Alexei's Mouse

Chapter 1

Chapter 1Central Park

Sunday, last day in February, 5 A.M.

Vasily and Grigory accompanied Alexei on his regular early morning jog through Central Park. He was trying to rebuild his strength to where it was before his imprisonment. Alexei was almost there. Now he didn’t get winded after running fifteen miles and was able to lift four times his weight, not great for a wolf, but getting there. However, the depression had not disappeared. His soul was still in the gulag. About halfway through his regular run along the jogging paths, the scent of oranges overwhelmed him. Oranges, in the park in February? He thought it was strange and took a detour.

He stopped and looked around, his wolfen nose picking out the muted scent. He followed it down the jogging trail to a lone park bench hidden behind a black cherry tree. On the bench under some newspapers lay a young man dressed like a prostitute, barely breathing. He wore a black net shirt and tight ripped jeans totally unsuitable for the cold of the late February morning. Alexei had to help. He couldn’t let a fellow creature suffer. His memories of cold and hunger were all too recent. He removed the newspaper and stared.

He looks no older than Gabriel’s mouse, but he is dirty and unkempt and looks…Wait, there is a needle hanging out of his arm. Alexei sat next to the boy. He reached out to remove the needle. As soon as skin touched skin his wolf cried, Help him, now, Mate, mine, sick, dying.

Alexei panicked. He called Vasily and Grigory, who were about one hundred yards behind him, over the Alpha Link. “My Mate, I have found my Mate. He’s dying. Call Armand. Get Dr. Artis. Someone…I need a doctor to treat an overdose, now!” Vasily and Grigory scrambled to do Alexei’s bidding.

Alexei picked the boy up and ran out of the park. He stopped once to give him mouth to mouth, cursing his inability to run faster. He held him close to his body, in an attempt to share his body heat. Fifteen agonizing minutes later, Alexei reached the park entrance near the zoo just as Artis pulled up in a Navigator. Alexei continued to check to see if the boy was still breathing while Dr. Artis jumped out of the SUV.

* * * *

“I have everything with me to set up at your townhouse. This way you can be with him during the detox.”

Alexei’s Betas, who had accompanied him on his run, and the Enforcers who hurried from the house, when Grigory called, helped load the boy into the Navigator. Alexei rode with Dr. Artis and the boy. His Betas and Enforcers ran behind the SUV to the expansive seven-floor townhouse Daurensbourg had found him on East Sixty-Fourth Street, two blocks from the park.

He held his Mate’s cold hand. Dr. Artis took out what looked like a small crayon box and placed it over the middle of his boy’s outer thigh and pushed. “I am administering naloxone with a handheld auto-injector called Evzio to mitigate the effect of the overdose. I may need to do this once more before we get to the house.” His Mate’s body spasmed, but he didn’t respond. Alexei began to panic.

A loup garou nurse was in the Navigator with Artis and watched her patient’s vitals.

“Dr. Artis, another injection of Evzio, stat,” the nurse said in a calm, steady voice.

Dr. Artis took another box like the first, held it over the boy’s thigh, and plunged. His jade green eyes opened and he moaned.

The Navigator stopped in front of the townhouse. His Betas opened the Navigator’s door. The first rays of morning light bathed the inside of the SUV. It was then that Alexei noticed the remnants of a severe beating. There were contusions, both new and old, everywhere but his face. Alexei gritted his teeth in anger and consternation. Who would do this to another human being? I thought I left these horrors in the gulag.

Grigory, Pierre—Armand’s driver, and Dr. Artis removed his Mate from the backseat. They carried him into the basement rear entrance and onto the elevator of Alexei’s new home. “Where is your suite?” Artis snapped.

“Third floor to the right.”

Once they reached the master suite, Alexei took his Mate from Pierre and Grigory and placed him in the center of his bed. Boris quickly took down the bed curtains.

“I’m going to do a rapid detox with naltrexone. I will administer the naltrexone under anesthesia and it will look ugly for about three to six hours until the opiates leave his body. It is not as pain-free or safe as advertised. He will be bedridden for at least three days after the procedure and the procedure itself is very dangerous.”

