Authors: Jordan Moore
After leaving Morgan Investments, Ethan's mind was still whirling. The entire foundations of his world were crumbling around him.
Werewolves were not supposed to be billionaire CEOs of major investment corporations!
Suddenly, his cell thrummed in his pocket. He pulled it out and glanced at it. It was Devin.
A surge of happiness went through him. Devin was polite, he was educated, he was handsome, and most of all, he was human. But why did a little voice in Ethan’s head keep saying, '
he's not as passionate, gentle, or as sexy as Talen'
?
"Hello Devin."
"Hello Ethan," Devin's cultured voice drifted through his phone connection. "I know that you told me not to call you during work hours, but I just was struck with the strangest compulsion to call you. Is everything all right?"
Ethan snorted with amusement. "No, things are a bit weird for me right now. But you do have crazy timing. I had to take the rest of the day off from work."
"I'm sorry to hear things aren't okay for you," Devin replied. "Would you like some company? I don't know if I can help, but at least I can be someone to talk to."
Ethan smiled. "Not right now Devin, but that's very sweet of you."
"I understand. Perhaps tonight then?"
"Yeah, that would be good. How about you come by my place at eight? I don't really feel like going out tonight."
"Can we do seven instead?"
"Okay, seven it is."
"That would be great, but I still don't know your address," Devin said, causing Ethan to chuckle again.
Ethan told him his address, and confirmed that he would be there. "All right, see you then."
After going to his apartment, Ethan changed into some sweats. His entire life, there had been one thing that was a great stress reliever; working out. He always got back what he put into it.
When he was done, he set out for a jog around Central Park.
Ethan loved jogging. It cleared his mind and gave him time to think.
What did Ethan feel about Talen?
Sure, Talen was funny, he was kind, and there was something in the way his eyes glinted when he looked at Ethan.
At the same time, he was horrible with time management, impulsive, and obviously a man who kept secrets.
Then there was the fact that Ethan was just a young guy with no family, and even with his job, a massive student debt that ensured he'd be living in the same cheap apartment for the next few years.
Talen was a man with so much money that he didn't need to keep a mental note of what his bank account was worth. If he wanted something, the money was there, plain and simple.
Then there was Devin. He was handsome, he was educated, and from everything Ethan knew about him, he was from the same streets he was, just a different part of town.
They liked a lot of the same things, and oh could the man kiss!
Ethan had fantasized about that kiss for days afterwards, comparing it to his admittedly short list of men he had kissed before, and it was at the top of the list.
Caught up in his thoughts, Ethan didn't even notice as he bumped right into Jim's hotdog stand.
"Ouch!" Ethan cried, rubbing at his hip.
Jim spun towards him, having been serving a hotdog to a young boy who was laughing at Ethan's predicament. The boy ran off, Jim ignoring him to check on Ethan.
"Ethan, are you okay?" Jim asked, reaching into his drink cooler for one of the ice packs he kept there to chill the bottles of soda. "Here, put this on your hip."
"No, I'm all right Jim, just a bit humiliated," he replied, before shaking his head. "Actually no, I'm far from all right."
Jim looked around, before reaching under his bench and grabbing a big "CLOSED" sign that he propped up on his cart. "Come with me," he said, leading Ethan to a bench just a few feet away. "Now, talk to me Ethan. I've known you since the days your mother would bring you down here to play on the bars. Your mother has passed on, bless her soul, but you're still here, and still on the bars. Talk to me."
Ethan looked at the kind man who had been almost a father figure to him since his own father had skipped out on the family when he was only eight, and held back tears. "Jim, I don't know how to say it all."
“What’s wrong?
“I don’t want you to judge me.”
“Why would I do that?”
“Because...” Ethan voice trailed off. “Everything is not what it seems with me.”
“What that you’re gay?”
Ethan reared back with surprise. “How’d you know that?”
Ethan had never told anyone around the neighborhood about his sexuality and most people had assumed he was straight.
Jim was glib in his response. “I know things.”
Ethan stared at him.
“Don’t worry. I’ve known it all this time and I have never once thought differently of you because of it.”
Ethan sighed. “Okay. It’s a lot of stuff I want to tell you. It will be really good to get it off my shoulders.”
"That's fine, kiddo. I'm Irish Catholic, I know all about the difficulties of unburdening the soul. You should hear me in confession when I manage to go."
