After extending an invitation to Henri to join them, which was refused, Carson followed Hunter and Fionn intoAmerican in Paris, his stomach growling as the aroma of eggs, bacon, sausages, home fries and pancakes filled his nose. Once seated, he looked around, curious if he’d see only Americans there, but he grinned when he heard a myriad of languages being spoken around him. Turning his attention to the menu, happiness filled his heart and Carson knew his decision to leave California was the right one.
~/~/~/~/~
Absorbed in his work, Remy almost didn’t hear his phone ring, but his habitual worry about something happening to his brothers had him grabbing it in time. Answering the call, he expected to hear Mrs. B’s voice but instead it was Henri. “Hi, is everything all right? Did they arrive?” Remy asked, leaning back in his chair.
“Oui,” Henri answered. “I picked up the three of them and dropped them off atAmerican in Parisbecause they wanted to eat first. I am waiting for them outside.”
Remy zeroed in on the one thing that could affect him—the third unknown person. “You said there were three? Who came with the representative and MacDùghlas’ son?”
“Mr. MacDùghlas’ mate, Hunter Evans. He’s a wolf, sir,” replied Henri.
Remy was silent.A mate? The son had a mate? Was it a Fated Mate? And a wolf? Who ever heard of a dragon mating with a wolf?
“I thought you should know, sir,” Henri said.
“Dammit! Of course. Thanks,” Remy muttered.Fuck, fuck, fuck! How come I didn’t know the son was mated? Artur never said a word about it…of course, he never did talk about his son.Only a passing comment he overheard Artur’s brother make alerted him to that fact. And when he questioned Artur later about it, he got the distinct impression the son was a major pain-in-the-ass—which was why he was overjoyed when he learned Fionn MacDùghlas was selling his father’s businesses. He wouldn’t have to deal with the son and he’d have a chance to persuade Dire Enterprises to keep him on the payroll while the transition occurred.Fuck! I thought there might be other reps from Dire Enterprises…but now, a mate to deal with? Sonofabitch!
“Sir…sir? Are you there?” asked Henri. “Is there anything you want me to do while I am here?”
“Non,” Remy replied, quickly thinking over his options, “just send me a message when you leave.”
“Oui,” Henri agreed, before hanging up.
Slowly setting his phone down on his desk, Remy thought about what he just found out and concluded it was not turning out to be something to help him buy more time before he’d have to uproot his brothers and move.Fuck, fuck, fuck!
Chapter 4
After they gave their order to the waiter, Carson asked, “Do you guys know why Henri suddenly acted so weirdly?”
“He ignoredme,” replied Hunter. “That was strange.”
“Yeah, I noticed that,” Carson said. “All he did was stare at Fionn, then gave some crazy bow…are you royalty…like Ian?”
Fionn glanced at Carson, then turned to Hunter. “No, at least as far as I know…right mate?”
Shrugging, Hunter replied, “Oracle didn’t say anything but maybe we should ask her that question. I agree with Carson…that bow was weird.”
“Maybe…” Fionn said quietly, before his voice trailed off.
“Go ahead pet,” Hunter urged, “maybe what?”
Looking down at his fidgeting fingers, Fionn didn’t want to talk about his involvement the night his father died. It still haunted him even though he had no regrets about it, but to say it out loud in front of his mate, that was something he did fear. It was part of his past Fionn wanted to forget, but after Henri’s response—particularly his cold stare—it led him to believe his action was about to come back to bite him in the ass. As far as he knew, only Kieran, Logan and Jackson knew about his decision to kill his father in order to save his new friends, but now he was uneasy about others knowing as well.
“Fionn, is there something I should know before I meet with Remy?” asked Carson softly, not wanting to upset the dragon or his cousin.
Picking up on his mate’s distress, Hunter moved closer to Fionn. “Hey, take it easy, pet. No one’s going to hurt you, I swear,” he said, placing his arm over his mate’s shoulder, hoping his touch would help. “You know there’s nothing you can say that’ll change how I feel about you…right?”
Giving a brief nod, Fionn did know that Hunter would still love him, but what concerned him more was what his mate would think of him once he found out. Deciding he owed his mate the truth rather than hiding behind lies, Fionn began, talking in a low voice, explaining what happened that night. After finishing, he waited, tears gathering in his downcast eyes, afraid he’d hear condemnation in his mate’s voice.
“Fionn, please look at me,” Hunter murmured, waiting. And when his mate finally did, he lovingly said, “Pet, I know you’re brave ‘cause no one who isn’t could never have survived the shit your father did to you. But now I know the extent of your bravery. It must have been so hard for you…knowing there was only one choice you could make if you wanted to protect your friends. You acted quickly, with no thought of what it would cost you personally, saving all of them from the evil your father could have,wouldhave, inflicted. That makes you an extraordinary person…makes you a hero in my eyes.”
“Hunter’s right,” Carson said, quietly. “Doing the right thing, no matter how hard, is the thing that makes you a hero…and someone I’m proud to know.”
“But what if Henri, Remy and the others who worked for my father hate me for what I did?” Fionn whispered. “Maybe that’s why Henri acted that way…maybe he blames me ‘cause he thinks he’s going to lose his job?”
“He’s not going to,” said Carson. “Maximus agreed to your request that all the workers would keep their jobs.”
“Henri doesn’t know that…no one does,” murmured Fionn.