“Is there another way?” Alexei frowned, anxious. He started to pace. The gods couldn’t mean for him to lose his Mate now that he finally found him. Am I being punished for my former arrogance?

“In this case, no, there isn’t another way to rid his body of the drugs. Soon he will be under the influence of the mating pheromones. He will need to eat almost constantly. He won’t eat with a heroin addiction. This way after the three days are up, Katya can feed him so he gains the weight he needs to be physically ready for the mating. He will have to see Dr. Coté to overcome the psychological addiction, or maybe Kane can help him with his gift. Kane’s gift is new; we don’t quite understand how it works yet.” Dr. Artis took the young man’s blood pressure.

“How do I find out who he is, where his people are?” Alexei asked, truly at a loss.

“Call The Alpha. Ask him to come. He will know what to do and who to call.”

His Betas and the Enforcers came to the door of the bedroom. Artis turned to Alexei. “Tell them to wait downstairs. Make sure all of your Enforcers are here at the house. The fact that he’s a prostitute might mean trouble with the Italians. The Alpha and the others will bring theirs with them,” Dr. Artis told him.

Grigory hesitated. His gaze went to Alexei as he waited for confirmation.

“Do as the doctor says. We are new here. We will need help to navigate the waters. Put the Enforcers in the great room. You and Vasily go and wait in the library.” Alexei turned his eyes to the bed once more effectively dismissing his Betas.

Alexei took his new phone out of his pocket. It was a low end. He was four years behind on Russian technology; for western technology, it might as well have been a decade. However, his Betas just finished teaching him how to use his new not-so-smart, smart phone with voice commands. He pushed a button on the screen.

“Call Armand.”

“Calling Armand La Marche,” the phone chirped back.

“La Marche residence, Rene DuBois speaking.”

“This is Alpha Davidoff I have urgent business with The Alpha.”

“I’ll see if he can be disturbed.” Alexei glanced up at the clock and cringed. It was only five forty-five. No wonder the Beta had to see if he was awake.

Alexei heard some rustling in the background. “Alpha Davidoff, how is your Mate?”

“He is about to undergo rapid detox, which Artis says is not safe but necessary in this case because of the pheromones.”

“I understand. What is it you need?”

“Alpha, Artis says you can tell me how to find out who he is. He is definitely a rent boy. In Russia, the street prostitutes are run in stables. He must belong to someone who will come looking for him when he doesn’t report back this morning. I need to negotiate for his release. I can have two hundred fifty thousand in cash and seven hundred fifty thousand in bearer bonds by eight this morning.”

“How old does he look?”

“Early twenties, I would say. It’s hard to tell. He’s emaciated.”

“He’s probably a liability to his handler, too old, and an addict to boot. I’ll see what I can do. In the meantime, I’ll come over to you with the Mates and their Alphas. Sean’s Voice and Kane’s gift for healing mental trauma may be necessary to make this procedure a success.”

“Thank you, Alpha. Words are not enough—” Alexei choked.

“I think your young man wanted to die or else he would have been on the street making money rather than in the park doing heroin. He must have been in despair to try and take his own life,” Armand said thoughtfully.

“He’s been badly beaten. It’s almost as if I were back in the gulag looking at a fellow inmate.” Alexei shivered.

“Kane will be able to relate.” Armand cleared his throat. “I have to go to see Don Ferone, the mob boss in charge of the men who run the stables. I will attempt to negotiate your Mate’s release. I’m sending Detective Sergeant Murphy of the NYPD over to take pictures along with the others.”

* * * *

The Alpha, along with The Alpha Mate, Alpha Martin and Alpha Mate Kane was at Alexei’s home within the thirty minutes stated. Alpha Clavier and Alpha Thierry were on their way with their Mates in tow. Artis set up for the procedure. Alexei’s Mate was awake but not lucid.

Armand came into the townhouse. Vasily and Boris met him at the door. “Can Katya give the Betas and Enforcers coffee and breakfast downstairs and bring the same up for us in your study? We will be a while,” The Alpha barked as soon as he walked inside the hall heading for the elevator. Boris stopped him.