Ethan chuckled, and found the levity had freed his mind. "Well Jim, there's two guys I’m currently talking to. Both of them are into me, and both of them have a lot of really great qualities about them. Problem is, I can't decide which I would rather be with. I’m not the sort to play around with a guy, and well... I just don't know what to do. The first guy, he's really good-looking, kind, and smart. He's just a little... too perfect and mysterious, you know?
On the other hand, the other man, he's kept a secret from me, but he's also intelligent, funny, caring, and when he looks at me, there's this pull as if I'm drawn to him."
Jim nodded. "I wish I could say that I've felt that magnetism more often in my life with women, but I've seen it often enough."
"So what do I do? I feel like a crappy love song or something!" Ethan groaned.
“I know who can help you.”
"Who?" Ethan asked. "And don't tell me God, because I haven't talked to him since he took my mother away."
"I know that kiddo," Jim chuckled. "And no, not him. I was going to say the answer lies within you. Ethan, I've watched you grow for all of your years. You don't remember, but I can still recall the first time your mother brought you in that little stroller of yours.
Over the years, I've seen you grow. Even when life knocked down, you got right back up. You kept going, and you kept growing. I watched as you went from a gawky little boy to an upstanding young man. Now, what's made you great is not just your good looks Ethan, but your mind. You're sharper than I can ever lay claim to being, and you've got a big heart too. Look in there, and you'll find your answer."
Ethan hugged Jim, and patted him on the back as he would a father. "Thank you, Jim. I love you, you know that?"
Jim smiled bashfully, and patted Ethan’s knee. "I love you too Ethan. If I had a son half as good as you, I'd be the happiest dad in the universe. As it stands, I have a daughter, and have to hope I get some granddaughters soon. Now go on home, Ethan. Think it out, like you always do. I'll be here if you need any more help. Or a hotdog."
Ethan laughed, and stood up to go. As he did, he turned to look back at Jim, who was removing the sign from his hotdog cart.
Ethan smiled, and turned to go before Jim's words made him choke up.
It wasn't a smart idea to show weakness walking through the streets of New York City. You never knew what predators were out there.
Exactly at six, Ethan’s buzzer from downstairs echoed through Ethan's apartment. Checking his hair and reflection from his window one last time, Ethan took a deep breath to alleviate his nervousness.
Tonight was the first night Ethan had ever had another man in his apartment since moving in.
"It is what it is," Ethan said softly, taking a look around.
His new job might come with a large paycheck, but he hadn't found time to add much to his living situation since his initial shopping trip. The buzzer rang out again, and he turned.
"Coming, I'm coming!"
Pressing the button, he spoke into the small intercom. "Devin?"
"Yes, it's me. Can I come up?"
"Of course. Let me buzz you in," Ethan said, triggering the button.
The intercom shut off, and he could hear Devin’s footsteps on the stairway. Opening the door, Ethan found him just coming up the last few stairs to his level.
"Devin, welcome."
Devin kissed Ethan on the cheek, wrapping his arms around his waist for just a moment before stepping inside.
Ethan had to give him credit, he didn't let his lack of decoration faze him in the least. "It's... Spartan," he said, "Very functional."
"Sorry, I know it's basically an empty box," Ethan laughed, closing the door. "On the positive side, I was planning on cooking us a little something."
Devin chuckled, a grin on his face. "I would happily place my health in your hands. What has Chef Ethan prepared for me tonight?"
Dinner wasn't much, rice with pork that his mother had taught Ethan to make long ago. Devin praised Ethan over every bite however, and Ethan felt warmed by his compliments.
After dinner, the two watched a movie on Ethan's laptop while sharing some chilled wine that he had bought earlier in the day.
About halfway through the movie, a simple comedy starring two dumbasses, Ethan felt Devin’s arm on his shoulder, and he adjusted, leaning into him, feeling the warmth of his skin on his arm as he started to stroke his shoulder.
Ethan could feel the warmth build within him, and he found it increasingly difficult to focus on the inane jokes in the movie.
Ethan turned his head towards Devin, his breath coming a little faster in his chest, and he felt captured by the icy blueness of his eyes.
Even in just the simple light from his laptop screen, Devin had the most handsome face Ethan had ever seen, and his fingers moved on their own to trace his cheekbones, following the contours around to his jaw, then to his sensuous lips.
Leaning in, Ethan felt his lips part in desire as Devin’s mouth captured his, his tongue darting in to tease and taste him.
Ethan moaned as Devin’s hands pulled him closer to him, and his own hands caressed the lithe, dancer's chest. Ethan started to unbutton Devin’s shirt, pushing the annoying fabric away from his hot skin, greedy to see and feel more of him.
