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WYNN

T he drive to Philadelphia was tense and quiet. We’d left Ryu and Obi behind so they could head to China, but the rest of us drove to Fallon’s new makeshift office. Her normal biker bar had been one of the places Volpe hit the night of the club explosion.

I leaned against the wood-paneled office wall next to Ciel—still surprised he had even wanted to come with us—while Leona and Zoya took up the chairs and Cas hovered beside. Ciel had barely spoken since he’d eliminated his parents’ murderers. I’d watched him carefully as something twisted in my chest at his discomfort.

Briefly, I leaned into his shoulder, and he tensed, then relaxed against me. Things had felt…different since we’d been together in the library. I couldn’t be sure what it was but seeing him quieter than usual filled me with anxiety.

Was he happy with what happened? Devastated? Still processing?

Leona hadn’t been sure either when I’d pulled her aside and whispered in her ear that I was worried about him. She’d squeezed my hand and said we’d talk about it when we got home and had some sleep.

By the time Fallon swept into the room, both Zoya and Leona’s heads were bobbing from exhaustion.

Leona snapped up, eyes locked on where Fallon had wiped blood from her hands. “Is everything all right?”

“Oh, this?” Fallon looked down at the bloody towel. Then she handed it off to Finn, one of her men, and he tucked it in his back pocket. Her two other men, Conor and Ronan, were nowhere to be found.

I didn’t know them well, but I knew enough to understand they would never willingly separate from one another.

“Just some business I had to handle,” Fallon said, sitting down behind the desk. Her hair was pulled into a tight bun, and specks of blood peppered her neck. Zoya blanched when she noticed.

I bit back my smile, folding my arms over my chest. Fallon always loved to make an entrance.

“Grand to see ya, Leona,” she said, leaning back in her chair. “I’m glad you’re here, despite the lateness of the hour.” She glanced at Caspian and gave a nod. “Cas.”

“Fallon,” he replied, arms over his chest.

“Sorry about it being late,” Leona said as she leaned over the desk to shake her hand.

“We have much to discuss. First of which being this lovely little thing sitting in my office, and I don’t mean Wynn,” she said with a playful wink in my direction.

“Always a pleasure, Fallon,” I said, matching her tone. Fallon had teased me about my looks since the first day my sister and I had set foot in Philadelphia. She’d taken Willow under her wing almost immediately. I spent most of my time with Obi and the guys, but I had still gotten to know Fallon and her circle.

Ciel’s fingers briefly squeezed mine, but then he let go and straightened, staring straight ahead and refusing to meet my eye. An accident?

Leona cleared her throat. “Fallon, please meet Zoya Makarova.”

“Konstantin’s little sister.” Fallon inclined her head in greeting. Zoya swallowed and gave a little wave. “I got your text.”

Leona nodded. “Zoya needs protection while we and the Russians clean up this mess with the South Americans. The Alacrán Cartel targeted her tonight. We eliminated the leader, but it’s not safe for her to be in the city.”

Fallon leaned back in her chair, a glint in her eye. I recognized that look. Fallon was getting ready to negotiate. “Unfortunately, I don’t have many extra resources available and I’m down two safe houses since this mess started.”

The Irish were fighting their own battle in Philadelphia, which was part of why she had asked us to come. She had wanted to update us on something important she’d found.

“I’m sure you could find some place, Fallon,” Cas insisted. His hands grabbed the back of Leona’s chair. “Maybe she could even work here, at the bar. You could keep an eye on her, and she could help you out.”

Zoya opened her mouth, but Fallon held up a hand. “The bar isn’t any safer, as we’ve learned after Volpe chose to go after me.”

“What about Willow?” I asked. “My sister can keep her at her house. You already keep an eye on her because of her job. Zoya can just stay there.”

Fallon swiveled back and forth in her chair as she considered. Beside her, Finn flipped a lighter around in his hand, observing us all as she did.

“I don’t have any extra men to station there. That’s partly why I asked ya to come.”

