Page 44 of A Touch of Frost
“Can’t say I do.” Jesse replied. “But it would be interested to find out. Though I thought we’d be in a place where we could control the voltage.”
“Meh.” I shrugged. “Go big and go home, I always say.”
“You don’t have the balls.” Loco spat.
“Correct.” I smiled, glancing over at Jesse. “Women don’t need balls to make you suffer. Ain’t it great?”
Jesse chuckled.
“This entire thing has become one big vat of inconvenience.” I explained, while I dragged the other end to a nearby outlet. “After what you guys did to me, I walked away and disappeared. I wanted to be left alone but your actions have brought your team rushing back into my life. You should have known this was going to be a collision you wouldn’t survive.”
“Frost?” Jesse asked.
“How are you with the smell of burnt flesh?” I asked him instead of answering his unasked question.
“Can’t say I’ve ever had the displeasure.” Jesse replied.
“Then you might want to leave for this next part.”
“I’m not leaving you alone with these guys.” Jesse told me.
“What’re you going to do?” Loco demanded around a laugh.
Jesse slipped to his haunches in front of the spec ops soldier and leaned in close. “I’m the one who snapped your friend’s neck. Never broke a man’s neck before, but there’s a first time for everything. Ask that question again—I dare you.”
It was great seeing the fear in Loco’s eyes as he tried pulling away from Jesse. I was so proud of him then, but I swallowed that feeling and pressed the small button beside the outlet to turn off the electricity floating through it.
“Now that our conversation has changed.” I began.
“You know what?” Jesse sat again. “I think I’ll stick around. The smell of burnt flesh can go away with enough therapy. Right now, my brother is more important. So—” He glanced over at me. “Hit it.”
I hit the button and immediately, I was betting Rico wished they hadn’t called my bluff. His body arched upward as the voltage twisted him in ways that wasn’t natural.
When I stopped, I could already smell hints of singed hair and burned flesh.
“Where’s my brother?” Jesse asked, his voice calm, his eyes burning with a dare for the men sitting in front of him.
Nothing.
“Frost.” Jesse called to me.
“Let’s switch it up.” I called.
Jesse set to work moving the wires to Loco but instead of the ear, Jesse jammed then up the soldier’s nose.
He backed up.
“Wait!” Rico called.
“What are you doing?” Loco asked.
“Are you stupid?” Rico whispered, his body still going through small aftershocks. “You die here who takes care of Hilary and Moses? Is Striker worth that? Is he going to take care of your girl and kid?”
Loco glared at Rico.
“Think about it.” Rico pushed.
To his credit, Loco seemed to give the entire situation a good thought, then sighed. “The only person who knows where Paul is, is Striker. When he moved him Striker used locals he hired as security and errand boys.”
