Chapter 67
“I’m not issuing any more challenges. I won’t risk you, little mouse. I won’t risk what we have together.” Donal moved further into Alexei’s arms and received a scorching kiss.
“I can hardly wait until tomorrow. We mate at midnight, and marry on Thursday. We have the reception there on Thursday and take the plane, and we’ll be back late Thursday night. I have some business on Friday.” 14
Alexei’s study
Monday early evening
Alexei glanced up from the paperwork on his desk to find Boris standing there. “This is the complete list of all of Garou Industries subsidiaries plus our clients that do business with McConnell Box Company?”
“Yes, Alpha, I checked and there is no customer that McConnell has that is not on that list,” Boris told his Alpha with great satisfaction. “We have the means to extract justice for our little mouse.”
“If you will excuse me, Boris, I have to call The Alpha and ask his permission to do this.”
Boris bowed and left the room.
Alexei picked up his cell phone and punched in Armand’s number. It only rang twice. “La Marche residence.”
“Pierre, this is Alpha Davidoff. May I speak to The Alpha please?”
“I’ll see if he is available.”
Alexei waited. He heard some rustling in the background. “Alpha Davidoff, how may I help you?”
“Alpha, do you remember when I spoke to you about Arthur McConnell, how he violated Donal and caused him to run from his home?”
“Yes and that caused him to fall prey to Apuso. I remember, a totally despicable man.”
“I’ve found a way to ruin him without physically harming so much as a hair on his head.”
“Hmm…I’m listening.”
“All of Arthur McConnell’s customers are also current customers of, or suppliers to Garou. While McConnell only provides paper and cardboard boxes that our clients can get elsewhere, what they get from Garou is proprietary to Garou and cannot be bought from other vendors.” Now here comes the hard part.
“Go ahead.”
Good, Armand seems receptive.
“I’ve heard we have a restricted list. If you’re on that list, you can’t buy Garou products and any Garou supplier can’t do business with those companies listed, unless they want to lose their own contract with Garou. From what I understand, the list is usually reserved for rogue nations and companies that pollute and try to cover it up.”
“Yes…we have such a list.”
“I’m suggesting we put McConnell Box Company on the list and insist that anyone who has orders with McConnell Box cancel them immediately. I can financially reimburse any of our customers or suppliers who stand to lose money initially because of the proscription.”
“No, Garou will absorb the costs. When it comes to our Mates, anyone who hurts them is on our radar and subject to retribution. Economic power is our biggest weapon. You may wield it in this case as you see fit. I’ll have Edward Keller put out the memo to all of Garou. By the time we return on Friday, Mr. McConnell will be ruined. Do you want him to know who did it?”
“Yes, Alpha. Donal should have the satisfaction of seeing that man beg to be left alone the same way my little mouse was forced to beg. And McConnell’s begging is going to have the exact same result as poor Donal’s did. He will get nothing but scorn,” Alexei said with malice. “Personally, I bought up all his debt and shall call in all his loans at the same time as he loses his orders.”
“He’ll seek relief in the American bankruptcy court,” warned Armand.
“He may and he may get relief from his debts, but there are some debts that cannot be erased. I had Boris look into his finances. He’s been under reporting his income to the IRS for years. I’m going to make a call to their tip line and have him audited. Donal told me where he kept the second set of books. He was so young he didn’t even know what he was seeing, but as soon as he described what McConnell was doing, I knew.” Alexei realized he sounded self-satisfied, but this was the last thread he had to pull to make his Donal whole.
“See, Alexei, I told you that there is always another way to go, a way without violence.”
The switch that The Alpha made to his given name told Alexei that permission was asked and granted. The Alpha continued, “It may take a little longer to get satisfaction, but the result is more permanent than a beating could inflict.”
“You were right as usual, Armand. I was isolated in Russia for too long. I have much to learn, but, in truth, this leaves me feeling better about the situation because the solution is permanent and without blood on my conscience. I’ll let you get back to your evening. Thank you for allowing me this.”
“Not a problem, I would do the same for any of my Alphas, council or pack whose Mate was violated. We’ll see you tomorrow at ten at Newark. I plan to bring Meg and Pierre and from what I understand, Rémy, Marc, and Gabriel intend to bring their staff to help as well. Frankly, I don’t think they’ll be needed but it seems your little mouse has charmed them, and they all want to be at the mating.”
“Thank you again, Alpha, for everything.”
“We are old friends, Alexei. I’m glad we didn’t lose you to the Russian government and the Russian First. Good night.”
Alexei pushed End Call on his cell phone and smiled. Now all my little mouse has to worry about is me and our family.