Page 52 of A Touch of Frost
“We’re okay.” Frost replied. “If we need help I can call Ray and Blink if it gets seriously desperate.”
“Ray hasn’t been sober in five years.” Tex growled. “I trust Blink as far as I can throw him and right now—that doesn’t say much.”
“I know—but desperate times and all.” Frost told him.
“On the other hand, we have satellite imagining of the place.” Tex explained. “It’s a tight area to get out of. If Striker gets out of that building, and gets into the slums, we lose him until he surfaces again.”
I exhaled loudly.
Slums were never my favorite places to do a mission. The homes were built, almost onto each other and the laneways sometimes bottlenecked—perfect for ambushes. I couldn’t bring Jesse into that.
That meant, we had to keep the fight in an open area—we had to keep Striker from getting by us.
“Frost.” Tex called. “Talk to me.”
“I fucking hate this.” I admitted. “Lizard said there are two structures on the property in the back. You can’t see them from the road. They wouldn’t hold him in the store and since the place has no basement…”
Tex went silent for a bit before speaking. “Yeah, according to this floorplan there is no basement. The two structures would be the most likely place.”
My phone buzzed and I read the pop-up. “Widow and Lizard are in bound with Kandi.”
“Perfect,” Tex said. “I’m going quiet, but I’ll be keeping an eye on things. Do you have any of my trackers left?”
“One.” I replied.
“Give it to Jesse.” Tex told me.
“Why do I need it?” Jesse asked. “I have no intention of letting Frost out of my sight.”
“Just in case.” I replied before Tex could.
He seemed reluctant but accepted the small, silver button. I watched as he shoved it into the breast pocket of his shirt.
With Tex gone, I messaged Lizard for his ETA, then turned my attention to the building ahead of us. Jesse opened the door and stepped out. I kept my eyes on him as he bent over then stood and pushed his frame upward, stretching out his spine. He moaned softly then rubbed his lower back. I wanted to go to him, pull him into my arms and reassure him this would end well.
Those sensation were new to me.
I hadn’t felt that for anyone—even with Mozart. All of these feelings shimmering through me were foreign and they scared me. I knew for sure I would be different if I hadn’t been betrayed and left for dead. The rage I felt as I laid dying had threatened to break me forever and in that dark moment, I had been okay with that.
Yet as I writhed under his roaming lips, the paths his fingertips made over my skin, I was thankful I hadn’t died that day.
And it was the first time since that night, I felt as if my life wasn’t a burden—that my survival hadn’t been a mistake.
This man had singlehandedly, brought me back to life—now I want everything for him. I wanted all the good things for him.
As I watched him trying to massage the kinks out of his neck and shoulders, I realized I wanted to be different for him. I wanted to be the kind of woman he deserved.
I desperately wanted to be the kind of woman he would be proud of.
I wanted to be the woman who knew lingerie and makeup—to be brave enough to seduce him, entice him, keep him.
I wanted to be the woman who could protect him and any family he entered my life with.
The truth of what I’d said to him earlier about wanting him to be mine was so genuine, it burned a whole into my universe. I was a comet, tumbling toward a planet that could either end in disaster or I could be happy with it.
I sighed and dragged my fingers over the end of my ponytail.
Glancing into the rear-view mirror, I recognized Black Widow’s cycle as it sped by us. Lizard’s jeep pulled in behind us and I held my breath for a count of ten then exhaled.
