Chapter 23

The blaring of the alarm woke Jacques. Bleary eyed, he stared at the blinking number. It was mid-morning. He had a crick in his neck from sleeping on top of the keyboard. He blinked and sat up with a start. He did a double take at the monitor screen. Upset by the images before him, he jumped to his feet and ran from the security center to the mansion.

He burst through the door, flinging it open so hard it broke the hinges and scared Naiya into eyeballing him. She backed slowly behind the counter and out of his way.

"Naiya! Where is Henry?"

"Last I saw, he was in the den on the ear comm. What's going on, Jacques?

"Nothing except me doing my job! Gotta go!" He jogged by her and out to the foyer before going to the den. He had to find Henry and lock down the grounds. He knew Naiya had expected him to answer, but he couldn't. Not yet. Not until he talked to his Alpha.

He slowed to a walk and knocked on the den door. He heard Henry call out, "enter," and he went in. He noticed Bryon, Boris and, to his surprise, Kenneth Dupre and his cousin Michael Haleston. Both men were Betas who ran some of Henry's other properties. Everyone was seated around the 3-D presentation center, looking at the information displayed there.

Fighting back a snarl at being excluded from this meeting, Jacques calmed himself enough to give Henry the proper greeting. "My Alpha, I have the evidence we need as to how Gerard and his thugs managed to get inside the grounds."

His words silenced all conversation. Henry studied him, and Jacques returned the favor. He let Henry see his fury at being regulated to Omega duties, for not being allowed to help find Laylah and for being kept from this obviously important meeting of all Henry's Betas.

"Indeed? Then tell me, Jacques. How was it done?"

"Simple. We have a traitor among the staff."

Kenneth and Michael came to their feet first, shouting denials. Boris appeared thoughtful and Bryon bared his teeth in challenge. He ignored them. His attention was on Henry.

"Silence! This raises some questions, considering the fact that you and I, old friend, handpicked all the employees here."

"I know, my Alpha. And believe me, when I replayed the footage to be sure, I was flabbergasted at the identity of the culprit. It really was the last person I expected that would wish harm to Laylah."

"Boris, Bryon. Gather all my employees and take them outside to the game court. Use the wolves that came to assist as enforcers. Jacques will go with you to take a physical count to make sure all are accounted for. The traitor will be revealed and answers given. And then, maybe, playtime with a new toy."

Jacques saw Henry's cruel expression and wondered when the friend he'd known for over twenty years had changed. "Yes, my Alpha." The men filed out ahead of Jacques, his mind on his Alpha's strange behavior.