A lump formed in her throat and her heart hurt in the worst way as she imagined not getting the chance to have that with Malco.
“When did Imari arrive?” Shane asked his fiancée in a low tone. Emme twisted her head back to look up at him. “About twenty minutes ago.”
His eyebrows raised. “And you put her to work already?”
Emme explained what Cleo found, and Frida felt the tension rise as the reality set in.
“Got him.” Imari pushed back slightly so that everyone could see the screen. Frida drew in a breath as she recognized the storage unit site on the opposite side of town. She’d had to use one once when she moved to a new house and needed space for her office furniture.
Shane turned to Knight and Mason. “Get everyone in the war room loaded up. I want us on the ground in the next thirty minutes.” He spun back to Imari. “Can you get us eyes on that unit?”
Imari raised her brows and pulled a face that told everyone she thought Shane was stupid for even asking, and they moved to the terminal, her fingers flying again.
Frida followed the other men from the room as Emme stayed and began gathering as much information as she could on the people in the unit.
“Shane,” Frida called.
He turned and held up a hand. “Don’t ask, Frida. I’m going to say no.”
“Please. I love him.”
Shane stopped and placed his hands on her upper arms as he faced her. His voice was softer when he spoke, but he remained resolute. “That’s exactly why I can’t allow you to come. He’d never forgive me, and moreover, Emme would never forgive me if something went wrong and you got hurt.”
“Please, I need to be near him. What if he needs me?” Her eyes were filled with tears now.
“God damn it, Frida. This is dangerous. Kasten and Pool mean business, and we have no idea what we’re facing or what they have planned.”
“What if I create a diversion?” An idea was forming in her brain now.
Shane pulled back slightly. “Like what?”
Frida explained the plan to Shane, and as she saw his face split into a grin, she knew they had a chance—if she could pull this off.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Malco had to get out of his shackles. Alex was still unconscious, and that alone almost made him lose his mind. Could his injuries have caused complications or a brain hemorrhage? There was no way he could do anything about it unless he got them both free. His thoughts went to Frida, but he pushed that away. His team would keep her safe, he had to believe that otherwise, he’d go mad.
The room was bare, except for two doors—the first the door Kasten had disappeared behind, the second on the far side of the room—and a window blocked with a piece of board. The lights were hanging high above unreachable metal beams.
He knew it would hurt like a bitch, but there wasn’t another choice. With Alex out, he had to get his hands in front of his body.
Shoulders flexing, Malco ground his teeth, focusing on his body. It took more minutes that he’d have liked, and he definitely lost a lot of blood and sweat, not to mention the agonizing pain, but he finally passed his handcuffed wrists from his back to his front.
With dots dancing in front of his eyes, he shook himself off, and crawled to Alex. On first examination, his heartbeat was steady, and he was breathing fine. When he finished checking him, Alex moaned a little.
“Hey, Alex! Wake up!” Malco slapped him a little, and the man frowned. He didn’t open his eyes yet, but his lips moved.
“Hell, I think I drank too much.”
Malco exhaled sharply at the raspy sound of his voice. “Don’t fall back asleep, dumbass.”
Leaving Alex as he was slowly coming around, Malco went to the door. Beyond, he could hear Kasten’s voice, but couldn’t tell if he was alone or not.
He moved to the window next. The window was nailed shut, but he grinned when he saw a few staples hanging on the planks. That was all he needed.
Pulling one out, it took only a second to get out of his handcuffs. Alex was next, and once his friend was free, he helped him to sit against the wall, showing him two fingers.
“How many do you see?”
Through his half-shut eyes and bloody lips, Alex’s mouth quirked up. “Two fingers and an asshole. Sitrep.”
“Glad to see you didn’t leave your brain at Rina’s place along with your dick.”
The reminder was all Alex seemed to need to put his thoughts in order and he winced. “Damn women. I finally give in to her and it turns out she’s one of the bad guys.”
“We’ll discuss your bad choices later. Right now, I need your help to get out of this mess. Kasten is outside, and I don’t know how long he intends to keep us alive. Let’s turn the tables on that bastard.”
Alex grabbed his arm as he pulled him up. He was far from steady, but they didn’t have the luxury of time. Malco went to the second door. The first one was bolted. He’d heard Kasten slide it into place when he left. The other door was locked, but from the way he could shake it, there wasn’t a deadbolt. But there was no way he could break open without alerting Kasten, or anyone else inside the building.
When he kneeled to analyze the doorknob, his hunch was confirmed; they’d installed the door in a rush and hadn’t fitted it correctly. As quietly as possible, he played with the knob until he heard a piece of metal fall. The knob turned and the door opened without a sound.
With Alex on his heels and putting a hand on his back
