Page 7 of Lethal Justice

Chapter Four

When the lastbox from her office was finally safe at the Alliance Agency, Frida felt like collapsing. Her body felt shaky, her feet were on fire, and it felt like she had grit under her eyelids.

Mason Bentley graciously offered her his office, so that not only could they store her documents, but she would also have a place to work, although she would be the only one who’d be able to fit in there. The other more sensible option was to commandeer the conference room.

She made sure her assistant and paralegals were safe and sound at home and reassured them they’d get paid throughout this ordeal. She wasn’t sure how she’d accomplish that, but if there was a will, there was a way, even if it meant selling her car and the entire contents of her apartment, down to her underwear.

Through the barred windows of the building, Frida could see the sun rising, the light so bright it hurt her eyes. Pushing aside any thoughts of lying down, she forced herself back to reality and smiled at one of Shane’s men who had helped with the transfer of the documents. She recognized him from earlier last night, but her brain couldn’t come up with a name.

“Thank you for helping me. Sorry if I sound like a bitch, but can you tell me your name again?”

His smile was dazzling as he extended his arm to shake her hand. “After the night you’ve had, I’m amazed you’re still standing. I’m Cain. It’s a pleasure to see you again, Frida.”

How strange, this handsome man with piercing, smoldering eyes, and a face that would turn grown women into giggly girls was gently caressing her hand, and she didn’t feel a thing. She must be more exhausted than she realized.

“I’ve gone through worse, but I’m lucid enough to know I appreciate all the help I can get, so thank you.”

His smile hyped up a notch, but it was the wide hand in the small of her back that cranked up the heat with surprising vigor. Surrounded by Malco Aguilar’s heat and scent, it took her a full second to realize that Cain had let go of her hand and was backing up with an amused gleam in his eyes.

Not certain of what was going on, she turned to Malco, who looked at her with those deep, assessing eyes. “Shane and Emme are waiting for us in the conference room with the others. They retrieved your briefcase, but you’re the only one who’ll know if anything is missing or not.”

Frida nodded, slightly shaking her head in the hope to clear it and focus on the task at hand when all she wanted to do was shut her eyes and lean closer for a quick rest on his broad shoulder. The last few weeks had been hectic at best, and last night was the last straw in a month of accumulated lack of sleep.

She pressed both the heels of her hands against her eyes and mentally tried to restart her brain.

“You shouldn’t do that. You’ll just abuse your eyes more.”

Malco seemed closer now. Even without seeing him, she could sense him. His voice was lower as he spoke to her, her very own kind of lullaby. Too bad she had to fight it, to fight him. She was in the middle of the ultimate mess, one that could make or break her future as a lawyer in Miami. Even worse, one that could very well end her life if she didn’t get her wits together. Malco was a growing temptation, and it would be very unwise to succumb.

Gathering all she had left, she pushed her shoulders back and took a step away. “I don’t have to go to court, so the state of my eyes are inconsequential. With a coffee, or maybe two, I should get my second wind.”

Frida started toward the conference room but stopped and turned once more toward him. “Thank you for organizing all this, Malco. I do appreciate it. Really.”

With his usual intensity, he gave her the briefest of nods, and if she wasn’t mistaken, his lips almost trembled into a smile.

* * *

The meeting had been brief.Frida was grateful for that small blessing as she didn’t know if she could’ve stayed focused for much longer. The contents of her briefcase seemed untouched, and Shane had made sure the third floor of her firm’s building had been secured with a few extra security features, just in case someone was tempted to sneak back in.

The Agency’s security had been increased, and the building would not be left empty until further notice. Cleo, the violet-haired admin of the Agency, was already working on a 24-hour schedule with all the team members who weren’t already involved in other tasks or missions.

It was the status quo concerning her investigation until she could go through all the papers that were brought in. Chief Randall had been adamant that everything be gone over with a fine-tooth comb and the case, if there was one, steel-plated.

“Is there anything else to be discussed or planned?” Emme quickly looked at her phone before returning her attention to the people around the table, ending with Frida.

She rolled her shoulders before answering. “I need to inform Chief Randall what’s happened with the break-in and the encounter with Kasten. The detective’s an asshole, and I suspect he’ll be tempted to mess with me. If he starts digging, it might be a problem, so keeping him occupied would be in everyone’s interest.”

Shane nodded. “I agree. The man is an annoyance at best. Let me know if he pops up on your radar, and I’ll assign someone to keep an eye on him. Anything else?”

Frida prayed there wasn’t be anything else so she could go into the office, shut the door, and take a power nap. One thing she didn’t like was lack of control, and her body shutting down against her will fell into that category.

“Is Frida’s apartment locked and secured?” Malco’s question reminded her she hadn’t thought about her apartment.

Emme smirked. “Oh yeah. Locked, secured, and with some extra additions, like with your office. However, I don’t think it’s safe enough for you to return. If you want a place to crash, you’re more than welcome to stay at our place.”

Malco shifted beside her, but Frida didn’t look at him when she answered. “There’s no way I’m putting any of you in more danger than you already are. I just need to get a bag from my apartment, and I’ll come back here. I know you have a spare bed somewhere.”

Shane and Emme looked at each other. “We do, but it’s not all that comfortable. If you don’t want to come to our place, we can find a decent safe house for you.”