“Alpha,” Boris said tentatively.

“What?” The Alpha’s lips thinned in annoyance.

“Eh, we only have tea. We aren’t entirely set up here yet, we spent that time in Denver. We’ve only been here a few weeks. Alpha Davidoff is still having things sent from Russia and the warehouses. Some of the appliances don’t work on American current.”

“Bring tea then,” Armand snapped.

“Yes, Alpha, right away,” Boris answered. The Alpha and his party followed Vasily taking the elevator to the third floor master suite.

Armand entered the room to see Alexei leaning over the side of the bed. His Mate attempted to thrash around, and Alexei had thrown himself over the boy trying to keep him still so he wouldn’t hurt himself. Armand looked at Alexei’s Mate then nodded at Gabriel. “With your permission, Gabriel, can Kane join Sean in trying to soothe the boy? We need to talk to Alexei.”

“Of course, Armand.” Gabriel agreed. Sean took a chair and placed it next to the bed. Kane placed his next to Sean’s.

Alexei turned with despair in his eyes and finally greeted the Alphas and the Alpha Mates. Sean stood back from the nurse and lifted his gaze away from the boy and over to Kane. “I don’t know how your gift works. With The Voice, I talk to them, calmly. Your gift may be useful when he awakens and finds out he’s not dead.”

The Alpha attempted to shepherd Alexei out of the room, but he didn’t want to let go of his Mate’s hand.

Sean looked toward Alexei. “Alpha Davidoff, go with The Alpha. We can handle this. We’ll call you if anything changes.” Armand took Alexei’s arm to lead him away. Alexei stopped for a minute at the door of his suite and watched the Mates work.

Sean pulled the chair closer to the bed, sat down and began to speak. The boy stopped thrashing. A tear trickled down Alexei’s cheek. “Thank you Alpha Mate, you have done me a great service.”

Artis nodded toward Armand, and Alexei reluctantly followed The Alpha up to his study on the floor above them.

“Alpha, I know not what this means, but he is another little mouse.”

“You mean a Human Omega like Kane?” Gabriel’s eyes opened wide in disbelief.

“Yes, we’ve had two such mates in Russia while I was away but they came to Betas, not the Alphas on the council. I believe they foretell the arrival of troubled times when the gifts they carry will be vital to our survival as a species.”

“I agree,” Armand said succinctly. “I’ve made a personal call to the mob boss in charge of Manhattan. We will take a picture of the boy on all of our phones and show it around to the rent boys to see if anyone recognizes him. I would like to know who we are asking to purchase before we go to Don Ferone. Ignorance is not to our advantage.” Armand began to give orders.

Alexei watched in anguish as Armand took charge. Detective Sergeant Murphy arrived along with Rémy, Ian, Marc, and Colin, their Betas, and two Enforcers each. They came up to the fourth floor study. “The Mates can go downstairs and sit with Sean and Kane,” Armand told Rémy. “I need you, Marc, and Gabriel to go to the suite with Murphy and the Mates to take pictures of Alexei’s Mate on your phones. Send it via i********: to your Betas’ and Enforcers’ phones and I will send it to mine. Have them show this picture around to the other rent boys. We need information. I refuse to confront Don Ferone in ignorance.”

Gabriel’s eyes opened wide. “i********:, Alpha?”

“Sean showed me. Who says you can’t teach an old wolf new tricks?” Gabriel chuckled as the party made their way toward the elevator.

* * * *

They had searched for two hours before Rémy found what appeared to be a young Latino with a honey-blond modified Mohawk. He sat in a coffee shop on Forty-fourth and Seventh and nodded when Rémy held up the picture. “That’s Donal Berne,” he said as he sipped his coffee. “I’m Julio Reyes. Donal is a friend. Why do you need to know?”

“My employer found him this morning.”

“Is he dead?” the boy asked with a hitch in his voice as he counted change to pay for his meal.

“He was in bad shape, but he’s still breathing. My employer wants to help him. He discovered him in the park dying of an overdose.”

