“Really?”
Malco wondered at that, his mind working overtime. He finished up with Ward, thanked the man for his time, and asked him to continue to play dumb regarding his account. Knowing would put him in danger, so it was agreed he wouldn’t open the center for a few days or at least until Kasten and Pool, and now Rina, were in custody.
Malco walked from the conference room, moving with caution to the tech room. Finding it empty, he went to Shane’s office.
He opened the door and looked at his boss, expecting to see Frida with them but found only Emme.
“Shane or Frida around?” Emme’s face was guarded as she stood, and he had a feeling he wasn’t going to like the next words out of her mouth.
“Shane is fitting her with a vest and body cam. She insists on going to see Rina and finding out if Alex is safe.”
“Over my dead body.” Malco slammed out of the room and headed to the war room where they kept the tactical gear. He heard Emme behind him but kept going, the anger in his blood boiling to a fever pitch.
Shoving the door with more force than necessary, he saw King tightening a vest on the woman he loved and almost lost his mind. Her eyes moved to his, and the guilt and defiance in then told him exactly how much she knew he would hate this.
“Everyone out.” The words almost shook the room, so loud and angry was their delivery.
King looked at Frida, who nodded before he walked to Malco and laid a firm hand on his shoulder. “Keep your cool, man.”
Malco remained rigid, not trusting himself to speak, in case he said something he’d later regret. He heard the door close and waited another moment to gather his calm before he spoke. His words were low, angry, and measured. “What. The. Fuck?”
“Malco, this is the only way, and you know it.” Frida didn’t back down or cower; neither did she discount his feelings as she proved with her next words. “I know this is hard, and believe me, if this was the other way around, I’d be the same, but how else do we find out if Alex is okay?” She moved in, laying her hands on his chest, the feel of them—her touch—settling him in a way nobody else could.
“And what if he’s there and in trouble? Do you think they’ll just let you walk away?” He saw his answer on her face.
“No, but I won’t let Alex get hurt because I trusted someone I shouldn’t have.” Malco lifted his hand to her neck then cupping the back gently.
“I get guilt, sweetheart. Believe me, I get it. I live with it every day. Every time I grieve my brother and the life he never got to enjoy. Every time I fasten my leg on in the morning and take it off at night, I see the face of the man I killed, the same man who gave me this injury as he held his own daughter hostage. But none of that would compare to the guilt and torture of something happening to you when I could’ve stopped it.”
“And how are you going to stop me, Malco?” Her eyes were brimming with tears from his admissions.
“Let me go instead. I can say I’m picking something up for you.” He saw her waver. Frida knew he was the one trained for this.
“We can take the team and have them on overwatch around the property just in case.” Frida was shaking her head.
“Rina will know something is up. I’d never send someone else for a file. She knows my trust issues and knows I’d go myself.”
“Damn.” Malco dropped his head.
“What if we went together? Then you’re there with me, and the team has our backs?” Malco didn’t like it, but he also hated the idea of Alex in trouble, and with the man still not answering his phone, it was looking more and more like he was.
“Fine. But you follow orders.”
He saw her eyes go bright. “Yes, sir.”
“Smartass.” Malco groaned before he dropped his head and kissed her soundly.
Chapter Twenty-Four
It had been a long time since Frida had felt the mix of apprehension and determination swirling in her gut. If she were honest with herself, the only other time she’d been in the same state was when she’d entered the courtroom where her father had been, moments before she'd had to bring him and his organization down. Despite the threat to her life and the deep sorrow she felt, nothing could’ve made her deviate from her need for justice, especially with her sister’s memory in mind.
Now, as Malco drove toward Rina’s apartment, her mind was filled with that same desire for justice, tinged with a deep need for retaliation and vengeance. Trust wasn’t easily given, especially to her colleagues, and Rina Flores had blindsided her in the worst way, attacking both the police and innocent kids.
That was why she’d decided to confront her despite the fear and her confrontation with the man she loved.
Malco had bent to her desire, but not without a number of growls and a promise from her to stay close and to be as careful as possible. When he agreed and understood why she had to be part of this, Frida didn’t know if her heart would survive or if she could love him more.
The team had followed Malco’s instructions for her safety and quickly turned around as they left. She and Malco were in one car with Shane and Emme in a second car, following at a distance.
Nicholas had taken his sports bike and zoomed around Rina’s apartment to get any kind of insight or visual, but apart from seeing Alex’s car at the curb, the curtains were drawn, and there was no movement as far as he could see.
Frida prayed with every single cell in her body that Alex was all right. She
