“He gets foreign products into the U.S. legally,” the alpha repeated. “He. Gets. Stuff. In. Legally. He. Then. Sells. The. Stuff. There is more to it, but that’s the gist of it.”
Gregory was looking a little lost.
“For the gods’ sake, Gregory, wouldn’t that be just a little useful to this famous Shadow Man? Would he not be interested in foreign products that are used primarily in businesses, such as restaurants?”
Gregory’s eyes widened.
“I know we’re not good at figuring these things out. I know we like to bite rather than think it over. It has worked for centuries. But now it is a liability to think like this. Now we have to make deals and offers and bow and scrape. I do not like it. I do not want to do it this way. I would rather take fifty of my strongest and snap every Shadow Man we come across in half until we find Alec Royce—but there is a cub involved. I will go far to save her. Perhaps Farhad can cut a deal with this creature, an exchange so we can get her back.” The alpha leaned back against a wall. “I want to eat him.”
“He’s an elder,” Gregory murmured.
“The harder it is to bring one down, the sweeter the meal,” the alpha replied, then growled. He pushed off the wall and walked to his desk. The lamp was the chief source of light in the room, lighting up the desk in its harsh white glow, and it illuminated the alpha sharply.
He was neither tall nor bulky, his frame corded with lean, ropy muscles. The pupils of his eyes constantly bled rivulets of gold into the whites, and his fingers and toes were tipped with hard, black claws that could easily tear flesh from bone. He grimaced and Gregory caught a glimpse of fangs.
The alpha circled around to the other side of the desk and began closing books, stacking papers, and shutting down his computer. Once everything was in order he moved it all to a large safe that was bolted to the floor.
“How are alphas meeting these days?” he asked.
“A meeting place is arranged and we—well—we meet,” Gregory replied.
“No ceremonies, no gifts?”
“Not in New York.”
“What do they do, circle and sniff each other’s backsides?”
Gregory was struck speechless again. Finally he said, “I think human introductions are adequate.”
“It will feel rude to show up without a token of some sort. Can you arrange something?”
The alpha was looking annoyed, but Gregory knew he was not the cause. The alpha considered such ceremony very important. Crude as the statement had been, gift giving was the equivalent of circling and backside-sniffing—you learned a bit about those you intended to do business with before the real meat of the situation was brought to bear.
“I can,” Gregory assured him.
“Good.” The alpha looked down at his pants. “A meeting with a Shadow Man and three alphas, and I haven’t a thing to wear.”
Gregory couldn’t get used to humor from the reclusive alpha. Unless he was being serious. The thought was terrifying.
“I can get you a suit,” Gregory offered.
“A suit? No, not that. I am sure it would be appropriate for human introductions, but I will not stand being constrained in such garments.” He looked at Gregory. It was as if a sea of liquid gold was reflected in his eyes. “I suppose cloaks and long tunics are out of fashion.”
There it was again. It sounded like humor.
“You would probably be fine in a hoodie and cargos or similarly loose pants,” Gregory suggested. “Highly informal. I wouldn’t recommend it, but I understand about the loss of movement.”
“Hoodie. I have no idea what that is. Get it for me. And book a flight for three. Farhad is coming with us.”
“Just us three?” Gregory balked. “Only two of us are fighters. What if push comes to shove?”
The alpha grinned, as much a threat as a show of mirth in his wolf-like mind. “I know you are witless, Gregory, but try not to be toothless as well.” He turned to face Gregory full-on. If they had been closer, he would have had to look up at his deputy, but his presence towered over the taller Were. His eyes flashed, the rivulets running thick until the whole of his eyes were gold. He snatched one of the few books left on the desk and held it up. It was ancient and one of the most treasured of the alpha’s books. It