Julio’s eyes lit up when he heard the word help. To Rémy it seemed as if it broke the logjam in his brain. All of a sudden, there was additional information forthcoming.

“He runs for Vittorio Apuso, a really cruel bastard. He picked Donal up from the Port Authority bus station when he was fourteen. Donal’s a head case. He’s almost twenty-one and has been forced into doing this for too long. He’s heavy on the sauce. Apuso did that to him. He has it in for Donal because Donal never stops trying to run. Donal didn’t show up last night for work even though he left the stable with the others. I was worried about him. He won’t survive the next beating, and I don’t think Donal cares anymore. Please take care of him,” the boy pleaded.

Rémy nodded, paid him for his time, and then called Armand.

“Donal Berne, another Irish Celt. He runs for Vittorio Apuso. Apuso is a made-man. You’ll have to deal with Don Ferone. Donal is unstable. He’s been abused for too long my source says. Alexei may be able to relate.”

“You’re learning,” Armand told Rémy. “We’ll leave Alexei with his Mate. Meet me at Don Ferone’s in an hour. We need a show of force. Send out a call to Marc, Gabriel, all of our Betas, and eight of our Enforcers. Gather them together.”

“What about Alexei’s Betas?”

“Leave them and the rest of our Enforcers to guard the Mates, Artis, and Alexei. We go to Don Ferone.” Armand went upstairs to speak with Alexei. “Alpha Clavier, Alpha Thierry, and Alpha Martin, are going with me to negotiate.”

“I have two hundred fifty thousand dollars in the house, the rest I have in bearer bonds in my safe. I’ll get it for you. I hope it’s enough.”

“Don’t worry, the quarter million should be enough. If not, I’ll cover you and you can pay me back.”

* * * *

Armand and his party met Don Ferone at an Italian bakery in Little Italy. He sat in a back booth surrounded by his men. The air was redolent with the smell of cannoli and cheesecake.

Don Ferone sat back. “Mr. La Marche, we meet again. You came in force today. Curious. You said something on the phone about one of my men’s rent boys?” Don Ferone took a sip of his expresso.

“Yes, a Donal Berne, he’s in his twenties and an addict. I don’t think he’s worth much, but my associate wants to purchase him and is prepared to pay well.”

“As it happens, Mr. Apuso is here.” Don Ferone gestured to Apuso.

“How much for Donal Berne?” Don Ferone asked.

“Donal isn’t for sale.” Apuso smirked.

“Mr. Apuso, my associate is willing and able to pay whatever it takes,” Armand said mildly.

“Surely you have a price in mind, Vittorio?” Don Ferone asked through tight lips with a note of irritation in his voice.

“Two hundred fifty thousand.”

It was evident Apuso named what he thought was an impossible sum. “I have the money in fifties.” Armand took out his briefcase. “You can count it and see that it’s all there.”

Apuso began to count, and Ferone slammed the briefcase down on his fingers. “I’m sure it is, Mr. La Marche. Donal is now yours.” Don Ferone turned to his associate. “Vittorio, you will do nothing to this boy or you will end up like my late nephew. Mr. La Marche heads Garou Industries with whom we have an agreement. We stay out of his business and he stays out of ours.”

“He’s in our business if he wants one of my boys. Donal is a top earner.”

“Really?” Armand picked up his phone and showed Donal’s naked picture to Ferone.

“Enough!” Ferone pounded the table so hard the coffee cups rattled. “This one will be dead in three months. Be grateful Mr. La Marche is willing to take him off your hands for such a large sum. He isn’t worth five grand.”

“Yes, Don Ferone.” Apuso’s eyes spat fire. Armand noted he was angry at both Ferone and most especially at Armand. Armand felt Rémy step up behind him when it looked like Apuso might come at Armand from across the table.

Don Ferone grabbed Apuso’s arm. “If I find out you have given Mr. La Marche or his associates any problems, it will not go well for you. Remember Sal,” Don Ferone warned.

“Yes, Don Ferone.” Apuso’s face hardened in contempt. He was not going to let this slide.