Leaning back, Devin pulled Ethan on top of him, their hard bodies crushing together as Ethan gasped, feeling the enormous hardness within Devin’s pants.
Ethan could feel his want flare as Devin’s hands stroked and teased his back, working them lower and lower until he was holding his ass, his hands hot even through Ethan’s jeans.
Ethan hadn't planned on this, but his body knew what it wanted.
It wanted Devin, now.
"Take off my shirt," Ethan whispered in Devin’s ear, biting on his earlobe and then licking it. "I want to feel your strong hands on my skin."
Devin immediately began to pull on the hem of his shirt, first yanking it free of the waistband of his jeans before running up his back, tracing fiery hot lines on Ethan’s heated flesh.
Ethan groaned, pushing himself against Devin’s chest. Things were about to get even more hot when Ethan’s door buzzer rang again.
Damn! Who the hell was it?
"Ignore it," Devin whispered, running his fingers across Ethan’s chest and caressing his erect nipples. Ethan gasped, feeling Devin’s fingers tweak and tease them, when the buzzer rang again. Then again. And again.
Annoyed, Ethan sat up, his desire cooled.
"Whoever that is, they better have a damn good reason to be here!" Ethan snapped, jumping up and stomping to the doorway. Mashing the button, he barked into the intercom. "Who is it? And why the hell are you mashing on my doorbell like a god damn mad man!”
"Ethan, it's Jasmine," her familiar voice came over the intercom. "May I come up?"
"Jasmine, now is not the time," Ethan replied, barely controlling his voice. "I have company and would rather not be bothered."
"I understand that," Jasmine replied, "But this is very important. I promise it won’t be more than a few minutes. I just promised that I would give you a document."
"Fine, a minute," Ethan said, closing the intercom and hitting the door buzzer. He turned to Devin, who was sitting up on the couch, a strange look on his face. Ethan smiled apologetically. "I promise Devin, only a minute."
Devin smiled, and Ethan felt a chill run through him, dampening his mood even further.
Devin’s smile looked smug, and almost.... predatory? Shaking his head, Ethan tugged his t-shirt down and unlocked his apartment door, waiting for Jasmine to come up.
A few seconds later, he heard the soft knock at his door. Opening it, he saw the concerned visage of his co-worker. "I'm sorry Ethan. I promised Karina that I would give this to you," Jasmine said, pulling a bound file folder from her briefcase. "It's vital that you......" Jasmine's voice stopped, her eyes transfixed behind Ethan.
"Jasmine?" Ethan asked, perplexed. "What is the problem?"
"You!" Jasmine snarled, her face twisting into a visage of hatred. "Grimes!"
Ethan glanced from Devin to Jasmine and back, confusion filling him. "You two know each other?"
Devin strolled over behind Ethan, before leaning over and kissing him possessively on the cheek, his hands on Ethan’s shoulders.
"You could say that. Hello, Shieldmaiden. How's your Mistress these days? I do owe her a visit."
Ethan backed away, shocked. What the hell was going on? What did Devin know about Jasmine and Karina?
Ethan stumbled out of the way as Jasmine spat into Devin's face, the thick spittle oozing down his left cheek.
Devin wiped it away with disdain, smirking the whole time. "Tell your Hunt Leader that I could have had him first," he said, before turning to give Ethan a lascivious wink. "Call ya later, sexy."
Ethan heard Devin's footsteps in the hallway, but they went far too long for him to be using the elevator or the stairs.
Suddenly, he heard the window at the far end of the hallway rattle up, and he jammed his head into the hall just in time to see Devin step out onto the fire escape, turning to squat and grin at him in the pale full moonlight.
Devin’s eyes were glowing bright blue, and his skin was starting to twitch as he quickly sprinted up the fire escape to the roof, out of his sight.
Ethan felt like he had been punched in the gut, and stumbled back into his apartment, collapsing on the floor next to his stove. He looked up at Jasmine, who was staring down at him with a mix of anger, fear, and shock on her face. "What the hell just happened?" Ethan asked, as Jasmine stepped inside and closed the door.
"That's actually what I was here to give you, although it looks like we were a bit late on the uptake," Jasmine said, locking the door. She held her hand out to Ethan to help pull him to his feet. "How long have you been acquainted with Devin?"
"I met him the same day I interviewed at Morgan," Ethan asked, as he came back to standing. "Why? How do you know Devin?"
Jasmine took a deep breath, and looked Ethan in the eyes for a moment before answering. "Have any coffee?"
"Yea, why?"
"Because this might take a while. Put a pot on, we need to talk, without the lycanthropes knowing first."
