Chapter 3

• Colter
• “The Levin family,” Charles says and goes to the small table at the corner of the room. We always meet here- no one knows about this place. No one from the police knows I am one of Charles’ agents, either.
• I work undercover and he is one of the few people who know about my wolf. Not even his higher-ups in the police know I'm his detective. I always work alone and that saves me from having to explain to my partner why my wounds heal in a day or two or why I always catch the bad guys I’m chasing - literally.
• Charles and I both agree it’s safer this way. Charles works with me on most of his difficult cases when a regular officer is not enough. But it comes with a price- usually, I can choose the cases I am working on.
• Unless he places the picture of one of the most notorious mafia leaders in front of me.
• “Edward Levin, “he says. “ The head of the family. His older son Andrew is going to inherit the business soon. From what we know his younger son - Keenan, is still somewhere in Italy. “
• I look at Charles, and then at the pictures placed on the table.
• Then I started laughing.
• “HAHAHAHA. The Levins? You want me to investigate the Levins? hahahaah. “
• Charles is watching me without saying anything,
• “F*ck no,” I say. “Unless you want to have the only wolf agent on duty f*ck*ng dead. “
• “Don't be dramatic.”
• “Look, Charles. “ I bend over the table. “The police, the FBI, whoever - have been after the empire for years and still have nothing on them. “
• “We think that we have a chance with the change of heirs- the new leader will be less influential. “
• “I doubt it. The old Levin is still alive. “
• “I am not asking you to catch them. Just go there, see how it is and based on what you find out - or not- we can start an investigation. We have basically nothing on them. We need someone from the inside.” I open my mouth to speak but then give up.
• “Exactly,” he says, “No member of the family will ever betray their own. It’s the mafia. You know how it works. “
• “Yes,” I nod. I met Charles because I was working undercover investigating a mafia clan in New Mexico a few years ago.
• “You know how the mafia works. “ he goes on, “ You even look like one of them. “
• “Excuse me, should I be offended?”
• “I mean it, Col. You know how they operate, how they think. Besides, your wolf is your biggest advantage. “
• Then he meets my eyes, his tone is serious.
• “We believe they have one of their guys working in the police. “
• “It’s Miles, isn’t it?” I say and Charles glares at me.
• “Very funny. But I am serious, Col. “
• “I’ll think about it. “ I look away from the pictures, “ I was promised a more relaxed job after the whole shebang with the Romanians. “
• “You are not fit for a more relaxed job. “
• “You keep offending me and I just take it. “
• “It comes with the job. “
• I laugh. Charles has been like a father to me and I owe him my life. I respect him even more for never using that against time, or to influence me to make a decision.
• “You're the only one I can trust. “ he says, “Especially now that I suspect one of the Levins has infiltrated into the police. “
• “You said “we “ at first. “ I observe and Charles doesn't answer. “
• “You haven’t told anyone else about this, have you?”
• “No. “ Charles says, “I didn’t exaggerate when I said you are the only one I can trust.
• D*mn it… I think. Because my wolf is acting as if I have already accepted the job.
• “Okay,” I say in the end. “What do we do?”
• ***
• One week later I was walking towards the same place, and my meeting with Charles was at the exact same time as always.
• “That's better, “ he says, pointing at my close-cropped hair.
• “Part of the disguise. “
• “Blending in is not your strong point. “ Charles says, “And that’s not because of your height. But try not to beat anyone from the first day, okay?
• “I would never do anything like this, “I say and he snorts. Then Charles passes me the folder.
• “You start in a few days. “ he says, a matter- of- fact. “You will be one of Andrew Levin’s bodyguards. “
• “What happened to the previous one?”
• “He’s dead. “
• I look up from the intel he just gave me.
• “I want a life insurance,” I say and snap the folder shut to which Charles laughs out loud.
• “You ask for too much, boy.”
• ***
• Exactly two days later I was driving towards the address Charles gave me. The agreement between us is the usual- I will report to him in two months, and we won’t call unless it’s really something big.
• I went through the information I was given.
• Andrew Levin is the oldest son - a spoiled rich brat who is some hot shot among women. He hates traveling so he is taking care of the business here. His father always wanted him to be the heir. There wasn't much about Andrew’s brother- Keenan. He looked like the cooler one, though.
• As I get out of the car, I sense a man coming.
• “Colter?” He calls and I turn around. This must be Wyatt- one of the guys working directly for Andrew. I doubt I will meet the boss on the first day- I will most likely be given some random things to do, at least that first and until I gain their trust.
• “I’m Wyatt,” the guy says, “Welcome to the Levin manor. “
• I look at the house. It’s massive. Marble statues, staircases, servants walking around even in the garden. The number of staff working for the house is the size of the personnel in a small company. I paused to look at the place. Most people can only dream of even seeing this thing.
• “Shall we?” Wyatt urges me and I resume walking.
• “Yeah. “I say, “Sorry, I just... “
• “It’s fine. Wyatt says, “I was like that the first day too. “
• “Have you been here long?”
• “Not really. “ He grins, “So don’t ask me for directions, 'cause I get lost all the time. “
• “I won’t. “ I laugh.
• Wyatt is cool. My intuition is rarely wrong.
• “Let's get this over with,” my wolf grunts, " I am ready for Florida, by the way. “
• “Florida?” I ask.
• “Well, aren’t we going there when you retire?”
• I try not to laugh and do my best to listen to Wyat, who is explaining what is what and where everything is as we cross the front yard and enter the house.
• “There's a gala dinner tonight, by the way,” he says, “That's why everything is so fancy. “
• “Isn't it always like this?” I ask and he smiles.
• “Yes, but now… you know. “ This guy smiles so easily, I will be damned.
• We walk through the long corridor, there's champagne and flowers everywhere. I catch all kinds of smells. It's slightly triggering.
• “We will move from the back door, so the guests won’t see us. ” Wyatt says.
• “Okay…”
• The servants have uniforms- it’s just like in those movies where rich people give gala dinners for made-up causes or something. We pass by a few more members of the staff and another corridor. And then I see her. And the entire world shifts. Or maybe it’s just mine, I can’t say.