Page 46 of Wolf's Whistle
“I know plenty of men.” Julien peered at Frankie’s green eyes. “But they are pretty picky. By any chance, is your mother a Celt?”
“I’m full-blooded black Irish. My mother married my stepfather when I was two. She lost Dad at a very young age to the Serbian business which is why I’m eager to help. Dad was a Ranger and on a covert operation. That’s all we ever found out. Dante Ferone adopted me. He’s been very good to me, but I’m not in the inner circle for two reasons. I wasn’t born Italian, and I’m gay. My younger brother is being groomed to take over the business. Dante knows that there are certain assignments I won’t take. I get away with it because Dante loves my mother deeply.”
“Full-blooded Irish? As you may have noticed, the Board of Directors of Garou Industries are gay, as are their assistants. Only one is married. I’ll introduce you to them, but I can’t guarantee the result.”
Isabel poured Richard more coffee.
“Julien, you said that Stawski knew about Redmond. Does he know about Oregon?” Richard ventured.
“By the gods, I am so stupid. I was so wrapped up in your safety that I missed the obvious solution. We’ll get married in Oregon. There is enough housing for the council and their assistants, and the family can come there for the wedding.” Julien went to stand but remembered Frankie and his manners. “Denis and Charles, you may go see Isabel for some coffee and pastry. You must be hungry; you ate at six.”
“Thank you, sir.” Denis and Charles hurried down the stairs.
Frankie’s eyes sparkled. “I’m going to say good-bye as you obviously have some calls to make. I haven’t forgotten about dinner. I’ll see you at seven.” Frankie wiped his mouth with his linen napkin and placed it on the table. He pulled out his chair and stood. “Congratulations on your upcoming wedding,” he said somewhat wistfully.
“Don’t worry, your turn will come,” Richard said. “A month ago, I never thought it would happen to me. The only prospect I had was the late Davilor Kasun, and I would rather have died than let that man within ten feet of me without the bar between us, and Bill kept a bat behind the bar.” Richard grimaced.
“From your mouth to God’s ears. I’ve got to get some sleep and head to Queens. I’ll be here for the dinner you promised, and my men will be back to watch for Stawski. Yours can’t watch twenty-four hours a day. Until this evening…” Frankie Ferone walked down the stairs and out the front door.
“That was interesting. Do you think Henri…” Richard raised an eyebrow.
“Not Henri, maybe one of the Betas. Something more is in store for Henri, I feel it in my bones.” Julien poured himself another cup of coffee. “I’ve got to call Armand and see if Oregon is an adequate substitution for Redmond. After all, it is the original pack land. I want you so badly that I dream of taking you. I might have to send you to Julio’s until we can get to the pack for the mating.”
“Maybe I should sleep upstairs in the governess’s room.”
“No, if you’re in the house you sleep in my bed. You’re my Mate. I’d go nuts if you were upstairs and I couldn’t come to you. Once a loup garou finds his Mate, his Mate becomes the focus of his life. I’d leave the council for you. I’d do anything for you to keep you happy except leave you.” Julien took Richard into his arms and kissed his eyelids, his brow, his cheeks, and finally his lips. He broke away abruptly. “I’m going to the office to call Armand.”
§ § §
“Damn that detective and damn Murphy. I ought to slice his throat,” Julien muttered as he entered Armand’s number into the phone.
“La Marche residence.”
“Pierre, this is Alpha Bellaire. Is The Alpha available?”
“I’ll go see.” There was a clanking noise as Pierre put down the phone.
“Good morning, Alpha Bellaire, what can I do for you?” The Alpha had picked up.
“Frankie Ferone is bringing his men back tonight for the price of one of Isabel’s dinners. He seems to think Stawski will strike in two days’ time. If he doesn’t or if we can’t apprehend him, I want to know if I can take Richard to Oregon and mate there. My parents still have the old pack house on the property. There are cabins for the Betas and Enforcers and rooms in the house for the council. It won’t be as comfortable as Redmond, but it’s pack land, accessible to all of my Alphas.”
“The house isn’t too far from Eugene, am I correct?” Julien could almost hear Armand thinking.
“It’s about thirty miles from the airport. The limousines and the Navigators should have no problems. We paved the road to the pack property.” Julien waited, holding his breath.
“Hmm, that is well within the rules. You have the master suite there so it can be considered your tertiary residence. Would your Alphas travel in from Washington?”
Armand was considering his request. That’s a good sign.
“They’re a loyal bunch. My Alphas will travel to see me mated, and my parents would love to have me married from their primary residence. No one would even have to bring a tux. The loggers and the folks from Washington are all very casual about the clothing they wear. If we were going to Redmond, we could do fancy, but we don’t have to, not at the camp.”
“As the Board of Garou Industries and the Council of Loup Garou, we represent our race as a whole. We do casual when we are in our own homes but never during council business, and a mating is council business. The council will wear suits as we are accustomed. Your pack won’t question it. They will expect it,” Armand said in a frosty voice.
“Can we mate in Oregon and still have a valid mating?” Julien ignored Armand’s tone. He didn’t want to wait any longer. He climbed the walls on a nightly basis. Just holding Richard was torture. The only thing that would be worse was not holding him at all. If Armand wanted him to wear a clown’s suit, he would.
“Yes, of course, as long as your Alphas are willing to make the trip, the council will all travel to Eugene together on the Garou jet, and you and Richard can mate at the camp.”
Julien wanted to pump his fist in the air and shout yes, but that wouldn’t do while on the phone with Armand.