"Lycanthropes are organized into family groups, each with a very high degree of sovereignty, like their own country. And, just like in ordinary political relations, there are allies, neutral groups, and enemies."
The two were sitting on Ethan's sofa, Jasmine holding a coffee mug in her hand. She took a sip, appreciating the flavor. "Talen was right, you do make the best coffee. Where was I?"
"Lycanthrope political science," Ethan answered, his own coffee untouched. He felt too jittery to even think of having any caffeine.
Between his desire, which had turned into anger, which had turned into shock and fear. His entire emotional well-being was under much strain.
"Within each Family the makeup of internal politics differs.
In New York, there are two Families. Both can trace their roots back to times where animosity was at its height. These two Families have been at each other's throats since at least the Battle of Platea. Members of the Romanov fought alongside the Spartans against members of what would become the Grimes, who fought for Xerxes."
Ethan blinked, then shook his head. For twenty-five-hundred years, these Families had been enemies? It was unbelievable. Jasmine continued. "Starting in the 1600's, many Families sent representatives over to the New World to set up colonies. Europe was too crowded, the politics were too complex and the hatred ran too deep. It was hoped that by starting afresh in a giant new land, there would be a chance for growth of the Family as well.
Manhattan was settled by the Romanov and the Grimes at about the same time. A truce was struck right around 1700, but later the American Revolution broke that, as the Romanov sided with the Continental Congress, while the Grimes sided with the Loyalists. It's been a low scale war ever since."
"Jesus Jasmine, you're telling me for over two hundred years these two Families have been fighting? Why the hell hasn't someone tried to call a truce?"
"The Romanov has done so many times. In fact, Talen called a ceasefire two years ago after taking over as Hunt Leader following the death of his father. But lycanthropes have inherited memories. It is hard for them to let go of past hatred. Add on the fact that they have instincts that are very difficult to overcome. Some of us still try to use the better half of our natures, and combine the strengths of our lycanthrope side with the benefits of our human side. But for the Grimes.... they never forgive, and they never forget. Each time the Romanov have declared a truce, the Grimes have broken it."
Ethan finally took a sip of his coffee, wincing at the lukewarm drink. He hated warm coffee, it had to be either piping hot or ice cold for him, nothing in between. "And who is Devin?"
"Devin is the Leader of the Grimes Family," Jasmine replied, opening her file. "He became Leader when Karina killed his older brother in combat four years ago."
"Which is why Devin said something about her," Ethan mumbled, his eyes skimming over the profile on Devin in Jasmine's file. "But why me? Was it just bad luck I happened to meet him?"
"We seriously doubt it," Jasmine replied. "We think that Devin actually has a spy within Morgan Investments, and used your hiring as a chance to get closer to Talen. He hates Talen and Karina with a passion, and any chance he has to humiliate them he will take it.
What his goal was, we can only speculate. He may have been trying to use you for information. He might have just wanted to take you away from Talen just to hurt him. If he knew of Talen's feelings for you, he may have even killed you."
Ethan wiped a shaky hand over his face, before a question ran through his mind. "Wait just a moment, Jasmine. I feel like I'm only getting one side of the story here. You're casting Devin as the bad guy, but what if it's you guys who are the bad ones in this situation? I mean, you do control enough money to be high up on the conspiracy theory nutjob board of shadow companies that control the world."
Jasmine chuckled, and nodded. "A good question, and that's why I like you so much Ethan. You're right, Morgan and our other Family assets in Europe have a lot of money. You've seen what Talen wants to use his money to invest in, a bunch of neighborhood renewal projects and feel good causes.
You remember that Indian restaurant you told him wasn't worth the investment? He did it anyway, because that restaurant is run by an immigrant family that needed the money to be able to send their sons to a good college. Now the boys have a chance to go to college instead of being curry cooks.
Meanwhile, if you poke around in Devin Grimes's finances, you'll find that he funds gangsters and illicit drug traders. The NYPD has two vice squads running down his flunkies, not that they know who the head man is. He's the Keyser Soze of the New York criminal underground. Hidden behind a handsome face and a Cambridge accent."
"He told me he was in the import/export business," Ethan said softly, as he leafed through the file and saw some of the photographic evidence. Jasmine laughed.
"Yeah, importing drugs and exporting sex slaves to the Middle East," he said. "Talen would love to take him down, but his network is very distributed. We still don't know all of the tools at his disposal, although we suspect that he is involved with the Mafia somehow, the Russians, and the Triads. While the Romanov have more money, he has a lot more firepower."