79. Henri
Chapter 79
Henri
The meeting comes to an end, and Deacon goes with Finn to learn more about the threats, but I’m pulled into Cade’s office for a one-on-one.
“Henri, please,” he urges me as he takes a seat in one of the soft chairs in front of the fireplace. “I’m just checking in with you. No one here is in trouble.”
I sit down and try to relax, but I’m too on edge.
“Call Deacon?” Cade suggests. “We don’t have to talk until he’s here if you’re stressed.”
The door opens before I can press call. Deacon comes over and sits on the floor in front of my chair without a word, his shoulders pressing against my legs. A blanket of peace falls over me, reducing the panic from the roar of a crowd to a dull whisper of worries.
“I am sorry I reacted the way I did to the news that came out this morning.” Cade apologizes.
I feel my jaw drop at his opening statement to the conversation. It’s not that Cade doesn’t apologize. He’s a good leader, but I felt guilty for everything .
“It was a clusterfuck of information. I am sorry that I did not behave like a good team leader.” Cade hangs his head for a moment but draws it back up to me. “I’m so excited for the two of you, and anything that takes away from that happiness feels like a personal attack against two of my favorite people.”
“I got a promotion.” Deacon laughs, breaking the tension.
“I accept your apology.” Tears well up in my eyes, and I brush them away quickly. “It’s a lot at once.”
“The good news is that the death threats are localized to Deacon. No one is currently bringing your name into the threats, but I’m still increasing your security as well.” Cade reassures us both.
“The headlines all just ask about Deacon buying the tests.” I agree, nodding. “It doesn’t seem like they’ve connected us at all.”
“Oh, I’m firing Kyle,” Cade adds, and it feels random. “He’s creating a gap in your team, and I’m having Michael look into him. But The Leviathan has some opinions, and I’m trying to trust his instincts more.”
“Can I be the one to fire him?” Deacon volunteers a little too excitedly.
I run my fingers through his hair, and he rumbles, relaxing against me.
“No.” Cade shakes his head. “You can be there, but I can’t let you fire him.”
“I’m sorry everything is so messy. I’ll get it resolved as soon as possible.” I start back on the defensive. A to-do list is forming in my head and getting longer by the second.
Cade laughs. “No. You and Deacon take some downtime. Figure out a game plan for yourselves. I’ll prioritize the workload and send you anything I can’t have covered relating to PR. Meaghan already has a list of things she’s taking care of.” He sits straighter in his chair. “I should have done it a long time ago. This year we’ve been in survival mode, and it’s time we changed that.”
“Are we good?” Deacon eyes his older brother, and a silent moment passes between them.
They’re communicating on that wolfish-brotherly level that I haven’t come to understand yet.
“Yeah. Whatever you’re doing, it’s doing something.” Cade nods and runs his hand back through his hair. “Maybe we should run though? Recalibrate? With three Alpha males in one house, we’re bound to have hiccups.”
“Let us talk to Ms. Gertie, and then we can head out?” Deacon looks up at me over his shoulder with a goofy grin.
“Let’s see Ms. Gertie, but you two run without me. I’ve gotta get some work done. My boss might get mad.” I joke, pushing just a little bit on whatever new relationship I’m forming with Cade.
“Fuck, Henri. Make me sound like an asshole or something.” Cade winces.
“Or something.” Deacon mimics getting to his feet. He offers his hand out to me.
Leaving Cade’s office, I feel both one hundred pounds lighter and one hundred pounds heavier. I’ve swapped all my fears and stresses. But we come out to the kitchen where Ms. Gertie is making snickerdoodles.
“Good Lord, don’t you two look like you’ve been through the wringer.” Uncharacteristically, Ms. Gertie isn’t smiling at us. She looks increasingly upset the longer she looks at us. “What’s this nonsense about me moving up to the house?”
“Yeah. There’ve been some death threats against me. I’m not the fondest of my own life, but if someone hurt you or Henri, to get to me, I wouldn’t forgive myself. I would like you to stay here in the guest suites, where we have the most security, until it’s been handled. Two weeks tops.” Deacon assures her, giving her a hug and a peck on her forehead.
“I’m not missin’ church,” she starts. The more she talks, the sterner her voice gets. “Or bridge.”
“Why don’t you invite the bridge ladies here? We’ll host at the main house in the dining room. Lunch, desserts, snacks, the whole nine yards. We can show them just how highfalutin you are.” Deacon charms her so easily. “And I’ll get you to church on time with a handsome young wolf to escort you. Make it all fancy and formal.”
“Mm-hmm.” Ms. Gertie shakes her head, scowling, but the light in her eyes says it’s all for show. “I don’t like it, but I’ll allow it.”
“Thank you, Ms. Gertie.” He smiles at her, and then she cracks, giving him a little grin.
“When were you two gonna tell me I’m expecting grandbabies?” She raises an eyebrow, scolding Deacon.
“Well, the plan was Friday at dinner, but it seems social media beat me to it.” Deacon hangs his head. “You’re gonna be a grandma.”
She smiles from ear to ear and looks at me. “If that’s okay with you, dear?”
“Of course it is. You’re family.” I return her smile.
It’s surreal. There’s still this little bit of dread inside me. I’m terrified, but it’s not the same scared I had before. Excitement laces the negative feelings, and they don’t seem as bad.