Chapter 37

Chapter Thirty-Seven

“ H e really should go to the hospital,” Dr. Mallory said as she watched the paramedic patch up Evan’s bullet wound. “He’s had a nasty blow to the head.”

Annabelle’s doctor had arrived quickly after they’d called her. While waiting for a different paramedic to tend to Annabelle’s cuts and bruises, she’d popped into the main office area to check on Evan, citing professional curiosity. Noah suspected the doc had developed a soft spot for their team.

“Hospitals are boring,” Evan declared, his eyes glassy. “How about I just come home with you instead, Doc?” He waggled his eyebrows suggestively.

Dr. Mallory burst out laughing. “My dear boy, I’d eat you alive.”

Harris cocked his head, considering her. “I call dibs,” he declared.

“You can’t call dibs,” Evan complained. “She’s my doctor.”

“Technically,” Dr. Mallory said, “I’m Annabelle’s doctor.”

In his doped-up state, Evan had already moved on from the topic of who owned the doctor. He gave his brothers a soppy grin. “I love you guys,” he gushed. He didn’t wait for a reply. Instead, he announced to the room, “I’m a bloody hero!” He beamed at them.

“Yes, you are,” Noah said with a laugh.

From the small storage room in the corner of the large office space, a voice called out, “All done here, Dr. Mallory.”

Noah and the doc crossed to windowless closet where he’s spent his first night sleeping beside Annabelle. Now the room contained nothing but a couple of old wooden chairs. Annabelle sat in one of them. She smiled, and the tension inside him eased somewhat. That tension had been a constant companion since she’d gone missing, and it reared its head every time she was out of his sight. He suspected it would take a long time to convince himself Annabelle was okay when she wasn’t with him.

Noah crouched in front of her and placed his hands on her knees. “How’re you doing?”

She rested her hands on top of his. “I’m one big bruise. My knee, my cheek, my side—but at least there are no cracked ribs or broken bones.”

The sight of her blossoming black eye made him want to shoot Hanson in the kneecap all over again. Noah mentally smiled at the memory. The shot wasn’t absolutely necessary. Hanson had been shooting wildly after being disorientated by the flash-bang and would have eventually run out of bullets. But Noah decided winging him would speed things up a little. It had been one of his better decisions.

“Your head?” He reached up to tuck her tangled hair behind her ear.

“Clear now. Although I feel like I have a hangover. My head’s throbbing.”

Noah turned to the doctor. “Can she take something for that?”

“Of course.”

While she spoke with the paramedic, Noah focused on Annabelle. His gut clenched at the thought of almost losing her. And even though, logically, he knew she was safe now, he couldn’t seem to convince his emotions. Deep down inside, he was waiting for something else to go wrong. But worst of all was the overwhelming guilt. There was no denying he was to blame for every bruise that marred her skin. If he’d just been there…

“I should have checked the office more thoroughly,” he told her. “I should have looked inside the credenza. I shouldn’t have jumped to the conclusion that you’d been taken from the building.”

“You’re right.” She nodded solemnly. “And you should be in all places at all times, seeing all things at once, and never, ever making a mistake. Oh wait, that would make you God.” She leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to his lips. “Shoulda, coulda, woulda. The three pillars of undeserved guilt. Everybody believed I was in that case; it wasn’t only you. But you came back for me as soon as you knew different. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“But if I’d taken just a few minutes longer to lo?—”

She pressed a finger to his mouth to silence him. “And if the ADA hadn’t been in the Demons’ pocket, and if the police had realized she was the mole sooner, and if Eddie hadn’t been granted bail in the first place… There are so many ifs to fret over. But if you’re intent on practicing some self-flagellation, I’m sure one of the triplets could make you a nice little flogger to use. Logan seems quite handy.”

“Smart-ass,” Noah grumbled.

The doc approached them with a smile. “Take these.” She handed a couple of pills and a glass of water to Annabelle, who did as she was told.

Once finished, she set the glass on the floor beside her and spoke to her doctor. “Are we going to talk?”

“Do you want to?”

She glanced at Noah and shook her head. “Another day,” she said. “I need time for things to settle before I can find the right words.”

Dr. Mallory nodded. “What you really need is some care.” She focused on Noah. “A shower, clean clothes, a decent meal, and sleep. Lots of sleep. That’s my prescription.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

The doctor moved closer to Annabelle and gently brushed a hand over her hair. “Your aunt would have been proud of you today. I know I am.”

“It’s hard to believe that I went outside. It was only a couple of steps, but I did it.”

