by India Kells
Reporters were beginning to move closer as she spoke, their camera’s flashing. “I made it my mission to take his operation apart piece by piece and give the people oppressed by his violent hold on the community a chance to live a life free of fear. To give mothers peace and allow the youth, the future of our country, to thrive with education and hope. Today, we have made a start on making that happen here in Miami by bringing down two men we should’ve been able to trust. Men who allowed greed to sully the good name of our police force and our District Attorney’s office. As we speak, Detective Charles Kasten and Deputy District Attorney Clark Pool are being placed in police custody for corruption, murder, kidnap, assault, and a host of other offenses.”
Frida heard the hushed silence before questions and calls erupted around her. She didn’t stop and answer them, though.
“I hope you can all understand that, as this will be an ongoing investigation, I cannot say anything further, but we will update you as and when we can. Thank you.” Frida stepped aside and was hurried away by Mason. As they neared the inside of the building, she felt him still, and she looked up at him, her heart in her throat, fear in her belly. She saw him smile, and his eyes locked on her face. Then she knew it would be okay because Malco was safe.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
The one thing Frida wanted to do, she couldn’t. When Mason came to her after the press conference and told her that Malco and Alex were safe, she thought her knees would fail as the relief washed over her.
Gripping Mason’s arm, she listened as he explained that when they’d finally reached the storage unit, Malco and Alex had almost freed themselves. The SWAT team took care of Kasten, who was in the unit’s office and was completely surprised to be taken away in handcuffs.
There were still good cops in Miami, especially those personally chosen by Chief Randall to help arrest the traitors.
She wanted to go to Malco, to make sure he was all right, but Mason shook his head, telling her that although they were safe, they had to be rushed to the hospital. Alex needed care since he’d been struck on the head, and they were worried about a possible brain injury as he kept slipping in and out of consciousness. Malco was battered and had lost a lot of blood, but was doing okay. Shane and Emme were accompanying them, promising not to leave their sides for her peace of mind.
It reminded her she still had a duty, an essential task to finish, the first part of it at least. She needed to close the case, make sure everyone was behind bars, and that the wheels of justice were in motion.
So, she had to deny her first impulse to go to the man she loved in order to tie up all the loose ends. The new hacker, Imari, combed through the remaining people in her firm, and once she was certain they could be trusted, Frida instructed them to reopen her office. Frida knew that to bring down an entire network of corrupt cops and probably people within DA Pool’s entourage, would require more than just herself. But she’d learned from her mistakes and would only allow trusted and screened people within her circle.
The day flew by at an incredible speed as she made sure everything was taken care of, especially since things were finally out in the open. Mason and James stood guard to make sure the journalists stayed at a distance while she met with the Mayor, Chief Randall, and government authorities. They were only at the preliminary stage, but everything was well on the way to being tied up.
Mason had brought in food to her office, caring for her like a silent angel and only spoke when he knocked at her door to tell her it was late, and she needed rest.
The moment he’d said the words, it was as if her body decided to shut down. After all, it had been a long time since she’d slept, and she needed a fresh mind for what was to follow over the next several days.
As soon as she sat in Mason’s car, she asked about Malco and was once again reassured he was fine. Her body shut down then, proof she’d pushed herself past the point of what was wise.
The car stopped, and it took her a moment to get her bearings. Frida had thought Mason would head to the Agency and was surprised to see they were at Malco’s.
Too tired to talk, Frida barely remembered the security code, and once she’d locked herself inside and armed Malco’s security system, she headed for the shower. Letting her clothes to fall where she stood, she quickly showered and slid naked into Malco’s bed.
Her nose filled with his scent that lingered on the pillows, she huddled under the covers to finally rest, her mind reaching for him.
When she emerged from sleep, her body felt so heavy she thought she’d never move again. A thick fog filled her mind, and it took time to figure out where she was and what had happened. When Malco came to mind, she jerked, trying to get from under the cover, and when an arm tightened around her, her heart stopped, and she screamed.
