Page 28 of Ice

I quickly exited the car and glanced up at the house before meeting Whiskey’s eyes.

“Everything’s been quiet,” he told me. “She’s fine.”

“Thanks,” I murmured, and we shook hands. Viper and Wrecker rode up on their bikes, and I nodded to them in silent thanks, receiving the same gesture in return.

I walked through the front door when I heard the rumble of all three motorcycles as they headed down the road.

I put her vest in the coat closet for the time being, shutting the door just as Marnie came around the corner from the kitchen.

She beamed when she saw me. “You’re home.”

“C’mere,” I ordered gruffly, holding out an arm. She hurried over, and I wrapped her in my embrace, rubbing my chin in her silky waves. “Fuck, I missed you.”

She dropped her head back, and her eyes twinkled happily. “I missed you too. I made dinner, so I hope you’re hungry.”

“I am starving, angel,” I grunted before sweeping her off her feet and stalking toward the stairs and up to our bedroom.

“But dinner…” Marnie gasped as I tossed her onto the bed, then laughed as she bounced on the mattress.

“What I’m craving is between your sexy thighs, angel.”

Just over twenty-four hours later, I received a call from a number I didn’t recognize, though it had a New York City area code.

“Tell me it’s done,” I said in lieu of a greeting.

“Turn on the news,” Nic murmured, then hung up.

I was in my home office, catching up on some work, so I grabbed the remote to the TV mounted on the wall and hit the power button.

The local news channel blinked on, and Lonnie Damien, a rookie reporter, stood in front of a construction site.

“The victim has been identified as Keith Franks, a local land developer. He was shot execution-style with a single bullet to the back of the head.”

Lonnie paused and put his finger to his ear, then straightened and looked directly into the camera, a grim expression on his face. He was overdoing it with the theatrics, but I didn’t care as long as I heard what I wanted.

“Rumors that Franks was in bed with the local Mafia are swirling, and though police have declined to comment, I’m being told that there’s evidence supporting this theory.”

He paused again, then a flash of triumph crossed his face for a second before he could school it into his serious facade.

“New information has just come to light. It seems this man, Keith Franks, is in fact Sam Frankel, a man the police have suspected is a hit man for The Family.”

I chuckled, knowing that Stone and Deviant had obviously sent their research to Nic so they could build an even stronger case for the mob hit.

My phone pinged, and I glanced at it, seeing a message from Deviant.

Deviant

Damn, he’s good.

I smiled and shot off a text to Nathan, telling him I needed a favor and to call when he had a chance.

Nathan

Will do.

Marnie pushed open the door to my office just as I shut off the television.

“You look happy,” she said with a sweet smile.

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