Chapter Sixteen
Heaven couldn’t be more perfect than lying against Malco’s warm body as dawn filtered through the windows. Frida couldn’t remember the last time she’d slept so deeply. Certainly not in the last few years, that was for sure. And then there was the silence. Away from the city, Malco’s home was a peaceful haven. Relaxed and rested, Frida wanted to rub herself like a cat against Malco, but she knew he was beyond tired too. Since she’d fallen through the Agency’s doorway, nobody, especially Malco, had got enough rest thanks to the investigation, research, and danger surrounding them.
As softly as she could, she slid off the bed and grabbed her top, shorts, and phone before tiptoeing out, but not before taking one last look at the magnificent male specimen sprawled on the bed. He was golden skin and muscles, with the sheet haphazardly protecting his modesty, she traced the lines and sinews with her gaze as if to etch them in her mind for later. Her eyes caught on his amputated limb, peeking from the covers, and again wondered what had happened. Had it happened during his time as a Green Beret? Or after?
Answers would have to be for later, and she retreated to the kitchen, leaving him to rest. She went to the other bathroom down the hall to wash her face, and the bluish marks left on her neck by Kasten made her wince. She didn’t regret pushing the cop. In doing so, he’d answered all her questions with just the look on his face. However, she regretted scaring Malco. Nothing in what she’d done had been premeditated, but nonetheless, the haunted look on Malco’s face when he kneeled beside her twisted her heart.
As silently as she could, Frida brewed a pot of coffee and, with one steaming cup in hand, went to sit in the living room facing the wall of windows overlooking the garden. There was a patio with lounge chairs on the other side, but she didn’t want to trigger any of the alarms set for the property.
Curling up on the couch, she took the first sip and sighed, enjoying the moment. Her body felt deliciously sore, and it was easy to remember the reason why. Malco had made her body his, and she could still feel his possession on her skin. And under. She’d never felt that connection with another man. It wasn’t just the sex, but something stronger and undeniable. It scared her a little to be so vulnerable to another human being that way.
Her brain was convinced Malco was a man that could be trusted with her life, but her heart fluttered a little with hesitation. With a lawyer’s perspective, she asked herself if she could only sleep with him and leave him forever after that without regret, and that gave her a clear answer. The thought of never seeing him again was much scarier than taking the leap with him. There was so much more she wanted to know about him, and experience with him.
Her thoughts were flying fast, but she also knew that what was between them wasn’t planned, and there were more dangers they needed to take care of before things could progress.
Reluctantly, Frida took her phone and scrolled through her missed calls and messages. Nothing dire or urgent, which was nothing short of a miracle, but there was a message from Rina telling her she’d received a message from Kasten saying that if she ever spoke to him again, he’d file a harassment complaint against her. That almost made her laugh and proved he was all bark and no bite, not in the light of justice at least.
Her assistant was still digging and gathering more and more data on the money transfers but without anything definitive or proof solid enough to face a judge.
They were doing this all wrong. Even the Alliance Agency couldn’t take down corrupt cops and the gangs in one fell swoop. It was like treating a gangrenous leg with chamomile.
The primary objective now was to save those kids from being forced into the gang, and that meant stopping the Blood Razors, which meant stopping Kasten and Pool.
Pool was keeping his position as the city’s DA, and that was both unacceptable and a hindrance.
A plan was slowly forming in her head, but she wasn’t sure if it were feasible, or if she’d be asking too much of the team.
Her expertise wasn’t as an operative, but as a lawyer. She knew what she needed to bring those bastards down, and if she had her way, not a single bullet would be shot.
Lost in her thoughts, Frida didn’t hear the sound of someone approaching until warm lips kissed the crook of her neck. With a yelp, she dropped her empty cup, but her heart settled when a low chuckle came from behind the sofa.
“I didn’t want to scare you, but I couldn’t resist, with your hair up and that delicious neck of yours on display.”
With a hand on her chest, Frida put the cup and phone on the coffee table before turning to her smiling prankster. “Next time, make some noise. That way, instead of jumping, I would’ve leaned in.”
He leisurely walked around and took her into his arms. “Lean in now, please, and kiss me, temptress.”
With a smile, she complied and tasted fresh mint on his lips. As her head started to cloud again, Malco nipped at her bottom lip and stepped away. His smile turned to a frown when his fingertips skimmed the bluish marks on her throat. Without a word, he looked away and went to the coffee pot.
“You were miles away. Care to tell me what you were thinking about so hard?”
Frida hadn’t known him for long, but his body language spoke volumes. As soon as he saw the marks, his body grew taller and tense. The distance he put between them was either to contain his anger at Kasten or toward her.
His
