Page 18 of Henri's Little One
Henri gazed down at the floor. “Unfortunately, you’re right. If I question her tonight by myself, I will kill her instead of getting the answers we need.”
Julio’s Mate spoke up, “Alpha Giraud, stay with Vitas. I’ll get Regis and Mathieu to come to you and roust Sebastian to oversee your Enforcers. Where would you like her questioned?”
“Bertrand can show you the cell in the basement,” Henri answered. Vitas gasped.
“Don’t worry, little one. Kristina won’t be beaten, and the cell is modeled upon an American maximum security prison cell. It has a shelf bed with a mattress and a toilet. There is nothing she can use to fashion an escape.”
Vitas nodded in apparent relief. Henri forced a smile. “I don’t grow mushrooms.” Vitas managed a weak smile in return.
Vitas stood next to Julio, as Henri gave him a hard kiss. “Julio, thank you. I can see why the others hold you in such high regard. You react quickly. When Richard came up, he demanded we come down. He took hold of Julien and shouted, ‘Follow me, Julio thinks there’s trouble.’ No one asked questions. They took off after Richard immediately.”
Julio gazed at Vitas. “Thanks, are not necessary. Feed poor Vitas. Yesterday he was sick, and he didn’t eat enough sandwiches on the plane.”
Vitas started to sniffle. “I’m trouble. This gift gives everyone nothing but pain, first my parents, now my Mate…”
Henri sat down and pulled Vitas into his lap. “Little one, you’re no trouble at all. Alpha Chernof is the trouble, and now that he’s in North America, he won’t be trouble for long. Anchorage is not a big city. I spoke to my Betas through the Alpha link. They have all our Enforcers calling the loup garou police, the members of the pack who work at the airport, the wharves, and Canadian/US Customs right now. He won’t escape Anchorage. Of all the territories, we have the largest number of packs—including both humans and loup garou.”
Armand turned to Vitas. “Henri speaks the truth. With its human, part wolf and full loup garou members, Henri’s territory holds the greatest number of packs and pack members in North America. You are safe here, or you should be.” The Alpha sent Aline a withering glance.
“I’m so sorry, Alpha, I wasn’t thinking straight. I was so happy for Alpha Giraud…I…”
“See that your thinking straightens quickly or I’ll have you replaced, if Henri doesn’t do it.”
Aline bowed her head and showed her neck. “Yes, Alpha.”
The Alpha glanced back at Henri. “Send out the alarms with a picture. As my Director of Security, you have carte blanche. Give out a two-million-dollar reward from Garou to the person or persons who give us any information that leads to his capture. Your Mate’s gift is rare and of immeasurable importance to the loup garou people. He needs to be protected at all costs.”
“Aline, bring Alpha Mate Vitas’ meal to Alpha Giraud’s suite. I want all the Betas and Enforcers in the house or surrounding it until Alpha Giraud and Alpha Mate Vitas have consummated their union. Martin,” The Alpha swerved his head to Martin who, as always, stood behind his left shoulder, and spat out, “See to it.” Armand’s face had mottled with rage.
“Yes, Alpha.”
Julio spoke up. Etienne looked at him in dismay, but he persisted despite Etienne’s protests over the Mate link. “Alpha, I’d check the fishing trawlers and their crews. If I wanted to get into Alaska from Russia unnoticed, I’d come across the Bering Strait in a fishing trawler. It makes sense. He had to know it was Henri. Henri was the only unmated Alpha left on the council, and such a great gift would have to be given to a council Alpha.”
“It’s common knowledge that Henri’s pack is headquartered in Anchorage.” Etienne became thoughtful.
Henri rubbed his chin. “He probably arrived even before I called Aline and asked her to plan a quick mating.”
“Perceptive as usual, Alpha Mate Julio. What has made you so aware of danger?” Armand knit his eyebrows.
“It comes from being a prostitute. You have to be able to read faces. The one time I didn’t pay attention to my instincts and took on Bales as a client I got my guts cut up. Getting your guts cut up will make you a more cautious person,” Julio said with a bit of sarcasm. Etienne coughed, and Julio dropped the sarcastic tone.
Armand cleared his throat. “As Julio has reminded us, we have enemies, Chernof, chief among them. We must be hypervigilant until after the mating and the pack’s viewing. I want six men at the door of the suite and sharpshooters on the roof. A bullet won’t stop him, but it will slow Chernof down long enough for us to capture him. Henri, have all of your Alphas arrived?” He finally dropped the formality. Henri glanced over to Aline. She nodded.
“Yes, Alpha, they came as soon as Aline made the call.” Henri regarded Armand with a furrowed brow.
“The showing of the mark will take place as soon as you mate. We can celebrate tomorrow. We seal the mating tonight.” Armand sent them all a commanding stare.
Bertrand stepped up. “I’ll notify the Alphas and the pack, immediately.”
“Regis and Mathieu, with the permission of your Alpha, go with all the Alpha Mates to Henri’s suite so that Vitas can eat in peace. You will ignore Vitas’ conversation with the others.”
Henri nodded. “It shall be as The Alpha says, and you are not to leave the suite until I arrive. After that, I want both of you outside guarding the door. Chernof is wily. He may penetrate our defenses a second time. I want us ready.”
Armand said darkly, “I’ll join Sebastien and your Enforcers in questioning the she-wolf. You and I will question her a second time tomorrow. A night in the cell may make her reflect on her sins.”
“Yes, Alpha, Alpha Giraud. It shall be as you say.” Regis Langlios, Henri’s Chief Beta, answered with a bowed head. Aline led him and Mathieu followed by Julio, Richard, and Vitas up the back stairs after she had the Alpha Bitch, Jacqueline, re-warm Vitas’ supper while she saw to the Alphas.
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