Chapter 35

Benedict

“Eva?” I knock louder on her door, the urgency growing with each unanswered call. My stomach twists as I stand there, listening for any sound inside. The silence is suffocating, thick with worry. She’s not answering her phone, and no one at the diner has seen her for hours. Every second that passes feels like a countdown, and I’m running out of time to find her.

Vin approaches from behind, his expression grim. “Her son’s missing as well,” he says, voice low. “We’ve got footage of Christopher’s Mercedes crossing the Saint Pierce Bridge about an hour ago. No sign of Nate or Eva in the car with him, but it’s a bad angle. Could’ve easily missed them.”

A cold knot tightens in my chest. Christopher. It always comes back to him. The bastard must have taken them. My fists clench as the weight of it settles in, but I force myself to stay calm. Losing it won’t help. Not now. Not when we’re so close to something breaking.

“We’ve got the whole team searching for Christopher, Eva, and Nate,” Vin continues, frustration etched into his face. “So far, we’re coming up empty.”

I run a hand through my hair, trying to push back the panic. The fear gnaws at me—fear for Eva, for Nate. Christopher is unpredictable, dangerous. If he has them... I can’t even finish the thought.

“I say we head to Lazarus’ place and rough him up for answers,” Vin says, his voice taking on that cold, no-nonsense tone. The same one he uses when we’re ready to make a move.

I nod, jaw tight. “I agree.” Lazarus is our best shot. He’s got connections—deep ones. If anyone knows where Christopher’s taken them, it’s him. And if he doesn’t talk, we’ll make him.

We head downstairs, moving quickly. My mind races with every step, scenarios flashing through my head. None of them are good. Eva’s face keeps coming to the front of my mind, the way she looked when I saw her last, that lingering uncertainty in her eyes. She was scared then, but now? I can’t even imagine.

Vin pulls out his phone, already texting the rest of the team. “We’ll meet up with Davis and the others on the way,” he says, not missing a beat. “We’re not letting this bastard get away.”

I clench my fists tighter, the pulse of adrenaline driving me forward. I’ve worked undercover for months, played this dangerous game with the Delgados and men like Christopher. But this? This is different. This is personal. Too damn personal.

My thoughts shift to Nate—an innocent kid caught in this twisted mess. He has no idea what kind of danger his father’s dragged him into. And Eva... she trusted me. And I’m dragging her deeper into the same chaos I swore to protect her from.

As we step outside, the cool night air hits me like a slap in the face, but it does nothing to calm the storm raging inside me. “Vin, this ends tonight. We get them back.” My voice is rough, determination and anger mixing in my tone.

Vin nods, his jaw set. “Damn right it does.”

I glance down the dark street as we move toward the car, feeling the weight of the badge in my pocket. But this? This goes beyond the job now.

“Where’s Enzo and Christopher?” Vin asks Lazarus as we step into his office, the tension hanging heavy in the air. This wasn’t a social call; we came here expecting a fight, fully prepared to beat answers out of him if necessary. But to our surprise, Lazarus has been nothing but cooperative so far. Too cooperative, in fact.

Lazarus, leaning back in his chair, eyes us with a calmness that only a man who’s seen it all can have. “Enzo’s gone dark. I’ve been trying to track him down myself, but the bastard’s slippery.” He rubs his chin thoughtfully, his eyes flicking toward me. “As for Christopher? I know exactly where he is.”

That gets my attention. I exchange a quick glance with Vin, who’s already sitting on the edge of his chair, eager for answers. “Where?” I ask, keeping my voice steady, though inside I feel the urgency bubbling up. Eva and Nate are still missing, and every minute counts.

Lazarus leans forward, his elbows resting on his desk, and for the first time, I see a flash of something like frustration in his eyes. “Christopher’s dealing with the Russians. He’s selling the girls—trafficking them. He’s at one of their safe houses right now, finalizing a sale. Eva’s son isn’t there, though. Christopher’s kept him separate.”

The words hit like a punch to the gut, and I have to take a breath to steady myself. The idea of Eva being sold—of any woman being trafficked—makes my blood boil. I grit my teeth, my fists clenching. “And you’re just letting this happen?” I ask, my voice tight with anger.

Lazarus raises an eyebrow, not offended by the accusation. “You think I approve of this? Trafficking’s bad for business, it brings too much heat. But Christopher—he’s a loose cannon. He’s gone rogue, working with the Russians without my blessing. He’s gone too far.” Lazarus’s eyes narrow, and I can see the fury behind his calm exterior. “That’s why I want your help. You find Enzo for me, and I’ll give you everything you need to bring Christopher down. I want him out of the picture just as much as you do.”

Vin and I glance at each other again, this time with understanding. Lazarus is willing to play ball, but only if we help him first. He’s not protecting Christopher; he’s ready to turn him over to us, as long as we help him deal with Enzo.

“Why Enzo?” I ask, my suspicion piqued. “What’s his part in this?”

Lazarus lets out a slow, frustrated sigh. “Enzo was my right hand. He knows too much about the family’s operations. If he’s gone rogue like Christopher, it’s a problem. A big one. I need him found, but more than that—I need him alive. I don’t trust the Russians not to have already gotten to him.”

Vin, ever the pragmatist, crosses his arms and leans back in his chair. “And what makes you think we’re going to help you find Enzo? Why should we give a damn about him?”

Lazarus’s eyes sharpen, and his voice drops, taking on a more dangerous tone. “Because if the Russians have Enzo, then this isn’t just about a few trafficked girls. This is about a war between our organizations. And trust me, you don’t want the fallout from that. You help me find him, and I’ll make sure the F.B.I. gets everything it needs to take down Christopher, the Russians, and anyone else involved.”

I consider his words carefully, weighing the risk. This could be the break we’ve been waiting for—the opportunity to take down both Christopher and the Russians in one swoop. But it also means getting in deeper with Lazarus, playing his game.

“We’ll find Enzo,” I say finally, meeting Lazarus’s gaze. “But you’re going to tell us everything you know about Christopher’s operation. Every safe house, every contact with the Russians. We’re not leaving here without the full picture.”

Lazarus smirks, as if he’s been expecting this. “You’ll have everything. I want Christopher taken down just as badly as you do. He’s gone too far.”

Vin stands, nodding toward me. “We’ll need those details now. We don’t have time to waste.”

Lazarus motions to one of his men, who steps forward with a folder. “This has everything I know about Christopher’s dealings. The addresses, the contacts—everything you’ll need to stop him.” He hands it over, and I grab it, flipping through the documents quickly. It’s all there.

“We’ll handle Christopher,” I say, standing up. “But remember, Lazarus, if you’re holding anything back, we’ll find out. And when we do, it won’t be pretty.”

Lazarus grins, leaning back in his chair, a satisfied look on his face. “You’ll find I’m a man of my word. Now go find Enzo. And when you do, make sure he’s brought back alive.”

Vin and I exchange one last glance before heading toward the door. We’ve got what we came for—more than we expected, really—but now the real work begins. Taking down Christopher, finding Enzo, and getting Eva and Nate out of this mess.

As we step outside, the weight of what’s ahead hits me like a ton of bricks. This isn’t just about taking down one man anymore, it’s about dismantling an entire operation. And if we fail, more lives will be at stake than just Eva and her son’s.