“Not only that.” Dr. Mallory’s voice was thick with emotion. “You fought back. You defended yourself and had the courage to do what was needed to save yourself. I’m so incredibly proud of you, Annabelle.” She blinked several times before straightening her shoulders and smiling at Noah. “I once told you that you were good for her, but I was wrong. You’re good for each other. ” With that, she turned on her heel and strode toward the door. “Call if you need me, but I think you’re in fine hands tonight.” And then, she was gone.

Annabelle watched her leave with tears in her eyes. She visibly swallowed before facing Noah. “She’s right, you know. I am soooo good for you.”

“I couldn’t agree more. Come on.” He stood and gently tugged her to her feet. “Let’s get you upstairs to shower and change.”

“I don’t think I can face going upstairs yet,” she said. “I’ll shower down here. Could you get me some clean clothes?”

“Absolutely.”

As they made their way through the office, Evan, still delirious thanks to whatever they’d given him for the pain, grinned widely. “Anna-belly, I fried that guy for you!”

“Yes, you did,” she said with a chuckle.

“I’m a hero,” he announced again, making everyone laugh.

“Don’t worry,” Harris told them. “I’m videoing all of this for posterity.”

“And our mother,” Logan added.

Holding Annabelle’s hand, Noah escorted her to the bathroom. He couldn’t stop himself from checking it was clear before she entered. It would be a long time before he felt they were completely safe in the warehouse.

“The police will be here tomorrow to take statements,” he said. “They have their hands full tonight with gang violence. Which means we can follow the doctor’s orders and take care of you.”

Wide, dark eyes met his. “Did we take Hanson’s money? He asked if we did. I know we were trying to take it, but did we manage it?”

Noah winced internally, wondering which bruises were associated with that line of questioning. In hindsight, perhaps it hadn’t been the best idea to go after the gang leader’s money. “Yes, we did.”

“I’m glad. What are we doing with it?”

“We’re giving it away.”

Her smile was pure satisfaction. “He’d hate that.”

She wasn’t wrong.

“I’m not sure I can sleep in the loft tonight, Noah. Do you think we could move a bed into the storeroom down here?”

He completely understood. The apartment still showed damage from the latest Demons attack. “I’ll get the boys onto it. What about food? Katrina’s ordering in. What do you feel like eating?”

Annabelle thought about it for a second. “Everything. I want all the food. And don’t forget dessert.”

Noah chuckled as he leaned in to kiss her. “Go shower. I’ll make sure there’s enough food here to feed an army when you get out.”

“You know, that’s exactly what we are,” she said as she walked into the bathroom. “An army.”

The door closed behind her, and Noah pressed his palm flat against it. Safe. She was safe. Eddie Hanson was in jail, and no matter what happened at his upcoming trial, he’d spend the rest of his life in prison. Today’s events ensured that.

Noah closed his eyes and took the first easy breath he’d taken all day.

The “everything” Annabelle wanted to eat turned out to be copious amounts of pizza chased down with pints of ice cream. They ate in the second-floor office because Annabelle wasn’t ready to face her loft just yet. Smiles had replaced tension, and the ragtag team laughed easily with each other as they ate.

Halfway through the pizza part of their meal, Evan laid his head on the desk in front of him and fell asleep. There was no waking him. The self-declared hero had finally run out of steam. His brothers carried him to his bed in the room they shared at the back of the building and took turns checking on him throughout the evening.

As though scenting food, the detectives dropped by to update them on the Demons situation. MacMillan fell on the pizza with obvious delight. Johnson was more interested in a cold bottle of beer. He sipped it after loosening his tie.

“Long, long day,” he told them as he relaxed into a chair. “We’re on top of the fighting now and the city’s cells are full of gangbangers. Should be a quiet night tonight.”

Noah lifted his own beer in a toast. “To the cops,” he said.

The team drank heartily.

“Any word on former ADA Grant?” Rochelle asked, her eyes narrowing.

MacMillan wiped his mouth on a napkin. “Got on a flight to Ecuador. They don’t extradite to the US, so she’s out of our reach for the time being. But I read up on Ecuador, not sure she’ll want to hang out there forever. Doesn’t look like it’s as much fun as say Argentina.”

Johnson grinned at his partner. “Mac’s always fancied himself a great tango dancer.”

“Don’t be fooled by my curves.” MacMillan patted his belly. “This boy is light on his feet.”

As the team laughed, Noah caught Rodrigo’s eye. “You know anyone in Ecuador?”

Rodrigo’s smile was slow. “I believe I might know one or two people there.”

“Handy.” Noah sipped his beer.

After the team caught up on the details of the Demon Brothers’ fight against the Alvarez cartel, and Mac finished the pizza, the detectives said their goodbyes. Promising to return early the next morning for their statements.

Meanwhile, Annabelle took her iPad to a corner and, much to Noah’s delight, called his sons. He went over to say hello before leaving her to it.

