CHAPTER FOUR

As summer heated up in Louisiana, the Gray Wolf team was surprised to find how quickly their name and reputation had spread. Inundated with more requests than they were capable of fulfilling, they decided to do something they swore they would never do.

“Nine, why are we here?” asked Erin.

“Well, we find ourselves in a strange predicament.” He pushed three mail bins forward, filled with letters, applications, requests, and other items.

“What is this?” asked Faith.

“Requests for help. More than we can fulfill,” said Ghost. “Some of them seem rather tame.”

“Tame? You mean, less dangerous,” frowned Alexandra.

“Now, baby,” started Gaspar.

“Don’t ‘now, baby’ me,” she frowned. “I was in the Navy as well, Gaspar. Savannah was in the Air Force. Mary was in the FBI. Don’t treat us like novices.”

“Could you just listen for a moment?” pleaded Ian. The women all looked in his direction, then nodded.

“Alright. We’re listening,” said Grace.

“Some of these cases are ideal for all of you. They are less dangerous. There. We said it. Sue us for being concerned for our wives’ well-being. But the truth is, these are legitimate needs, and we don’t have the team in place to take care of them all. George, Teddy, and Pops have been taking some of them, but it’s not enough,” said Gaspar.

“So, you want us to take on cases?” asked Lauren with a big smile. Trak growled beside her, still unsure of this decision. She only giggled at him, loving the feeling of the rumble in her body.

“You can take on cases that appear more straightforward, less violent. But under the guidance of one of us as mentor. No arguments there. Although things appear good on the surface of these cases, below the surface, they could be more challenging.”

“Can you give us an idea of what types of cases?” asked Montana.

“For the most part, you and Savannah won’t be able to participate in these, considering your active roles with the teams.” Nine picked up one of the folders, sliding it across the table. “This one is about a wedding dress designer who refuses to create dresses above a size six.”

“What?” screeched the women. Antoine leaned over to his brother Luc.

“Told you that would resonate with them.”

“This one here is a group of female office workers that swear that their boss has placed cameras in the ladies rooms.”

“Eww,” frowned Grace. “That’s disgusting.”

“I agree,” smirked Ghost. “It’s disgusting, but we don’t believe it could turn deadly.” The men looked at their wives, waiting for some sort of a response.

“Well, what do you think?”

Mama Irene walked around the property trying to come up with new ideas to help her babies. The kind of help they needed was the kind that she and Matthew could deliver. They were good boys, good women. All of them. Kind, generous, caring, and worrying about everyone except themselves sometimes.

What made her very different was the ability for her to know exactly what they needed, when they needed it, often before they even understood what they needed. It was a true gift. One that started in earnest the day she met Matthew Robicheaux.

It had been so many years ago, him following her along the streets of New Orleans. There was something so different about him. Something that told Irene this was a man who was going to make a difference in the world. She had no idea how right she would be. How much of a difference he would actually make in their world.

It’s what compelled her to continue to do what she was doing now. Both of them.

“Are you alright, my love?” he asked, coming up behind her.

“Oh!” she said, startled. “You always could sneak up on me. You’re the only one.”

“It’s one of my many great gifts,” he smirked. “Are you alright?”

“I’m well, Matthew. I’m well. I was just thinking about all our babies that could use the same kind of help we got for Billy. The same kind we’ve done for all our children. I feel it. I feel it like a big thick cloud hangin’ over the whole place.”

Matthew kissed his wife’s forehead, nodding. He looked around the property and then turned back to her.

“You go ahead and do what you need to do. You know I’ll always support you.”

“I’ll get Claudette and show her how it’s done. Things could get busy here, Matthew, so you might wanna save your energy.”

“My love, the only thing I need to save my energy for is you.”