Page 89 of Who's Afraid of the Big, Bad World

“Are you gonna make us guess?” Noah said.

Rodrigo rolled his eyes. “It’s the Alvarez cartel.”

“But I thought they were all about being a boutique drug mob,” Evan said, looking confused. “Didn’t you say they were specialists? Scary dudes who deal in cocaine?”

“They are.” Rodrigo ran a hand through his hair. “Word is, they started trafficking a few years ago when the international market for cocaine dipped—not so many drug deals during a pandemic. To reduce their costs, they started using slave labor. From there, they diversified. Human trafficking is a low-risk, high-reward crime. People tend to think of it as all being sex related, but there are unscrupulous assholes out there who just don’t want to pay their workforce. It’s modern-day slavery.”

“And the Alvarez cartel is profiting from it.” Noah rubbed his chin, feeling the rough growth of a day’s worth of stubble. “Rodrigo, you’re familiar with this cartel. How pissed will they be if the Demons take their money but can’t produce the goods?”

“Let’s put it this way, they might be one of the smaller cartels, but nobody touches them. Ever.”

Rochelle stood, nodding. “Then we take it all.”

She looked at Noah, and something passed between them. An understanding of sorts. As though she realized that even though the men had been out of line to go off without telling her, things were done a little differently in Benson Security than in regular law enforcement. Sometimes, justice and the law didn’t run hand in hand.

“We take it all,” he agreed.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

It was late by the time the team finished moving every cent they could find out of Eddie Hanson’s accounts. Noah stood and stretched, his gaze straying to Annabelle, curled up in the old armchair. She’d been sound asleep for an hour or so, with his old denim jacket tucked around her and a fluffy pink cushion under her head. She was so beautiful—all soft curves and a mass of unruly dark hair. Just looking at her made him feel… blessed. Great, he could almost hear Jacob mocking him: “Do you meanhashtagblessed, Dad?” Man, he missed his kids. Lately, they’d spent more time with Annabelle than with him.

With a rueful smile, he addressed the remaining members of his, albeit temporary, team. “I’m turning in for the night.”

Rochelle tore her eyes from the screens. “It is late. Think I’ll call it a night too.” She stood and grabbed her jacket from the back of her chair. “We should all get some sleep. Who knows what tomorrow will bring once Eddie wakes up to find his money’s gone. You checked security again, didn’t you? The building’s locked up tight?”

“Yep. And we’re doubling up on guard duty tonight. Just in case.” Noah glanced at Annabelle again. “I need to get her to bed.”

Rochelle cocked an eyebrow, amusement crinkling her eyes at the corners.

“To sleep,” Noah corrected quickly, his cheeks burning.

“Is that what you old people call it?” Evan drawled, his attention still on the screen in front of him.

Noah absently reached out and smacked him on the back of the head. Rochelle laughed. It was good to hear.

“Go to bed,” she ordered. “All of you.”

“Yes, Boss,” Evan said, rubbing his head.

Abasi slowly got to his feet and inclined his head toward Annabelle. “Need a hand getting her upstairs?”

“Seriously? You’re suggesting I’m old too? We’re the same damn age. I can carry her just fine on my own.”

Abasi held up his hands in surrender. “I was just being helpful.”

“Yeah, right.” Noah scowled at them all. Bunch of comedians.

He crossed the room to Annabelle, scooped her up, and cradled her against his chest. She fit perfectly and snuggled into him like a little cat.

“Noah?” she mumbled.

“Time for bed, Bella,” he murmured.

“I can walk,” she made a token protest as she continued to settle in, wrapping an arm around his neck.

Yeah, she totally wanted to walk. “Carrying you is faster.”

His team grinned as he left for the apartment upstairs. He was working with children. Easily amused children.