“It worked,” she told the boys with an ecstatic grin.

“What worked?” Jacob said.

“Your advice, Jake, your advice!” She peered into the camera excitedly. “I went out onto the roof, and I did what you said your aunt does; I focused on one tiny thing. And it worked! I mean, I didn’t get far, but I was outside. I felt the sun on my face, and it’s all because of you!“

Jacob looked like he’d burst from pride and, at the same time, die of embarrassment.

Sammy pushed to the foreground. “Did you do my thing too?” he asked eagerly. “Did you hold Dad’s hand?”

“I did when he got there,” Annabelle said seriously. “And that worked too. You guys are geniuses. I went outside, and it’s all thanks to you!” She sobered somewhat. “I mean, it was just a little bit outside. A few steps onto the roof, but it still counts.”

“Heck yeah, it counts,” Jacob shouted. “That’s awesome, Annabelle. Hey, Gran, Annabelle went outside, and she used our advice to do it!”

To Noah’s surprise, Therese’s mother appeared behind the boys. It always made his heart ache to see her, as he imagined that’s exactly how his wife would have looked if she’d made it to the same age.

“That’s wonderful, dear,” Bernadette said. “I’m so proud of you.” She put her arms around the boys. “And I’m so very proud of my wonderful grandsons too.”

“Dad helped,” Sammy piped up. “He held Annabelle’s hand.”

“Did he now?” Bernadette’s eyes twinkled. “Well, next time we talk, I’ll tell him he did a good job too.”

“It was only onto the roof,” Annabelle clarified.

“Nonsense.” Bernadette waved a dismissive hand. “Only nothing. The roof today; tomorrow, you’ll be visiting us in Atlantic City.”

Annabelle looked awestruck at the thought. “That would be amazing.”

Meanwhile, Noah wondered when she’d become such good friends with his in-laws. He shook his head in bewilderment. She was just that kind of person. If she hadn’t been housebound for so long, he imagined she’d have adopted everyone she met and filled the warehouse with waifs and strays.

“I knew you could do it,” Jacob said with confidence. “I told Sammy you could.”

“He did.” Sammy nodded vigorously.

“When we come back to Houston, we’ll help you some more,” Jacob vowed.

“I’d love that,” Annabelle said sincerely. “Now, show me how your comic’s progressing.”

As the boys rushed away to get their artwork, Violet called out, “Noah, get over here and back me up.”

After one last reassuring glance at Annabelle, he rejoined the group.

“What have you done now?” he asked Violet.

“Nothing.” But Violet couldn’t pull off innocent if she tried. She just wasn’t in the mood to confess to whatever it was. “I’m trying to get Rochelle to see that I’ve been working hard at this team thing. Tell her what I was like in London.” It was an order.

“A pain in the ass.” Noah pulled up a chair at the table and helped himself to some ice-cream. “That about sums it up.”

“See?” Violet said as though he’d made her point.

From the look on Rochelle’s face, it was clear he hadn’t. He decided to elaborate.

“She barely spoke, considered orders optional, took out her frustrations on any offender that crossed her path, and refused to participate in group events.” He frowned at Violet, realizing something. “She sure as hell never ate with any of us.”

“See?” Violet said again, waving her pizza slice. “I deserve credit for trying this hard.”

“Fine.” Rochelle seemed more confused than convinced. “I award you credit for trying.”

“Thank you.” Violet sat back in her seat, satisfied.

It was late, and she’d changed out of her usual severe black attire. It took Noah a second to realize she was wearing a Hello Kitty T-shirt instead. The color wasn’t fluorescent—it was a muddy green—but a complete change from her usual look.

“Gotta say,” he said, “I think she’s mellowing.”

Violet glared at him. “I wouldn’t go that far.”

The team laughed.

Team…

Noah rested his elbows on the desk in front of him as he caught Rochelle’s eye. “You were too hasty,” he repeated his comment from earlier that day.

“No.” She leaned back in her chair. Her suit jacket was off, her shirt sleeves rolled up, and she’d tied her hair in a topknot. She looked relaxed. “I was cautious. You know full well this office is a lawsuit waiting to happen.”

“Wait,” Harris said around a mouthful of ice-cream. “Is that a bad thing? I thought Americans liked suing each other. Isn’t it the national hobby or something?”

“Yes, it’s a bad thing,” Rochelle told him. “No insurance company on the planet would take a risk on this office.”

“Bull.” Abasi reached for his wallet and pulled out a card. He tossed it to Rochelle. “Call that number and tell them I referred you. They’ll insure the office.”

“Or what?” Rochelle said. “You’ll take them out ?”

“My aunt would be unhappy if I did that. Her son runs the New York office.”

