Chapter 7

Chapter Seven

T he next couple of days were filled with cleaning up, fortifying the building, and gathering information on the gang who were after Annabelle. Thanks to his injuries, Noah hadn’t been much use with the more physical jobs, so he’d focused on research and strategy—with the assistance of Evan, who’d fast revealed himself to be a certified computer genius.

Together, they’d not only managed to get the large open-plan space that used to be two decent-sized offices into shape but had also filled a whiteboard with information their team would need. Noah was pleased with their temporary office space. It took up about two-thirds of the second floor, with old desks arranged down the center of the room and a row of tables stretching around one corner, sporting a state-of-the-art computer setup. Above the monitors, a handwritten sign tacked to the shabby beige wall read: Evan’s Domain. Don’t Touch.

Sheer blinds covered all the windows, letting in a diffused light but keeping out prying eyes. The setup reminded Noah of a police station bullpen in Atlantic City, making him feel right at home. The conference room the London office used for briefings had always been a little too formal for his liking. And unlike their UK team leader, Rochelle didn’t hide away in a private office. She wanted to be right in the center of things with everyone else.

New office, new team, new dynamics. It would take some getting used to. Although, unlike some of the other team members, Noah had worked this way before his time in London, so it was easier for him to adapt. Violet, on the other hand, kept muttering about how unnatural it was that Rochelle had a desk beside everyone else.

“How are the cameras looking?” Noah asked Evan as he came up behind his “control center”—his terminology, not Noah’s.

“Great.” Evan motioned to the bank of monitors in front of him. “They’re all on separate systems, so if one’s knocked out, we can still see the rest. Also”—he swiveled in his state-of-the-art gaming chair—”I took the liberty of installing a second system, using tiny hidden cameras. Their range is limited, but if something happens, we’ll at least have eyes on all the main spaces.”

“Good thinking,” Noah said.

The triplets were growing on him. Their morality might be questionable, but there was no denying they were intelligent men who weren’t afraid of hard work.

“We have sound everywhere too, right?” Noah asked. He didn’t want a repeat of his experience in the panic room.

“Sound’s sorted.” Evan tapped some keys, and a blueprint of the building’s layout appeared on one of the screens. “Harris and Logan are finishing up the wiring on those doors you wanted fitted with remote locking systems. I’ve installed the app to control the locks and access the surveillance feeds on everyone’s phones—except for Officer Lee’s.” He winced. “Sorry. Habit. She won’t hand over her phone.”

“I’ll talk to her.” Although there was a good chance several of them would have to hold her down and take the phone from her. Violet didn’t play well with others. Noah pointed to another screen. “I see Rodrigo’s done with the panic room.”

Evan nodded. “Reinforced walls and door. As well as a mini security hub, just in case. He’s a handy guy—I mean, handy man type guy, you know, with tools and stuff.”

“I do know.” Noah hid a smile.

“You still want a lockable weapons cabinet in there?”

“Absolutely. Has Katrina ordered one?”

“I don’t know, but I’ll check.” Evan scribbled on the paper notepad beside him. Something his London counterpart would have considered sacrilege when there was a computer right in front of him.

Rochelle walked into the room, drawing their attention. She held her phone to her ear and had a frown on her face.

“No,” she said. “She isn’t awake yet. She’s been drifting in and out of consciousness for the past two days. I told you I would call your office as soon as she’s coherent.” She paused, listening to what had to be the ADA. The woman had called several times a day for updates on her witness. “Yes, we have a nurse coming in each day to give her pain meds and fluids. She’s improving, but she isn’t well yet.” Another pause, during which Rochelle’s lips thinned. “I understand that you’ve hired us to do a job, and we’re doing it. Your witness is safe. I’ll call you when she wakes.” She ended the call.

“The ADA wants you to wake Annabelle?” Noah asked as Rochelle wandered over to the whiteboard he’d filled with information on the Demon Brothers.

Rochelle scoffed. “She wants her to be medicated so she’s aware enough to talk to the ADA. I keep telling her that Annabelle’s illness needs to run its course. She isn’t listening. The trial is in two weeks, and she wants to prep her witness. How is she today anyway?”

“Better.” Noah joined her at the whiteboard. “She managed some chicken soup last night, and I think the fever’s passed. She was more coherent the last time we helped her to the bathroom. I suspect it’s just exhaustion that’s making her sleep now.”

“Good. That’s good.” She pointed to the photos of Eddie Hanson, the leader of the Demon Brothers motorcycle gang. “The ADA still has eyes on him. He isn’t lying low, which makes it easy to keep tabs on his activities. Eddie’s well aware there’s a team following him, though. He laughs and waves in their direction.”

