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He said nothing, but Quinn could feel his amusement rumbling down the link to her.
“Be still,” he said quietly.
After one more attempt at breaking free from the tensile strength in his arms, she settled in his lap, and he released her, helping her off the bed and swinging his legs over the side to sit on the edge of the bed.
“If you were going to let me up anyway, why didn’t you just let go?”
“Because you need to learn to stay where I tell you. You have to learn to trust that I will always ensure your safety and happiness. There may come a day that trusting me is the only way for you to keep safe.”
“I’m used to taking care of myself, Lambeau.”
“That is no longer necessary. Before you berate me for my overbearing tendencies, you need to understand that they will not change. I was born and raised to be alpha of this clan and to lead our people. I have been taught all my life that alpha is a position of responsibility and duty to one’s clan, not some free-for-all that entitles you to do whatever you want. Mine is the final word with our people. You have not been raised that way and no doubt see it as restrictive and from your point of view, it may feel that way.”
“Just because something has always been done one way doesn’t mean it has to always be done that way.”
“Nor does it mean it shouldn’t be, and that new or different is necessarily better. I told you we will find a way, but we will do so together.”
“Somehow, I don’t think that is going to end up with me getting what I want.”
“No doubt,” he said. “Nor will it result in my getting everything I want, but for me, I can live with the rest if what wecompromiseon is important to you, and if that gives you greater happiness and peace of mind.”
She leaned her head to one side, trying to take in the meaning of his words and not just listening to the surface. “That’s important to you, isn’t it? My happiness, I mean.”
“Yes, but within reason. I need to be convinced that something is truly what you want and not just something you want because you want your own way. Then I need to be sure that whatever it is will not cause you harm and is in your best interests. And last, but not least, it must result in your happiness being by my side. Understand me, Quinn—you are my fated mate, and I will not let you go.”
“But you do see that I’m not cut out to just sit around here and be the pampered first lady of the clan. I get that you, and your…”
“Our,” he corrected.
She smiled and shook her head slightly. “Our people have been trying to show me how easy and nice life can be as your mate, and I have to admit, that has its allure. But I know myself well enough to know that I would never be happy not doing what I was trained to do and in my own little way helping people.”
“As I said, give it time and we will find a way—together.”
“Okay, then hear me out. I gather from what my boss and others say about you and what I’ve learned myself that the Gutierrez Cartel has developed some new drug that acts like ecstasy but is far more addictive and has some side effects that make those from Angel Dust look like a picnic.”
“That’s what we’ve heard, as well. Highly addictive but with a high incidence of overdose, violent outbursts, and psychosis. I will not allow it to enter this country through my territory here in New Orleans and then head up the Mississippi River.”
“The information I have is he tried to test the waters in Chicago and St. Louis and got his ass kicked.”
Bodie smiled. “You are well-informed.”
Deciding to trust the burgeoning feeling between them, she sank down on her knees before him. “I am, and I have a contact at the Port who's been feeding me information.”
“How do you know it is legitimate?”
“Because he’s never steered me wrong. Every scrap of information I’ve ever received from him has been completely reliable.”
“Do you know why he’s been feeding you info?”
“I do. His father worked the docks as a longshoreman and took a stand against some mafia or cartel people. That’s the only thing he’s ever been a little bit vague about. His father was killed for voicing opposition and trying to shed light on what was going on. So Alvaro—that’s his name—left New Orleans, got a college education, and then worked his way up to his position on the docks.” She laughed. “The first time we met, he told me he’d approached other ‘bigger, more successful journalists,’ and the cops. The reporters wouldn’t give him the time of day and the cops just ignored him. He came to me because he knew about the supposed demise of my career in New York and figured I’d be desperate enough to work with him—he wasn’t wrong.”
“Alvaro Fuentes?” She nodded. “His father was a good man who stood up for the longshoremen and in opposition to those who were trying to horn in on my territory.”
“If it was yours, why didn’t they know better or, forgive me, why didn’t you step in?”
“The clan was in a time of transition. It was about the time my father was dying, and I was too preoccupied with ensuring his last days were comfortable, stabilizing the clan, and keeping our business intact. It fell through the cracks, and I only became involved after Fuentes was dead. I should have done something to prevent it; I did ensure that those who actually pulled the trigger paid for it, and ran the others out—or at least I thought I had.” He snorted. “The foolishness and arrogance of youth.”
Quinn reached across to him and squeezed his hand. “You had a lot on your plate, and for what it’s worth, both Alvaro and my editor speak highly of you.”
