Like a zombie, Frida went to the conference room and let herself fall in a chair, unseeing the vision of Malco being driven away filling her mind.
Only Cleo offering her a hot mug of coffee pulled her out of her gloom. “Are you all right, honey?”
Part of her wanted to crumble and cry; another wanted to take Malco’s gun and put a bullet into Kasten’s brain first chance she got, but she wasn’t Garroyo’s daughter any longer. She was a lawyer and a problem solver, and she’d do exactly that to save Malco and Alex.
With that thought firmly in her mind, she smiled at the woman and took the coffee.
“Thank you, Cleo.”
“No trouble, honey. Do you need anything? I swear you’re as pale as a ghost.”
Yes, she needed Malco by her side.
Shane came in with Emme and sat next to her. “The team is finishing the cleanup, and I have people scanning our computer systems too. That’ll be done in a few hours. In the meantime, we have to find Malco and Alex. That’s our top priority. What I want to know, Frida, is what you intend to do.”
Blinking, she wasn’t certain what he meant at first until it dawned on her. “Are you suggesting I shut this whole thing down to save Malco and Alex?”
Shane and Emme looked at each other. “It is your decision, Frida. We understand how important it is for Miami, which is our home now too, and that we need to protect the innocent young men and women being threatened by the gangs. That’s what Malco wants too. However, that isn’t possible if you’re not on board.”
Frida stood. If she had to discuss this, she had to be standing, although her heart was squeezing so hard in her chest, she could barely breathe. “I want to save Malco and Alex, but I need to bring those fuckers down. They’re monsters who’ll use and abuse innocents. If I back down…” An escaping sob surprised her. All the love she had for Malco, all the despair and fear she had for him as he was taken away, maybe killed by now, hit her full force.
Emme came to take her in her arms as she fought against the tears to make her voice heard. “I can’t lose him either, Shane. Not when I’ve just found him.”
Shane came close and put a hand on her shoulder. “We’ll get Malco and Alex out of this mess. We’ve had complicated and dangerous missions before, and we take care of our own. Don’t forget that Malco and Alex aren’t innocent schoolboys, either. Malco had to submit earlier because he knew you were in danger, but now he knows you’re safe I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re already taking matters into their own hands. In the meantime, I have James, Mercy, Caitlin, and Nicholas working on locating them using new computers on a separate network.”
Shane’s words steadied her. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
The man nodded. “Build the case, Frida. As soon as Malco and Alex are safe, the only way for this to stop is to take Kasten and Pool down. Once they’re in the spotlight, Kasten, Pool, and the gang will lay low. As you said, it’s our only way out. Those monsters belong in jail.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Malco felt the pain in his side and swallowed down a grunt before it left his mouth. Kasten rolled him with a booted foot, and Malco bit back the hatred he had for the man. Now was not the time for anger; it was the time to remain calm so he and Alex could find a way out of this. Alex wasn’t looking too hot though, his face was a mess, and Malco could see him favoring his left side.
Kasten leaned down and got in Malco’s face as Alex groaned in the corner as he started to come around. “You fucking people think you’re so clever, but this is my city. I own it, and I own you, and now you’ll pay for breaking the rules, and so will that little slut lawyer you’re fucking like the whore she is.” Spittle landed on Malco as Kasten finished his angry monologue.
“You’re nothing but a greedy little man with a God complex.” Malco kept his gaze on the man, watching the lines of fury bracket his mouth. He said no more, not wanting to push his luck and gain himself a kicking he wouldn’t handle well with his current injuries.
Kasten laughed, throwing back his head as he spun toward the door. He placed his hand on the brass knob before he angled his head toward Malco.
“You wouldn’t understand men like me. We are leaders, and you...” Kasten curled his lip in obvious disgust. “You are nothing.” On that final note, Kasten stepped through the metal door and closed it. Malco heard the bolt slide home and the click of a padlock, and sagged back on to the cold dirt floor.
He lifted his head and looked around the dimly lit room. It seemed to be some kind of storage unit on the east of the city. He didn’t know this area well, but he knew the gangs never came here, which probably made it the perfect place to hide them. His team would be looking for them in gang territory, and they’d never find them. He and Alex had to find a way to get themselves out of this mess.
Malco shimmied his way toward his injured friend and leaned heavily against the metal wall when he did. His own breathing was labored because of his earlier blood loss and the pain he was in. He noticed blood on his white shirt from the reopened gunshot wound and cursed inwardly.
His gaze landed on Alex. His lip was split and swollen, his