“Mocking them.”

“Yeah.”

“I don’t like that he’s out on bail,” Noah said. “But honestly, a guy like him could organize a hit from prison anyway. Weird that he didn’t do the job himself last time.”

“He’s too smart for that.” Rochelle sat at her desk, her attention still on the board. “He doesn’t think like your usual gang leader. When he was in high school, they tested his IQ, and he scored in the MENSA range. I read his file. He was on track for a full scholarship to an Ivy League school if he wanted it. Instead, he joined the local branch of the Demons and rose straight to the top. There’s a reason they haven’t been able to take him down until now. Not only does he rule with violence and fear. He’s also too smart to get caught red-handed.”

“Except for the hit Annabelle witnessed,” Noah reminded her.

Rochelle glanced into her empty coffee mug before getting up to refill it from the pot on the table behind her. “It’s a miracle Annabelle saw anything. I had Violet and Rodrigo canvas the immediate area. This is the only residential building within a four-block radius. All the businesses on these two streets”—she gestured to the streets that made up the corner where the warehouse sat—”keep regular hours. A lot of them start work even earlier than that and close by midafternoon. This area’s a graveyard by early evening. There’s no reason for anyone to be here after that. The nearest evening activity is three blocks away, where that little nightclub and the bowling alley sit. The chances of anyone seeing the Demon Brothers execute a man around here must be about one in a billion.” With her mug refilled, she returned to her desk.

“And Annabelle didn’t just see it.” Noah pulled up a chair near her. “She took photos. Bad luck for the Demon Brothers.”

Rochelle sipped her coffee and grimaced. “Did we buy the cheapest beans possible? This tastes like coffee-flavored dirt.”

Noah grinned. “You sent the Scots shopping. They’re big tea drinkers in Scotland, not coffee. Last time I was in Glasgow, they were drinking instant coffee.”

“That’s just wrong.” Rochelle put down her mug. “Next time, I send an American.” She leaned forward, forearms resting on her knees as she considered what they’d learned about the gang. “Even if we get Annabelle through the trial, I’m not sure she’ll be safe afterward. Eddie Hanson’s an evil son of a bitch who delights in revenge. He’d take her out just for the pleasure of knowing she’d paid for putting him in prison.”

Noah’s stomach lurched as his gaze shot to the storage room where Annabelle slept. The urge to jump up and stand over her, gun ready to deal with the threat, was almost too overwhelming to resist. He tore his eyes away and looked back at Rochelle.

“Witness protection program?” Even he knew it was a foolish suggestion. There was no way they’d convince Annabelle to move from her comfort zone to somewhere she wasn’t familiar with, purely to be safe.

Rochelle shook her head. “All we can do is ensure this place is as secure as it can be. We can’t watch over her forever.”

It was on the tip of his tongue to protest. “Then we hope he loses interest in her. He’ll have enough to deal with fighting for himself. This is a death penalty state. There’s a good chance the ADA will request it.”

“You could sit around hoping things go your way,” an English-accented voice said from the doorway, making them spin toward the speaker. Noah had his gun drawn and pointed at the newcomer before he realized who stood there. Abasi Otieno, the final member of their team, looked amused to see Noah armed. “Just put a bullet in his head and be done with it,” he said.

Rochelle got to her feet, frowning as Noah put away his weapon. “That’s not how we do things around here, Mr. Otieno. Nice of you to join us. You’re over a week late.”

If Abasi was bothered by her reprimand, it didn’t show. Dressed in a bespoke suit, the elegant black man sauntered into the room, his eyes scanning the space as though assessing every weak point and exit possibility. His every movement spoke of a man used to action. One who was fit, capable, and could take care of himself. From his shaven head to his thousand-dollar shoes, Abasi exuded danger.

Flashing a charming smile, he held out a hand to Rochelle. “Ms. Davis,” he said, “I’m afraid business delayed me.”

“In a place where there were no phones?” Rochelle shook his hand, showing no sign of intimidation.

“None that I wanted to use.” Abasi shrugged before nodding at Noah. “Good to see a familiar face. Not sure about the setup, though. I liked the London office better. Chelsea was a classier area, and the townhouse had charm.”

“This is temporary,” Rochelle said before Noah could reply. “We’re protecting a witness.”

“I know.” Abasi unbuttoned his suit jacket and helped himself to a chair. He crossed his legs, appearing relaxed. Only a trained eye would make out the shoulder holster under his tailored jacket. “Annabelle Simmons, thirty-two. Witness to a Demon Brothers hit. Should have been taken into protective custody in a safe house somewhere, but her agoraphobia won’t allow it. She’s been in and out of it from a fever since the Brothers shot up her loft. Benson Security has moved in and turned the warehouse into a fort, hoping to keep her alive until the trial in two weeks. The police and prosecutor’s office can’t be trusted because someone is selling information. And Noah here got shot up in the last gun battle. Did I miss anything?”

