hear about your mom,” Carlos said as he led the way to the elevator. “How is she?”

Well, okay, that was one way to kill the moment… “She’s not doing very well, but she has Alzheimer’s. She’s comfortable.”

Carlos peeked at him as the elevator clattered its way up. “You okay?”

Sasha shrugged. “It is what it is.”

He was saved from having to explain further since they arrived upstairs. Talk about saved by the elevator bell. The doors opened to the heady aroma of garlic and wine sauce that filled the hallway. His stomach gurgled.

Carlos pointed. “Go on in. I have to do some stuff downstairs, but maybe I’ll see you later.”

Sasha smiled at him. “Sounds good.”

He knocked on Neal’s door.

“It’s open.”

Neal stood by the stove, wearing a white-linen button-down and jeans covered by a forest green apron.

“What does your apron say?” Sasha asked, distracted by the text.

“Will cook for sex,” Neal told him, smirking. “Hope you’re hungry.”

Sasha came over and Neal moved so he could inhale over the skillet. “It smells fantastic.”

“Hungarian Goulash, without the sausage.” He cupped Sasha’s cheek and kissed him gently.