“Colin lurks at Willow’s house enough,” I reasoned. The Irishman wasn’t present, but Fallon knew of her brother’s feelings for my sister. We all did, despite how Willow denied it.

Fallon snorted a laugh. “That he does.”

“Let Zoya stay there, under the general umbrella of your protection. You don’t need to station any other men there.”

She released a “hmm,” considering. “I will do this. With one condition.”

“What is it?” Leona asked.

“We’ve noticed a large increase in human trafficking. Have you seen the same in New York?” Her eyes flicked over Leona’s head to mine.

I frowned, stepping off the wall. “No, actually, I haven’t seen much at all.”

We had been busy, so admittedly, I’d been a little distracted, but as her words sunk in, I realized it had been over two weeks since I’d even caught a whiff of a trafficking ring. That was outside the norm.

“What organization is it?” Leona asked.

“They’re Albanians, I believe.” She sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Their numbers are large. It’s been a challenge to keep them contained to only the rougher parts of the city while trying to manage the drugs coming in through the ports at the same time.”

“Fuck,” Leona hissed, looking over her shoulder at me.

Albanians .

Cas placed a hand on Leona’s shoulder. Meanwhile, my heart raced.

“You’re aware of them?” Fallon asked, watching the way Leona leaned into Cas’s touch, and I rubbed the back of my neck. Ciel still stood motionless behind us, hands in his pockets, as he carefully observed the room.

“We’ve known they’ve been a problem in New York,” Leona said carefully, “but I didn’t realize they’d moved their attention here.”

“Here, and I’ve heard through New Jersey as well. We’re doing what we can.”

“You said you don’t have enough men?” I asked. If Fallon couldn’t contain them, the problem would only spread. More and more innocent people would be affected.

“It’s shite to admit it, but we’re stretched thin,” Fallon replied. She looked to Finn, who stood on her right side. “Right now, Conor and Ronan are tracking down a lead we have on a trafficking ring. Finn and I were just interrogating an Albanian I caught sneaking around the bar with roofies yesterday, and we were able to get some helpful information out of him before he unfortunately succumbed to blood loss all over me brand-new shoes.”

“Tragic,” Leona quipped.

“Incredibly.” Fallon smirked. “But this is my condition. Give me Wynn.”

Leona’s eyes went wide. “What?”

Ciel stiffened beside me.

“I need his expertise.” Fallon turned to me. “You have the most experience with tracking and eliminating these cells. Help us, and we will protect Zoya Makarova in exchange.”

“I don’t…” Zoya murmured, looking between us.

Leona reached her hand out to me, a question in her eyes. “How long, Fallon?”

I looped my fingers through hers. These matters were extremely time sensitive. If the Albanians had been operating in New York for so long, they knew what they were doing—and they had been, so far, good at flying under the radar. It was only by chance and Leona’s father’s files that we even knew who they were.

If we didn’t weed them out while we could, they would only take further root and expand—or they’d slip through our fingers entirely.

“We need to make a dent in them. Figure out their hiding places. Understand their numbers.” Fallon watched us carefully, but Finn’s fingers brushed her shoulder, almost in warning. She looked up and something silent passed between them. “Fine. A few days. That’s all I will ask of ya.”

Leona’s fingers squeezed, her dilemma clear on her face. She didn’t want to refuse. But she didn’t want to agree.

It was my choice.

I couldn’t say no to Fallon, especially not at the expense of Zoya’s protection. I had survived this much—gathered my strength—to help these people. I could do what she needed, and then return to New York once Fallon was in a better position.

“Deal.”

“Wynn…” Leona whispered.

“You don’t have to,” Zoya said weakly, staring at mine and Leona’s locked hands. “This is dangerous.”

Both Leona and Fallon knew my past. They would understand what this meant to me, even if Zoya didn’t. Even if she didn’t need protection, I would still do this. I couldn’t turn away. Yet I couldn’t stay here for long—not with things still on edge in New York—but I needed to do what I could.

