Chapter 55
“I had Murphy look it up. There was no missing person’s report nor was there an Amber Alert. I think I dislike your mother more than I dislike your stepfather. She threw her son away for money.”
“I guess she did.” Donal choked on a sob.
“Are you sure we can take care of this the Russian way?” Grigory asked.
“What is the Russian way?” Donal asked, wide-eyed.
“In Russia, you can’t kill a human, but you can hurt them,” Vasily explained.
“No, The Alpha holds strictly to the law, and I believe he’s right. We have economic power that will put him onto the street. It will have a bigger effect on his long-term well-being than a beating would anyway.”
“You’re right, Alpha. That will be just retribution. He put Alpha Mate on the street. We put him in the homeless shelter.” Grigory reflected on this a bit.
Donal thought he heard the gears turning in Grigory’s head.
“What about my mother?”
“I will give her a very small pension as long as she stays far away from you.” Alexei shook with anger.
Donal thought for a moment. “I couldn’t throw my mother in the street, despite what she did, but that other fucker, I don’t care what happens to him.” Donal blushed. “Please excuse my bad language.”
“We are in agreement, then. If I wait until we leave for Colorado, they won’t be able to attempt to harass you until I can legally protect you. Now drink your tea, it’s getting cold.”
* * * *
Alexei’s townhouse, master suite
Saturday morning
“Happy Birthday my little mouse,” Alexei said in Russian, as he took Donal into his arms. “You are my life and my joy. May you have many more birthdays we can celebrate together.”
Alexei began to kiss Donal’s neck and smiled when his lover trembled. “What do you want for breakfast?”
“Can I have blini with butter and jam, oatmeal and scrambled eggs?” Donal asked, rubbing his eyes.
“Katya probably already has blini with cream cheese, blini with butter and honey, and blini with butter and jam. Do you want sausages and American bacon?”
Donal nodded with enthusiasm. “This is the first birthday I’ve celebrated in seven years! I can’t believe I’m twenty-one.” Donal was all smiles.
“In Russia, a birthday is an all day celebration. Everyone will be here at noon. Katya is making Russian and American food to celebrate. I hear her at the door now. I’ll bring you your robe.” Alexei pushed aside the bed curtains and fetched Donal’s bathrobe and slippers from the armoire.
Donal hastily donned his robe. Alexei could hear his mouse’s stomach already growling. He hurried to the table as Katya brought in a tray with all of his favorite breakfast foods.
“Today is good for you. Much food today to celebrate birthday. Katya cooked yesterday so you would have excellent birthday. See Katya learn new English word—excellent. Eat, get washed, and dressed, the household is waiting to give you birthday gifts.frdquo; Katya left the room humming.
“Everyone bought me gifts? They don’t have that kind of money,” Donal protested.
“In addition to the very generous salary I pay them, they get two hundred thousand dollars a year stipend from Garou Industries. You will also get a stipend but as the Mate of a member of council, you get more because you have to dress well and help me entertain. In addition, as an Omega, you bring gifts to the pack. Your gift is special, ferreting out the troubles of the loup garou. You are worth four hundred thousand dollars a year.”
“I am?” Donal’s mouth hung open.
“Yes, you are and they can afford to give you as many gifts as they want. They have no expenses. They save their money for when they mate or have to go away for a while and reestablish new identities. They give gifts for their own pleasure and to see your eyes light up with joy, little mouse. You are much loved.” Alexei stroked Donal’s cheek, his eyes warm with love.
“You keep saying that. It’s true, I love all of them, but they barely know me,” Donal tried to object what he obviously thought was excess on his behalf.
Alexei smiled. “Before you came, I was depressed and in a downward spiral, almost suicidal. I looked forward to many lonely years away from my family and thought I was only holding a place here. You changed all that. This is a happy household because you are here.” Alexei’s cell phone rang. He picked it up and looked at the number. “It’s Etienne. I have to get this.” Alexei took the phone across the hall.