Page 87 of Locked In Ice

“I haven’t been that scared in a long time.”

“Baby, I have blood all over me.”

Right.“So do I.”Because she’d helped him tosaveGerald Baldwin.The man had still been breathing—barely, but he had been alive—when the ambulance rushed him away.“When the cops are done with us, we’re going home and taking the longest shower in the world.”

“Ophelia.”

Her head tipped back.

“How did you know I hadn’t been the one to attack him?”He shook his head.“As soon as you opened the door,how did you know?”

Oh, that was easy.“I didn’t know.”

Lane’s brow furrowed.“But—but you said—”

“You were saving him.”Ophelia remembered exactly what she’d said.“You think I was going to let that green guard scream to the world that my partner had just tried to murder someone?”

His brow smoothed as a mask settled over Lane’s face.“So you weren’t certain I didn’t try.”

Her mouth hitched into a half-smile.“I’m certain of you.If you were going to kill someone, you wouldn’t hack them in the chest at least…” She thought of the wounds she’d seen.“Seven times.”

“What would I have done?”His green gaze seemed extra intense.

“Probably stabbed him in the heart.One and done.Or sliced his throat open.You told me once that you knew how to give yourself an injury that would look like hell but wouldn’t kill you.”Her smile had vanished.“With that knowledge, I have to believe the reverse is true, too.I think you could kill easily, swiftly, and not have to carve up a man’s chest to do it.”

“I don’t know if that should make me feel better or worse.”

She glanced to the right.“The cops are closing in on us.Want to clue me in on what went down?”

“I found him that way.”Low.“He was in the chest freezer against the wall in the truck.Thought he was dead at first, then I felt a weak pulse.I was trying to save his ass.”

“I think youdidsave his ass.”

“That was Gerald Baldwin.”

She nodded.

“I received texts from the SOB who tried to kill him,” he added.“I was told Gerald was here.”

Chills skated down her spine.“Show me.”

Lane handed her the phone.But even as she scrolled through the texts and a heavy knot of lead filled her stomach,anothertext appeared for him.

From the same number.

The phone vibrated in her hand.

You disappointed me.

The lead grew heavier.

And another text appeared…

You’re just as bad as they are.

“What the hell?”Ophelia breathed.

The phone vibrated once more.