Page 35 of Lethal Justice

“Ouch. What was that for?”

“Being sexist. When Mason got hurt, you never acted like this.”

Malco frowned and looked at his friend, the girl he thought of as a little sister, and considered her words. He’d never considered himself to be sexist in any way. When Mason had been hurt, he’d spent his fair share of time at the hospital waiting for news, worried sick the man wouldn’t make it, and that had been near the beginning of the Alliance Agency. Now they were a few years in, and these people were no longer colleagues, they were family.

“It’s not sexist, Mercy. Not at all. I’d feel the same if it were anyone else because Alliance isn’t just some place where I work. It is pivotal to my health. The bonds we share, the friendships, mean everything to me. So, if you got hurt, it would devastate me, just as it would if it were Alex, Caitlin, or Nick.” He watched her features soften as she heard what he was saying.

“That said, what I feel isn’t the same as what James felt. What he was feeling went so deep that he’s struggling to know what to do with it. So, ease up on us a little, we know how capable you are, more so than a lot of us, but that doesn’t make it any easier to watch you walk into danger.”

Mercy swallowed, and Malco waited for her to speak as they stood alone in the corridor.

“You’re a good man, Malco, and I hope you and Frida can make this work.”

Malco looked toward the door as the woman in question poked her head out and looked for him, her eyes going warm when they found his.

“So do I, Merc, so do I.”

With that, he squeezed her shoulder and moved toward the woman who had become his true north.

* * *

“Is Mercy all right?”Frida asked as he pushed gently into the room where they could monitor Tycen with Ward.

“Yeah, she will be.” Frida seemed to accept that, and they both turned to the boy that had started this huge investigation.

“How is he?” Malco observed the boy. He had been beaten, his face carrying evidence of bruising.

“Okay, considering. He’s frightened as you would expect and worried about blowback on his family.”

“Did you reassure him they’re safe?” Frida turned to him arms folded and raised a perfectly plucked eyebrow. Malco grinned and backed up. “Sorry, I was just checking.”

“Well, don’t. I’m exceptionally good at my job, and this isn’t my first rodeo.”

Malco abandoned that, knowing it was the better option. “Would you like to stay and be involved with the reunion between him and his mom or come with me and interview JaKheel?”

Frida wrinkled her nose and tipped her head, and he could see she was as torn as he was. Part of him wanted to stay and watch, knowing that their own families hadn’t had the same happy outcome.

“I want to stay, but we need to get JaKheel to talk. Kasten most likely already knows what’s happening, and the Blood Razors will really want blood now. We need to wrap this up as soon as possible.”

“Agreed.” He moved closer to her and watched her head tip to his, her pretty eyes never leaving his. Malco wrapped his free hand around her waist and leaned in close, causing her to arch back as she kept eye contact.

“I missed you,” he breathed, so close to her lips he could almost taste their sweetness.

“I was so scared for you, Malco.” She admitted it, and he knew how much it had taken for her to open up to him and admit that.

“I know, sweetheart, I’m sorry.”

“You don’t have to say sorry for being the kind of man who puts his life on the line for innocence and justice, Malco. Just promise you’ll come home to me.” Malco pulled back slightly and grinned.

“Was that a proposal?”

Frida’s eyes went wide, and she laughed. “Of course not.”

Malco felt light even in this dark situation they found themselves. He kissed her hard, tasting her sweetness, reveling in her strength. He pulled back when they were both breathless and looked at her—her every feeling was on full display in the openness of her expression.

“It was totally a proposal.” He let her go and walked for the door, loving the sound of her chuckle behind him as she denied it vehemently.

“It most definitely was not a proposal, jerk-off.” Malco spun, eyes wide as they exited the building.

“Jerk-off?” He smiled at her, but a fraction of a second too late, he registered the horror on her face before gunfire pierced the joyous sound behind him, and pain lanced through his body.