20. Reath
20
REATH
D amn .
My heart was fucking racing. I’d sped to Audubon Park as fast as I could, worried as hell.
And Frankie had just downed a man twice her size—twice. But seeing that asshole hit her from a distance… My jaw tightened. He’d pay for that.
“Reath, there’s another one,” Frankie said, talking too fast. “The leader.”
I stiffened just as gunfire broke out.
I heard bullets hit the trees and ground. I threw myself down and saw Dante drop for cover, as well. Another barrage of gunfire sprayed around the clearing.
The bad guy surged to his feet, picked up Frankie, and ran.
She screamed and struggled.
Fuck .
I shifted, but more bullets hit the ground nearby.
“Dante, I need cover fire,” I shouted.
“On it.” I watched my brother commando crawl behind a tree. A second later, he popped up and fired.
That distracted the shooter, and I took off like a sprinter. I got through the trees, focused on getting to Frankie.
Her screams echoed through the trees. Then they cut off.
I slowed. If he’d hurt her…
I fought for focus. It was usually so easy. It was what I was good at.
But knowing Frankie was in trouble…
I shook my head. She needed me.
I looked at the ground and spotted a partial footprint. A boot. Large sized. I followed the trail and spotted a snapped branch on a bush.
Then I spotted a woman’s flat shoe lying on the ground. I crouched and my senses took over.
Ahead, I heard a burbling fountain. And then I caught a glimpse of a man hunkered down behind a stone wall. He was shifting like he was trying to subdue someone who was moving.
Got you.
I reversed directions and crept closer.
Then I heard Frankie’s furious voice. “You fucking asshole!”
I leaped forward.
And watched Frankie whip her back to the man, grab him over her shoulder, then drop to her knees. In an impressive move, she yanked him over her head.
She wasn’t joking about that brown belt.
The man hit the ground flat on his back and groaned.
I strode to them, and she looked up. Her left eye was starting to swell. Dammit.
Leaning down, I punched the man. He groaned. I punched him again, and this time he sagged, unconscious.
I ground my teeth together. He deserved so much more.
“Are you all right?” I knelt beside Frankie. I grabbed some zip ties out of my pocket, all the while hyper-aware of our surroundings.
She nodded, but she was pale. I quickly secured the thug’s hands and ankles. I pulled out my phone and messaged my team for a pickup. I also added that they needed to call Detective Simon Broussard at the New Orleans PD. Broussard was a good friend, and I was calling in all the help I could get to take Auclair down.
I helped Frankie up and cupped her face.
“I’m okay,” she said shakily.
“You’re too damn brave, is what you are.”
Then I lowered my head and kissed her. I kept it gentle, not wanting to hurt her. But she clung to me and kissed me back.
A second later, a sound made me pull back and spin, shoving her behind me.
“Just us.” Dante appeared, his arm around Lincoln. My guy had taken a beating and had a nasty head wound.
“The second guy took off,” Dante said. “I got a quick glimpse of him.”
I pressed my lips together. Auclair could run, but I would find him. “Lincoln, you all right?”
My man nodded and shot an apologetic look at Frankie. “I’ll be fine, boss. I’m sorry, Reath. They took us by surprise.”
“They’re well-trained.”
Linc gave me a weary nod.
“Hopefully, we’ll get our answers from our friend here.” I toed the tied-up thug at my feet.
“I told Frankie to run,” Linc said. “I got them to chase me so she could get away.”
I frowned.
Beside me, Frankie scowled at my man and put her hands on her hips. “Tattletale.”
“Then Frankie came back and attacked the guy. And got me free.”
I turned, the anger in my veins turning to ice.
She’d risked herself. Again.
She lifted her chin, defiance on her face. “I had to do something . They said they’d shoot him.”
Trying to get a grip on my emotions, I grabbed her arm. “We’ll discuss this later. My team is on the way.”
Nearby, Dante was trying not to smile. Asshole .
Together we walked back to my car. The entire time, I was alert for any company.
When I saw the black Phoenix Security Services SUV pulling up, I felt a sense of relief. My men got out.
“Linc needs medical attention,” I said. “Get him looked at.” I gave my man a hard stare. “You’re on desk duty until you’re cleared.”
Linc nodded, but he didn’t look happy. None of my guys liked desk duty.
“Frankie is with me. I’ll get her checked out.”
“Do you want Dr. Hamilton?” Dante asked.
She was the doctor we kept on retainer.
I nodded. “That’d be good.”
“I can have her meet you at your place.”
“I’m okay,” Frankie insisted. “I just need an ice pack. I’ve had worse doing judo training.”
I shot her a withering look. “You’re getting checked.”
She leaned in and lowered her voice. “I don’t love the bossiness, Fury.”
I leaned in and lowered my voice. “Get used to it.”
“Please, no doctor,” she said. “I really am fine. I don’t like doctors or hospitals. It brings back too many memories of when my dad died.”
I stared into pleading blue eyes. I knew her father had been shot three times in the line of duty. He’d died with his family at his side.
And I did something I’d never done before. I caved.
“All right, but the ice pack is nonnegotiable.”