Chapter Twenty-Nine

It wasn’t Henri’s first after-dinner patio session with the Somersets and it wouldn’t be the last. The difference was they included Sylvain and Florin. Somehow, Mother Estelle had talked them into staying for a couple of days. And so they had.

How she had tamed a Mafia bad boy like Sylvain was anyone’s guess. Sylvain had been nothing but polite. He hadn’t referred to killing anyone, which had to be a record.

“Ladon, honey. Did you know Peter is helping with the human trafficking problem?” Mother Estelle said it as if she were proud. And it wasn’t a bad thing. In fact, it was a noble cause and Sylvain had enough influence, even if it was bad, to help a lot of people. Henri doubted he did it out of the goodness of his heart. If there was ever a person who had a reason for everything they did, it was Sylvain.

“Who’s Peter, Mom?”

“She’s referring to me.”

Marshall cleared his throat and lifted his eyebrows. “So you go by Peterson Sylvain and not Spider, or the number of other aliases you have?”

Sylvain narrowed his eyes and smiled.

Before he could answer, which would have been some scathing remark or threat, Mother Estelle spoke up. “We will not judge anyone here, including our Peter. He is family now, after all. He helped save us. We should thank him, along with Lucas and Echo. The three of you were wonderful and we are in your debt.”

“I believe that’s two favors the deputy owes me.”

“But who’s counting?” Ladon mumbled.

“I am.”

Marshall sighed. “One. I’ve kept my mouth shut. It covers the first one.”

Sylvain waved away the comment. “Fine.”

“Was that painful to admit?” Florin chuckled.

Sylvain laughed. “Tore out my heart.”

“How’s the cat-and-mouse situation going, Henri? Wesley?” Ladon changed the subject.

“What cat-and-mouse situation, dear?”

“Henri made friends with a mouse, Mom.”

Mother Estelle met Henri’s gaze with a smile. “Well, isn’t it nice? How did you manage it?”

“I haven’t yet. I’m still trying. The mouse will come out of hiding, but I still can’t get close enough to touch it.”

“How’s Lucy handling it, Wesley?” Lucy had been Wesley and Sully’s cat, but because they all still lived in Rocky’s house, she’d become a member of the family. They all loved her a lot.

“She isn’t the violent type. She’s also not allowed at the library because I don’t want her eating Henri’s little mousy friend. Just in case she gets an urge.”

The library was what the family started calling Henri’s house. It was an apt nickname. The more Henri thought about it, the more he liked the idea of making his cabin into a library where the clan could check out books.

He wanted to contribute to the clan. He hadn’t made it enough of a priority before, but he wanted to start. He wasn’t sure how. The last time he tried to contribute, it had turned into a disaster, causing a lot of problems.

Well, maybe it wasn’t him trying to contribute to his community so much as seeing if he could figure something out. But Perkins could have used Henri’s notes for something good. Instead, people had used it for their own gain.

Henri had learned some very hard lessons, not the least of which was trusting himself to save himself and trusting his mate with his heart. He had gained a family and a stronger sense of community. What more could he ask for?

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