Page 49 of Henri's Little One
“I thought they only did that to she-wolves.” Vitas turned red.
“Actually, no. All of the Alphas, their Betas, and the Mates get it done regularly.” Henri smiled. “Did you think I grew it that neat down there?”
Vitas blushed again. “Uh, yes.”
Henri laughed. “No, pet, I’m vain. Naturally, I’m very bushy and scraggly down there. I started getting it trimmed when I reached my majority. I wanted to look good in case I found my Mate.”
Vitas frowned. “You must think I’m six kinds of a fool not knowing about something basic like that.”
His little one hung his head. Henri put his fingers under Vitas’ chin and lifted his head back up so that he could see Henri’s eyes. “I like the idea of you getting a special treat from the Mates. It’s made more of a treat because you’ve never had it done before. It’s a good thing that only she-wolves will touch you, or I might get a bit growly.”
“You’d get growly?” Vitas’ eyes widened.
“Of course, I’d get growly. What’s there is mine and mine alone. There for our mutual pleasure.” Henri gave a little growl.
“But won’t the Mates see?”
“The Mates are your friends, and they don’t count. They would never look at anyone but their Alphas.”
“Neither would I,” Vitas said in a huff.
Henri smiled. “I know, but you’re beautiful. They’d look at you.” Henri saw that his Mate was about to protest and put his finger on Vitas’ lush lips. “I hear Aline with the cart. It’s seven thirty now, and I overheard him say you have to be ready by nine.”
Vitas looked longingly at their bed. “Maybe I’ll get to sleep in tomorrow.”
“Maybe, pet, but I can’t guarantee it. With the Assembly-cum-reception coming up in a few days it’s going to be all hands-on deck. We’ll all have a part to play I’m sure. And due to the situation, you and I will have starring roles. Put on your robe, the food is here.”
“At least they left me time to eat,” Vitas said philosophically.
“Ian wouldn’t let Sean deprive anyone of their breakfast, especially him.”
Vitas giggled, and Aline came in from the hall with her cart.
§ § §
Armand called as soon as Vitas left. “We’re having an informal council meeting at Rémy’s house in Brooklyn. I expect all the Manhattan residences to be watched, but Hughes didn’t know Rémy lived in Brooklyn. We can meet there in relative anonymity.”
“How do we shake the tail if they’re watching the house, and what about the Mates if they’ve been watching?” Henri was anxious for Vitas.
“Don’t worry about Vitas. As I explained earlier, I sent a small army with them, and the salon will be empty, save for the Mates.” Henri’s fears were assuaged, but he although he wasn’t completely at ease he backed off because Armand was becoming annoyed. Knowing Chernof, he was expecting him to make a move they couldn’t anticipate, such as an attack on a well-fortified salon.
“How are we to going to get to Brooklyn without a tail? It would be just like Chernof to try to pick us off one at a time.”
“We’re all going for a walk with our Betas and then down into the subway.”
Henri sighed. “They’ll just follow us into the subway.”
“Here is where the plan becomes viable. We all take trains to the Forty-Second Street Station. It’s one of the busiest stations in New York and a stop on every line in the city. Each of us with our Beta goes out a different exit and takes a cab to Rémy’s in Brooklyn. That way we lose any tails. Neither Chernof nor his people would expect us either to use the subway or take a cab. He certainly wouldn’t.” The Alpha sounded pleased with his plan. “And by the way, dress down. Wear gym clothes or sweats. If we go out the back, they may not even tail us because they’ll think we’re an Enforcer.”
The Alpha said goodbye and Henri looked outside his window. Sure enough, there was a strange man hanging out across the street, and he wasn’t wearing the Italian-cut suits that Frankie’s people favored. His suit was poorly tailored and in this neighborhood, he stuck out like a sore thumb.
Henri summoned Regis and explained Armand’s plan, pushing the curtain slightly aside and showing him the tail.
“Why don’t we take it a bit further, Alpha? We left one Enforcer here who just happens to be about your size. How about we send him off in the limousine with Bertrand driving. You often wear a hat. The hat would prevent him from getting a clear view of Demyan’s face. He would think it was you and then you and I could walk out the other way in baseball caps, sweat shirts, and jeans, and he wouldn’t try to follow us at all.”
“That’s brilliant. I’m going to call Armand back and suggest the rest of them do what we’re going to do. It will give The Alpha the option of coming home in the limousine with the Enforcers he called up because they should be here by then.”
Henri dialed The Alpha, gave a short explanation, and Regis’ addition to the original plan was approved. Armand was going to have Martin call the others with the details.
