Page 143 of Heart of Frost and Scars

“Always.” Concern and love radiate from him, twisting me up and introducing more problems. “Stay here.”

With a pointed look at my guards, he strides to the officer behind the desk.

“Mr. Novak.” The cop recognizes him immediately, sitting straighter in a show of respect.

It always amazes me how easily he can have everyone jumping and doing his bidding. He doesn’t even need to open his mouth. His authority and notoriety precede him.

Within seconds, he has the chief of police on the line and bending over backward to meet his demands.

“Yes, I understand the situation is complex,” Monty says into the phone, quietly yet intensely. “But I need to speak with my family immediately.” He listens, head cocked. “Very good. Thank you.”

Monty disconnects and relays the chief’s orders.

“Of course, Mr. Novak.” The officer behind the desk nods. “Right away.”

Monty turns back to me, his hand extended in a wordless command.

I rise, closing the distance and placing my palm in his. My entire body tingles as he curls those strong fingers around mine.

The officer leads us toward the holding cells, and I’m grateful for Monty’s strength and his ability to take control of the situation. But I don’t need hand-holding through this.

Even as the thought of seeing Leo and Kody behind bars wrings my chest with pain, it’s not like I’m going to pass out or hyperventilate.

I won’t break.

Twisting my arm, I free myself from Monty’s grip.

He shoots me a dark glare but says nothing.

We reach the jail, and another officer opens the door to the cell block, leading us down a dimly lit corridor. My breath catches in my throat when I see Leo and Kody in a private cell together.

Leo paces like a caged animal, his bicolored eyes flashing with helpless rage. Kody sits on the edge of the cot, an intense brooding shadow. They both look up as we approach, their expressions shifting from anger to relief.

“Frankie.” Leo reaches through the bars, his hand grasping mine tightly.

“Are you okay?” Kody rises, his gaze roaming over me.

Then he peers into my eyes.

My God, I feel raw under the pressure of his glare. Seen inside and out. No one looks at me the way he does. This closely. This deeply. Like he knows my feelings for Monty have changed.

Everything has changed.

“I’m fine.” I swallow. “We’re fine. Monty is handling it.”

Monty grips one of the bars, his fingers tapping in a methodical, controlled rhythm. Everything he does oozes dominance. It’s who he is. A personality trait that runs in the family.

His drumming fingers halt, his scowl leveled on Leo. “Fix your hair. You look like a smacked ass.”

“Blow it out your dickhole, you uptight cunt,” Leo snarls.

“Did you eat a bowl of dumbass for breakfast?” Monty unbuttons the cuffs of his shirt like he’ll fight him through the bars.

“Stop it.” I push at his chest. “Both of you.”

“We’ll get you out of here.” Exhaling slowly through his nose, Monty rolls up his sleeves. “My lawyers are working on it right now. But you need to keep your mouths shut and cooperate until we get this sorted. No more violence.”

He speaks to them like a scolding brother, but it’s the husband who turns to me with frightening slowness. His eyes take me in, narrowing with an icy warning.

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