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“It’s already done—well, that is, on his people. Gutierrez seems to have gone to ground, but we have people watching and searching. We’ll find the weasel and send him packing. Turning to a more positive thought—any ideas about where you might find your fated mate?”
“She is within the boundaries of our territory; she will not escape me.”
“If you are correct—and you usually are—then she is not a tigress. I have had people searching high and low, offering a substantial reward for information leading to her, but so far, we’ve got nothing. How long have you known about her, and what do you know?”
“I have known since my first breath that she existed, but it is only recently I have known she was near.”
“So, we’re looking for someone new to New Orleans.”
“Not necessarily. She could have been here for years, maybe even been born here. The knowledge of who she is only comes when you are ready, but the knowledge that she exists is given from the moment we are sentient.”
“I’m glad it’s not that way for those of us not cursed to be alpha. I didn’t know I had a fated mate until the first time Larisa growled at me and then it was like an anvil was dropped on my head as a voice whispered in my ear, ‘go get her.’”
“Then why didn’t you say something?”
“Her father sent her to you as a possible mate to cement an alliance between our clans.”
“But you have always known I would settle for nothing less than my fated mate and I knew she wasn’t Larisa.”
“It wasn’t my place…”
“Of course, it was. If I were you, I’d punch me in the nose, preferably in front of Larisa.”
“You didn’t know,” exclaimed Navarro, confused.
“No, but I knew she wasn’t mine. I’m just telling you, your mate will like the fact that you punched the alpha in defense of her honor.”
“You didn’t dishonor her,” argued Navarro. “If anything, she dishonored you. She’s lucky you don’t banish the both of us.”
“I should have been able to resist her.”
“Oh, so now you're Super Tiger. I can live withEl Tigre,but Super Tiger might be a bit much. Bodie?”
“What?”
“Why are we arguing?”
Bodie started to laugh. “I’m not sure. What do you say we stop?”
“Other than letting me have my mate, that might be the best idea you’ve had all morning.”
Sobering, Bodie said, “I think we need people at all the various balls and parties. If we need to bring in men, I know Beck and Nolan will back us. I just have to believe Gutierrez is smart enough to use Mardi Gras to make his play.”
Navarro nodded. “Agreed. I doubt he’ll hit the smaller balls. It’s too easy to be spotted.”
“True, but the really huge krewe balls like Orpheus, Bacchus, and Endymion are too large, too noisy, and too heavily patrolled by both the police and private security—too much scrutiny. Their best bet is to hit the medium-sized public celebrations.”
“You’re probably right, so that leaves six or seven we should focus on?”
“Probably closer to ten. I doubt they’ll try and conduct business at the debutante’s ball.”
“You never know. Some of those dresses could hide a multitude of sins.”
“I also want people on the street and up on the rooftops. We have friends all over this city, let’s make sure we’re out in force.”
“I still don’t get it. Why here?”
“Because both coasts are cluttered with cartels, gangs and rival syndicates. Not that the Midwest doesn’t have its issues, but for the most part, there is far less competition. On top of that, if you’re looking for global penetration, New Orleans is one of the largest and busiest ports in the United States and the World. If Gutierrez can get a foothold here, he can expand outward from both the Mississippi and the Gulf of Mexico. There’s a lot of relatively open water without a lot of patrols. If I wanted to create a new drug and export all over America and the World, I’d sure as hell take a look at New Orleans.”