There was a moment of stunned silence until Evan breathed an awe-filled “wow” and broke it.

Rochelle slammed her palms on the desk in front of her. “How the hell do you know all that?”

Abasi’s eyes were cold and hard even though he smiled. “I just told you. There’s a leak in Houston’s law enforcement community. Word’s spreading.”

“To a London mobster?” Rochelle demanded.

“ Former mobster.” Abasi smiled again. “Although, I’ll always be a Londoner. Here’s the thing about the world’s seedy underbelly, former FBI Agent Davis, it’s a small community. If we don’t know each other by name, we’ve heard of each other. News of the Demon Brothers and their business interests reached London years ago. They wanted to expand their network into Europe and sent out feelers. So, yes, people talk—even to a former mobster—and lately, they’ve been talking about the Houston gang who could be taken down by a housebound comic book artist. And, just so you know, nobody thinks Benson Security has a chance in hell of doing its job.”

“Well, you’d better hope we do because you’re a part of Benson Security now too, Mr. Otieno.” Rochelle’s words dripped with ice. “Aren’t you?” It was a challenge.

“Please, call me Abasi. After all, we’re on the same team.” Abasi widened his hands in a gesture resembling surrender. “We’re all part of Benson Security. Trust me when I say that Lake Benson has my loyalty.”

The unspoken words “for now” hung in the air between them.

“You put any of your teammates in danger, and I will take you out myself.” Rochelle’s words were low, her tone a promise. “Do you understand?”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Abasi stood. “So, I gather we can take assassination off the table as an option. What other ideas do you have for dealing with the Demon Brothers?” He glanced around the office space. “I’m hoping one of those options isn’t just sitting around waiting for them to attack again.”

“We’re still gathering data and fortifying the building,” Rochelle said, her voice tight. “The plan is not to deal with the Demon Brothers unless absolutely necessary. We’re on protection duty, which means keeping the witness safe and alive until she can testify. Now that you’re here, you can help patrol the perimeter and keep an eye out for trouble. Noah will fill you in on what you need to do. How did you get into the building anyway?”

“Violet let me in.” Abasi strolled over to the whiteboard.

“Of course she did. I need to go have a word with her,” Rochelle said as she headed for the door. “Nobody gets in or out of this building without me being informed first.” She looked back at Noah. “Set him up with somewhere to sleep. It’s getting late.”

“No need,” Abasi said. “I’ve taken a suite at the Four Seasons.”

“Of course you have.” Rochelle opened the door. “Wouldn’t want any of your ill-gotten gains going to waste now, would we?” She disappeared into the hallway.

“I don’t think the boss likes me,” Abasi said as he watched her leave.

“Well,” Noah said. “You have been a bit of an ass.”

Evan sucked in a breath, reminding Noah he was still in the room. The young guy looked halfway between shocked by Noah’s audacity and awestruck by Abasi.

Abasi ignored the triplet. “It comes with the territory,” he told Noah. “Not a lot of social skills taught in the thug life.”

Evan barked out a laugh, then looked stunned that he’d done so. Mumbling something about needing to talk to his brothers, he hurried from the room.

“I think you’ve impressed the youngster,” Noah said dryly.

Abasi glanced around the room before speaking again. “I don’t want to impress anyone,” he said quietly. “I would have been here at the same time as everyone else, but I had to clear up some issues with what remained of the James Family.”

Noah sobered. The James Family was the mob that had tried to kill their London computer expert and had succeeded in killing her brother. The same mob Abasi had systematically dismantled after dealing with its leader.

“Got it sorted now?”

Abasi nodded grimly. “The James Family is history.”

Noah studied him for a moment. “Is joining Benson Security some kind of penance?” He decided that being straightforward was the best approach.

“No.” Abasi stared into the distance for a second. “It’s a new start.”

He couldn’t have said anything that Noah would understand more. “Then we work.” He pointed at the board. “Let me fill you in on what you don’t already know.”

“Pretty sure that isn’t possible.” Abasi grinned.

“See, there you are, being an ass again.” Noah tapped a photo and launched into what they’d learned about the person in the picture.

For the first time since meeting the man, Noah felt like Abasi might grow on him. Hell, he might even prove to be an asset to the team. If he was even capable of being part of a team. And if he managed to get Rochelle to trust him.

Seemed there were a whole lot of ifs when it came to the Houston office.