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entered. He gave a
small bow.
    “Clean this up and bring my guests a glass of, well,
something suitable. You know what to do.” He looked at Carly, who sat squashed
between Lev and Alexei on a worn sofa. “Anything for you, my dear? Or, are you
finished with the annoying necessity of having to feed oneself?”
    Lev had wondered the same thing but suspected that
without a body, Carly would no longer need sustenance.
    “Nothing for me,” she answered.
    The hawk-nosed Gerry exited and was back quickly with
three tumblers filled with a viscous red fluid. Lev noticed a fresh needle mark
in the crook of Gerry’s arm as he took his glass. The blood was still warm.
    “A negative. A rare vintage,” Gerry whispered, then made
quick work of cleaning up before exiting.
    “A toast?” Boris stood, and the two men did the same.
“To the return of my Alexei. I have waited an eternity for you.” The large man
drank, draining his glass in one gulp. Then he banged it down on the table as
if he’d just downed a shot of vodka. “Nostrovia!”
    Lev looked at his brother before doing the same.
Alexei’s eyes were wide and darted quickly away from his. What had gone on
between Boris and his brother?
    The beast sat down again, on the couch opposite them. It
groaned in protest at his bulk. With a sly smile, he patted the spot beside him
while eyeing Alexei.
    Alexei cleared his throat nervously, then slowly made
his way over to sit beside Boris. Without hesitation, the big man threw a thick
arm around Alexei, pulling him close.
    “So, is someone going to tell me why it is that I have
the pleasure of your company?” Boris asked good-naturedly.
    Lev spoke, thinking it best to get right to the point. “We
were hoping you could help us. By us, I mean Carly and I.”
    Boris looked confused. “Whatever can I do? What is the
matter?”
    Lev filled Boris in on the details, explaining how he
and Carly would have to part in just a few short days. The big man took it all
in with what looked like genuine concern. Then when Lev was finished, he said,
“I will help, but you will have to give to me something in return.” A devilish
grin spread across purplish lips.
    Alexei pulled away from Boris and got to his feet. “I’m
not staying here with you if that’s what you’re thinking.”
    “But I have missed you so much. You cannot imagine,”
Boris cooed. “I searched high and low but could not find you, and now here you
are, landing on my doorstep. Why else would you come if you did not want to see
me?”
    Alexei sighed and threw his brother a nasty look. “I’m
here because I want to help Lev. We thought if anyone knew a way he and Carly
could stay together, it would be you.”
    Boris’s expression darkened. “How did you know
where to find me ?”
    “It’s easy nowadays. With the Internet, you can find
anyone.” Alexei smiled sheepishly.
    “I do not like this Internet.” Boris brought his hands
to his forehead and grimaced as if a sudden headache struck. “It makes my head
spin.” Then his dark eyes narrowed and his brow knit. “If you knew where I was,
why did you not come sooner?”
    “Um, I think Alexei just didn’t want to bother you,” Lev
spoke for his brother.
    The big man sat back and nodded slowly as if
contemplating Lev’s words, then, without warning, Boris was on his feet, his
face a thundercloud. With one quick heave, he flipped the heavy wooden coffee
table upside down as easily as if it were made of cardboard.
    Then he touched Alexei, running a sausage finger down
his chiseled face. “You are beautiful, Alexei. I have not seen a creature as
handsome as you in all my years, but it hurts to know you knew where I was but
did not bother to come to me until now, and it is only to ask a favor.” With a
meaty hand, he pulled Alexei’s face to his and kissed him on the lips. “You
will not get away this time. If you want me to help your brother, then you will
have to stay here with me.”
    Alexei stepped away,