Corden

When sunlight peeks through the blinds and seeps into the room, I'm greeted by the sight of Carmen draped across my body. Her braids are splayed on my chest with a hand loosely around my torso, and her thigh is tangled with mine. I can't remember a time I've felt this weightless waking up. Seeing her next to me has just made me realize how lonely I've been all of these years.

I've been taught to keep everyone at arm's length, and for good reason. Those I get close to are automatically on Rafino's radar, and the thought of anything happening to Carmen is just...

Fuck. I can't even fathom it.

And that's another issue in itself. I'm falling too hard and too fast for this woman. I really like her, and without realizing it, I've become attached. It's fucking terrifying the risks that come with the decision to bring her into this lifestyle, but she's a grown woman who is aware of all the repercussions and is still choosing me above it all.

My eyes soften at her vulnerable state. I watch the gentle rising and falling of her chest for a few moments before I stealthily slip from the bed to slide on some clothes. Carmen is completely naked across my bed, and if it weren't for Delano having information I desperately need, I'd wake her up and show her just how much I enjoyed last night.

Unfortunately, business calls, so I step into the hallway and shut the door with a soft click before heading downstairs to the kitchen. Delano is already up at the kitchen table with his laptop open and a steaming cup of coffee beside him. "The pot is fresh," he says.

"Thanks." I grab a cup for myself and sit across from him, ready to jump right into it. "Does Jesse have news?" Our insider in Rafino's circle is the one who discovered the crime boss's newfound interest in human trafficking, but until we have more details, there's nothing we can do. Delano has tried to search through police reports for missing women in the area, but nothing has led to the discovery of where he's hiding them.

"Yeah, and it's...shocking, to say the least."

I arch a brow. "How so?"

He spins the laptop around to a set of coordinates. "He was able to attach an Airtag on one of the trucks used to transport the women." The sentence sounds thick coming off his tongue, and he has to swallow before he continues. "This is where it's tracking to. A shop that's near our deli in Brooklyn, actually. But the shop it's tracking to? It's leased to a Ralph Covington. And..." He pauses before he clicks on a link, and when a picture pops up, my blood runs cold.

"Buck?" The owner of The Harbor?

"Apparently."

The greasy man who seems afraid of me isn't the person I expected to be in on this or Rafino's operation, but maybe Buck is a better actor than I thought. Clearly, I've been fooled. His demeanor of aiming to please and worshipping the ground I walked on wasn't because he was afraid of dying at my hands, but rather because he was hiding this secret from me.

He's an ally of Rafino.

I mull it over, my mind running in a thousand directions. Carmen works at his establishment. She's been right beneath his fucking nose this entire time without my knowledge, and the thought of Rafino getting so fucking close to her has ice running through my veins. The primed, lethal killer in me hums beneath my skin, begging to be unleashed.

"The women who were taken," I continue cautiously. "Did they ever work for The Harbor?" It's too easy of a scheme. All of the women go by a stage name, so none of the patrons would recognize their real names. Plus, if they were approached by the police, it's not like they'd admit to knowing them and ruin their marriages or whatever campaign they're running for.

Delano grimaces. "More than half."

More than half.

"Focus on the positives," Delano starts in an attempt to calm me down. I clench my fists to stop them from shaking, but it doesn't help. I'm fucking fuming, and I know we've been taught not to show emotions, but it's impossible when the beauty sleeping in my bed upstairs was close to becoming one of them. "She's here. She's safe."

"I want him dead," I seethe. "Immediately."

"We both want that," Delano replies, "but we have to go about this the right way. As of now, they aren't aware we know. We need to play our cards right, and in order for that to happen, we need access to names because I don't just want to find the women hidden somewhere in that shop. I want to find them all, and I'm sure that fucking creep keeps them somewhere."

Exhaling deeply through my nose, I rest back in my seat. "Right. I should... Well, I can probably get into his office at The Harbor. Search around to see if I find anything."

Delano hums in approval. "I was thinking the same thing. You just...need a reason." The way he trails off has me assuming he wants me to piece together whatever this reason is, but the longer the silence grows, the more livid I become.

"No," I hiss. "No chance in hell am I involving Carmen in this, Delano."

He knows better than to push his luck with me. I hardly ever pull rank on him since he's been in this business longer than me, but in this situation, I will.

"Look, I don't want to overstep, but if you tell her to stop working there, they'll find your visit without a business deal to tend to suspicious. However, if she's working that night and they're already aware you're fond of her, your visit will be overlooked. You'll be there with her every second. Nothing will happen, and if by chance it does, you'll be equipped to take care of it."

"It's not an option," I manage between gritted teeth. "New plan."

"I love how you're speaking about plans involving me without me being present." Both of us freeze when Carmen strides into the kitchen wearing nothing but one of my t-shirts. She grabs her own mug from the rack beside the coffee pot and takes her time filling it almost to the rim, oblivious to the tension in the room.

"You weren't supposed to hear any of that," I mutter.

"But I did, and I'd like to help those women."

"No," I snap.

She scoffs. "Corden, you may be the boss of Delano, but you're not the boss of me. I can handle myself like a big girl and choose what I'd like to participate in myself, but thanks for the concern."

This fucking woman...

"Do you have any idea how dangerous what you're agreeing to is? Working at The Harbor means you'll be in enemy territory, Carmen." I want to be furious with her, but she makes it impossible when my eyes flick to her long legs graciously carrying her over to the table to sit.

"Didn't Delano say you'll be there to ensure I'm safe?"

"Yes, but—"

"But nothing. I'm doing it. Just tell me what I need to do."

Delano's head bounces between us like he's watching a tennis match, failing epically to hide his shock. It's not every day someone speaks to me like this. Hell, if it were anyone else, they'd already be begging for mercy.

And I do want Carmen to beg for mercy, just in a more...intimate way.

"If I can make it easier for you to get information on the missing women, then I'm going to do whatever it takes. I'd want someone to do the same for me if I were in their shoes. Plus..." She sighs and blinks at the ceiling. "It really makes me want to stab Buck in the fucking balls."

Delano snorts. "Why do I get the sense that you don't need protection at all?"

My mind strays to that night in the alley when she knocked that man out cold, a smile tugging at my lips. I may not be fully supportive of this plan, but if we're going to act, it needs to be fast, and visiting Carmen as a client of hers will be the easiest way to do it. It's not like I'll let her out of my sight, so Delano is right. If something does happen, I'll handle it.

"Then I'd think you're a smart man," she replies, blowing softly on her coffee. "So, are we going to do this or what?"

Delano's gaze fuses to mine, searching for an answer. Although I'm still unsure about it, we don't have another choice at this point. The lives of hundreds of women rely on us, and if Carmen is alright with it, then I should be, too.

"We're doing this," I confirm, attempting to ignore the queasiness I feel. "Let's start hashing out the details now."