Page 136 of Only Fools Rush

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.