It was my duty. I had to help.

I brushed my thumb over Leona’s cheek before facing Fallon. “I will help for two days. That’s all I can spare.”

The meeting with Giulio was only a few days from now. I needed to be back in New York before then.

Fallon nodded. “I appreciate that Wynn. I can send you to Conor and Ronan straight away. Whatever you can accomplish in the next forty-eight hours would be appreciated.”

Leona’s jaw worked, but she didn’t protest. On top of knowing about my past, I could also see the glint of anger in her eyes. Not at me, but at the Albanians.

Her father brought the Albanians into New York, and it was our responsibility to stop them. By helping Fallon, I was also helping her—helping us . Even though she didn’t respond, she grabbed my hand and squeezed.

“Zoya Makarova, you are officially under the protection of the Irish, but that protection extends only within the bounds of Willow’s home. If you leave there voluntarily, there’s nothing I can do. Understand?”

Zoya nodded but said nothing else. The young Russian woman watched the room with huge eyes, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. I couldn’t tell if she was overwhelmed, or simply trying to take everything in, but I assumed that in just one night, she’d seen more of the criminal underworld than she had in years. Based on what we heard in at the Makarov Estate, Konstantin kept her separate from the worst of it—just as Leona’s father had done.

More and more of Leona’s earlier anger made sense to me. If these women were going to be used as pawns regardless, shouldn’t they at least be well-prepared to defend and take care of themselves?

It was exactly the same thought I’d had when I agreed to train Leona.

“We’ll take you to Willow’s after this,” Leona told Zoya. I pulled out my phone to text Willow the update; I’d already called her and confirmed she could watch over Zoya on the drive down here. Now, with Fallon’s permission and protection, Zoya should be safe for the time being.

“That matter is settled,” Fallon said. “Now, I have other things to discuss. First, the cartel has been busy in our ports here as well. We’ve stopped two shipments and confiscated their drugs. Because of the respect I have for ya, Leona, I wanted to notify you that I will be holding the product and repurposing it.”

Leona nodded. “I appreciate that, Fallon, but it’s completely yours. Better in your hands than theirs or Max’s. Take it.”

“Excellent. One more thing.” Fallon opened a drawer in her desk and pulled out a manila envelope. She dropped it in front of Leona. “This is for your hacker.”

Ciel perked up. Cas grabbed the file and handed it to him.

“What is it?” Leona asked as Ciel opened the envelope.

“Finn was able to trace some data on a shipping manifest back to some IP addresses. Hopefully enough to help you track down whatever techie Volpe has on his side.”

He read the first few papers, eyes widening, before he quietly said, “Thank you.”

Finn inclined his head. Fallon stood, and the rest of us did the same.

“Take Zoya to Willow’s,” Fallon said, as she sized up the young Russian woman. “And give her my number, too. Call me if things go horribly wrong.”

“Great.” Leona smirked. “Thanks, Fallon.”

“Wynn,” the Irishwoman said, jerking her chin to the door. “Meet me outside in three. We have a job to do.”

I nodded, watching her leave the room with Finn.

“Are you sure about this?” Leona asked, pulling me into a hug. I wrapped my arms around her and kissed her forehead.

“I have to,” I replied. “I’ll be back home tomorrow.” I turned to Ciel and Caspian. “You both will be fine?”

Caspian grunted. “Of course.”

I turned to my other brother and pulled him into a hug that surprised me as much as it surprised him. I swallowed, searching his face. Something new and unknown twisted in my gut. “Take care of them, Ciel.”

Take care of yourself .

He nodded. His mouth parted as he looked at me, like he, too, could feel the unease twisting in my chest. “Be safe, Wynn.”

My fingers itched to pull him into another hug, but I cleared my throat and nodded.

“Tell Wil I’m sorry I didn’t stop by,” I said to Leona.

“I will.”

I kissed her one more time and then followed after Fallon.