Page 48 of Lethal Justice

At night, the neighborhood was lively, as was often the case in Miami. People lived at night, enjoying the balmy weather and laid-back atmosphere.

Just as they were about to turn onto Rina’s street, a siren sounded behind them, and the night was filled with red and blue lights.

Malco moved to the curb as Frida turned to see a patrol car parking behind them.

“Were you speeding?”

Malco shook his head. “I was under the limit. No clue why we’ve been stopped but be ready for anything.”

In the side mirror, she could see two cops coming, one on each side of the car. Malco lowered his window and waited, tense as a bow and ready for anything. She saw him wiggle a little bit, followed by a thump, and he kicked his gun under the seat with his heel just as the cop came to his side.

“Step out of the vehicle, sir.”

“What’s the problem, officer?”

“Just step out of the vehicle.”

As Malco unlocked and opened his door, Frida unbuckled her seatbelt and opened her door to unleash on the cop with full force when she bumped into someone. She froze as her eyes went to his face.

The man in blue with the cap low on his face was Charles Kasten. Fear and fury exploded inside her and she took in a breath.

Anticipating her reaction, he tsked at her. “I wouldn’t say a thing if I were you, Ms. Montalvo.” When she followed his gaze, she saw Malco plastered against the hood of his car, being handcuffed. “As you can see, our dear boy is not resisting because he knows what I could do to you, and also because we have that other one, Alex, sitting in the back of our patrol car.”

Her eyes went to the car. It was difficult to see, but there was someone in the backseat, and the patch of reddish-brown hair was a tell-tale sign of what she feared.

People were gathering in increasing numbers and when Malco was taken to the car, they exchanged a quick look. Frida hoped she conveyed all the love she had inside her, and she understood how he couldn’t do anything other than submit for the time being, but he was fighting against everything in him not to strike out.

“You have no right to arrest those men. On what grounds are you doing this?”

Kasten grabbed her arm to make her turn and face her. “Drop the lawyer act, because that won’t get you anywhere, and your boy toy knows it. That’s why he’s cooperating, and you should too, especially if you want him to stay alive.”

When he smiled at her, she knew he could see her fear. “I never thought I’d use my old blues again, but the look on your face makes my day. My friend and I aren’t here as cops. This little masquerade is to give you a message. Do whatever you have to do, but if you want those men to live, you’ll drop the investigation into DA Pool and me. You’ll deliver the kids you took back to me. Whatever evidence you have against us, you’ll destroy. This has to stop now. I still have resources in the force. I’ll know if you try anything. Don’t try and be a hero if you want them to stay alive. And if you’re quick enough, maybe we’ll return them still standing and almost unharmed.”

Frida wanted to spit in his condescending face, but there was nothing she could do. Not now, not while they were dressed as legit policemen and onlookers were watching their every move.

“How did you know we were coming?” If she couldn’t do anything now, Frida had the sense to gather as much information as she could.

“I may hate your guts, but Pool was right to trust that Latina slut. She did one hell of a job keeping an eye on things for us. Bring the paperwork you have and the boys to the Latina’s apartment as soon as possible. We’ll be watching the place. And the clock is ticking… don’t forget. Tick. Tock.”

And with an awful smile, he turned back to the patrol car. As he drove away, he had the nerve to wave at her, but all she could do was watch Malco looking back at her before disappearing at the next light.

Nicholas was the first to reach her, quickly followed by Emme and Shane. Nicholas quickly disappeared with Malco’s car while Emme put a hand on her shoulder and made her sit in Shane’s car as he drove them back toward the compound.

Once the car started moving, she told them what happened, including her suspicions that Rina may have placed bugs inside the compound. Shane had been quick to make a few calls, and when they arrived, the team were all hard at work going over the place with a fine-tooth comb.

Like a zombie, Frida went to the conference room and let herself fall in a chair, unseeing the vision of Malco being driven away filling her mind.

Only Cleo offering her a hot mug of coffee pulled her out of her gloom. “Are you all right, honey?”

Part of her wanted to crumble and cry; another wanted to take Malco’s gun and put a bullet into Kasten’s brain first chance she got, but she wasn’t Garroyo’s daughter any longer. She was a lawyer and a problem solver, and she’d do exactly that to save Malco and Alex.

With that thought firmly in her mind, she smiled at the woman and took the coffee.

“Thank you, Cleo.”

“No trouble, honey. Do you need anything? I swear you’re as pale as a ghost.”

Yes, she needed Malco by her side.

Shane came in with Emme and sat next to her. “The team is finishing the cleanup, and I have people scanning our computer systems too. That’ll be done in a few hours. In the meantime, we have to find Malco and Alex. That’s our top priority. What I want to know, Frida, is what you intend to do.”

Blinking, she wasn’t certain what he meant at first until it dawned on her. “Are you suggesting I shut this whole thing down to save Malco and Alex?”

Shane and Emme looked at each other. “It is your decision, Frida. We understand how important it is for Miami, which is our home now too, and that we need to protect the innocent young men and women being threatened by the gangs. That’s what Malco wants too. However, that isn’t possible if you’re not on board.”

Frida stood. If she had to discuss this, she had to be standing, although her heart was squeezing so hard in her chest, she could barely breathe. “I want to save Malco and Alex, but I need to bring those fuckers down. They’re monsters who’ll use and abuse innocents. If I back down…” An escaping sob surprised her. All the love she had for Malco, all the despair and fear she had for him as he was taken away, maybe killed by now, hit her full force.

Emme came to take her in her arms as she fought against the tears to make her voice heard. “I can’t lose him either, Shane. Not when I’ve just found him.”

Shane came close and put a hand on her shoulder. “We’ll get Malco and Alex out of this mess. We’ve had complicated and dangerous missions before, and we take care of our own. Don’t forget that Malco and Alex aren’t innocent schoolboys, either. Malco had to submit earlier because he knew you were in danger, but now he knows you’re safe I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re already taking matters into their own hands. In the meantime, I have James, Mercy, Caitlin, and Nicholas working on locating them using new computers on a separate network.”

Shane’s words steadied her. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

The man nodded. “Build the case, Frida. As soon as Malco and Alex are safe, the only way for this to stop is to take Kasten and Pool down. Once they’re in the spotlight, Kasten, Pool, and the gang will lay low. As you said, it’s our only way out. Those monsters belong in jail.”