“You have family?” Harris’ jaw dropped. “Family that aren’t criminals?” It was clearly an alien concept.

“What can I say?” Abasi shrugged. “The English side of the family’s filled with black sheep.”

Harris gaped at Abasi as though he’d just realized the man didn’t hatch in a lab and walk out a fully formed mobster.

Noah turned to Rochelle. “Lack of insurance isn’t your only reason for disbanding the office, is it?”

She shrugged. “I’m just not sure we can work together.”

“What if we made a blood oath?” Violet asked, making everyone stare at her.

“I’d rather make a pinky promise,” Logan said.

“We worked as a team today,” Rodrigo pointed out. “No subordination, no rogue behavior—unless you count Noah shooting Hanson in the knee.”

“I’d have aimed slightly higher,” Katrina said evenly.

“In fact,” Rodrigo said, “I thought we made an excellent team.”

“We’re totally a team.” The two remaining triplets high-fived each other, grinning.

“I was team-like,” Violet declared, as though that were a thing.

“Hey”—Abasi held up his hands—”even I behaved.”

“Face it,” Noah said to Rochelle, “you have a fully formed team, whether you like it or not . Seems to me that all we need right now is a boss. So, what do you say, Boss? Want to get the band back together?”

“Damn,” Rochelle said, sitting up straight. “If we do this, there’s gonna be a few rules.”

The team shared an anxious look.

“We can do rules,” Logan said, although a tad unconvincingly.

“One”—Rochelle counted them off on her fingers—“no keeping the boss in the dark about anything.”

“Seems reasonable,” Rodrigo said.

“Two.” Rochelle pointed to another finger. “Everybody undertakes firearms training, and you all volunteer for two hours a week each at a center for victims of violent crime.”

“Come on!” Harris complained. “That’s not fair; I’ve never shot anybody. Can’t Violet do my hours?”

“And mine,” Logan said.

“No.” Rochelle narrowed her eyes. “You’re all a little too gun-happy for my liking. You do the community time, or you aren’t on the team.”

There was much grumbling, but also agreement.

“Three,” she said. “No dishonest, lawbreaking behavior.”

“Abasi doesn’t know how to behave any other way,” Rodrigo said with a grin.

Abasi just grinned back.

“This is nonnegotiable. We obey the law.” Rochelle was adamant.

“Unless you give the okay to do otherwise,” Noah clarified. “Sometimes, laws just need to be bent—a little.”

“Fine. My permission for any questionable behavior is essential.”

There were mutters of reluctant agreement.

“And finally”—she looked at Noah—“no sleeping with the clients.”

“Deal’s off,” Noah said as his team whooped and laughed.

Annabelle came up behind him and wrapped her arms around his neck. “How about I sweeten the pot in this negotiation?” she said to Rochelle. “Noah can definitely keep sleeping with me, and Benson Security can lease the lower two floors of this building at a cut-price rate.”

“Sounds suspiciously like we’re pimping out Noah,” Abasi said, amused.

“Okay.” Annabelle was undeterred. “On top of that, you all have to do your volunteer time with my charity instead of finding another victim center.”

“You have a charity?” Noah twisted to look up at her.

“Yep. After my parents died and I inherited everything, I put it all into a charitable trust that works with victims of violence.” She shrugged. “I didn’t want it hanging over my head as a reason for people to kidnap me again, so I gave it away.”

“That would have made it hard for Hanson to empty your bank accounts,” Rochelle said with admiration.

“Yeah, there isn’t a whole lot in there right now because my new book’s been on hold.” Annabelle hesitated. “Actually, as part of that cut-price deal, you could waive the fees for this case.” She batted her eyelashes innocently.

“She looks so sweet,” Harris said. “But really, she’s a shark.”

“Lemme get this straight,” Abasi drawled. “For an old office in the middle of nowhere and a burned-out shop, you get to sleep with Noah, plus a free ride on your Benson Security bill and hours of volunteer work from the rest of us? Damn, girl, if you ever want to start a criminal empire, let me know.”

“Too much?” Annabelle asked Noah, laughter in her eyes.

“You’re worth it,” he assured her.

“So, what do you say, Rochelle?” Annabelle asked.

As one, the team turned to their reluctant leader. Rochelle sighed and rose to her feet, a mug of coffee in her hand. It seemed as though the room itself held a breath, waiting for her verdict. At last, she raised her mug.

“Here’s to the Benson Security Houston office,” she said. “The biggest group of misfits this side of the Atlantic.”

“I’ll drink to that,” Noah said with a grin.

Down the corridor, a voice rang out: “I’m a bloody hero!”

Harris turned to Logan. “It’s your turn.”

“I went last time,” Logan complained.

As they argued, Noah met Rochelle’s resigned gaze, and they smiled at each other.