Armand stood. “As ever, it was a pleasure to do business with you, Don Ferone.”

Armand left the bakery, raising his eyes to Rémy. “We have not seen the end of this.” Apuso’s whispered protests following him all the way to the door.

* * * *

Five hours had passed since Alexei found him, and his Mate was finally beginning to look like he was in a natural sleep. Dr. Artis removed him from the anesthesia. The weary Sean left the bedside in the care of Grigory. Vasily stayed by Alexei’s side.

Artis checked his patient’s pulse and blood pressure. “The boy is weak. His pulse is thready. He has pneumonia and it doesn’t seem to be the first time. I’m pumping him full of antibiotics via the IV. He should remain quiet or in bed for three days. I will call and employ a loup garou private nurse. Mine will go back to the infirmary with me. The nurse will need to change out the IV bag, give him his intravenous antibiotics, vitamins, iron infusions, and monitor his vitals. I’m putting him on oxygen. You’ll want to give him a sponge bath. Katya needs to force food on him even though he won’t want to eat.”

Alexei checked the clock again. It was only ten. Only five hours had passed since he’d found his Mate, five hours since his life had changed forever.

“I’ll be back at four this afternoon,” Artis told Alexei. “Tell Gabriel that we may need Kane when he wakes. He’s been ill-used. Use protective gloves around his bodily fluids. I took blood to test him for HIV. If you mate, you will take care of it, otherwise…” Artis shrugged. “He’s not out of the woods yet.”

* * * *

Alexei was forced out of the master suite a half hour later when Armand came back to the house with Rémy, Marc, and Gabriel. Armand settled into the formal dining room with the other Alphas and their Betas attacking the late breakfast Katya prepared of Russian sausages, eggs, dark bread, oatmeal, and strong tea. The Mates were eating in the family dining room.

Alexei came into the room not in the mood to entertain, but he owed The Alpha for the life of his mate. He sat down quietly and waited for The Alpha to finish eating.

“Join us,” Armand waved at Rémy, Marc, and Gabriel. “Put food on your plate and eat, Alexei. You need to keep up your strength. I’ll answer your questions.”

“Who is he and how did he come to this?” Alexei took a sip of tea, his first that morning.

“His name is Donal Berne and he’s twenty, about to turn twenty-one. He’s been in Vittorio Apuso’s stable since he was fourteen and ran away to New York. Vittorio picked him up while he wandered around the Port Authority Bus Terminal.” Armand cut another piece of sausage.

“How do you know this?” Alexei couldn’t comprehend how The Alpha had gathered so much information in such a short time.

“Rémy found a chatty compatriot who claimed to be a friend. Donal has been ill-used, forced into drug addiction, and held prisoner for going on seven years.” Armand sipped his tea.

Alexei shuddered, remembering his own recent incarceration.

“Even though Don Ferone said he wasn’t worth more than five thousand dollars, Apuso took two hundred fifty thousand for him and looked like he didn’t even want to give him up for that sum. You may have trouble from that quarter although Apuso was warned off by Don Ferone.” Armand took a bite of his bread.

Alexei mumbled something in Russian, gritting his teeth in anger.

“You’re right, he is a greedy bastard,” Armand rejoined and gave him a tight smile.

“I forget, Alpha, that you speak Russian. Please excuse my language. I am no longer used to the drawing room.”

“You are excused. Your anger is understandable. I sympathize. Sean almost came to me in similar condition. I arrived just in time to prevent it.”

Gabriel picked up his head. “Kane may be able to help. As you know, he was beaten and brutally raped. The gods gave him the gift of mental healing. He, yet, has not had an opportunity to use his gift. This may be his first chance to help a mind other than those of the children he teaches.”

“How can I repay your kindness?” Alexei asked with sincerity.

“Get your boy well enough to run with the others. That will make our Mates happy and happy Mates make a council stable,” Armand intoned. “This is something we have learned in the past two years.” Armand’s gaze swept around those at the table and he gave them almost a feral smile.

The doorbell rang. Boris came into the dining room. “Excuse me, Alphas, but the nurse has arrived.”