“Easy, Frida, it’s me.”
The low growl quickly registered as Malco. This time, she didn’t fight to get away but turned toward him.
He lay above the covers, partly pinning her down. From what she could see, he’d showered, but cuts and bruises marred his face. He favored his good side, the dressing stark white against his olive skin. He looked both exhausted and sleepy, but his eyes were clear, shining like polished onyxes on her.
“You’re here. How are you? And Alex?” Her fingers touched his face, detailing the damage.
“Alex is still at the hospital. He’s better, but they want to run a few more tests, do a scan to check there’s no other damage. They wanted me to stay overnight, but as soon as I knew you were here, I needed to be with you.”
“Why didn’t you wake me when you arrived home?”
This time, it was his hand that touched her cheek and followed a strand of her dark hair down her neck. “You were asleep, and you needed rest, so did I. You’ve been under for more than twelve hours.”
The shock of his words had her wide awake. “What? I set my phone to wake me hours ago.”
“And I turned it off. Mason told me the amount of work you accomplished, including that press conference and the endless string of meetings. You’ve barely eaten. I contacted Chief Randall, and he agreed to leave you alone until you take care of yourself a little. If an emergency arises, he has my number.”
Frida leaned against the headboard. “I’m fitter than you at the moment. How could you take over my case like that?” She was only half-mad at him, but from the flare of heat in his eyes, Malco was fully annoyed.
When he crawled up to confront her, there wasn’t any sign of weakness or pain in him.
“I’ll do what I believe is right to take care of you, especially when you ignore your own basic needs.”
“And am I allowed the same worry?”
She cupped his whiskered cheek. His skin was hot, and her eyes wandered over his body. He was only wearing black boxer briefs and had removed his prosthetic leg, which warmed her heart. There weren’t any barriers between them. They could disagree and even be angry at each other, but she didn’t fear him.
Tears filled her eyes as she spoke, allowing herself to be vulnerable in front of him. “You were taken away in front of my eyes, and I couldn’t do anything to stop it. I wished I had a gun to kill Kasten, so you’d be safe. When he said I had to drop all the investigation to save you, I wanted to do it. With all my being, I wanted to save you, and I couldn’t.” Tears flowed down her face, but it was impossible to stop them. “When I decided that I had to continue, it felt like I was signing your death warrant. If you hadn’t escaped, if he had killed you, I…” Words failed her as the full impact of her fear for the man she loved hit her for the first time.
Malco, who’d listened to her intently, stopped the rest of her words by kissing her. He was still wounded and should be the one taking it easy, but Frida needed this contact like she needed her next breath. He pulled the covers off her, and she shivered, not only from the cool air but also from pure lust as his free hand cupped her breast.
His tongue demanded entrance to her mouth, and she yielded, her own
hands scouring every inch of him, mindful of his wounds and bruises until she reached and squeezed his perfect ass.
Seeming to forget his own soreness, Malco knelt between her thighs but winced as the wound at his side pulled at him, breaking the kiss on a hiss.
“Maybe you should rest. We can wait, love.”
But he shook his head. “I want you more than I feel the pain.”
So did she, and knew it would be nearly impossible to convince him otherwise, so she shifted until she was on her knees, forcing him to lie under her. His expression lightened when he realized what she intended to do, and a smile slowly eased his features, making her smile in return.
“And all I want is for you not to feel pain, but pleasure. So, let me take the lead on this one.”
Now straddling him, her sex rubbed against him a few times as she gathered her courage. It was the first time she’d displayed herself like this to his gaze and had never felt so self-conscious in her life. What gave her confidence was how he licked his lips while his eyes roamed her body. His hands kneaded her thighs until she finally took his erection and guided him until she had him deep inside her. The feeling of fullness and friction was sublime, and a moan purred out of her before she realized it.
“Move, Frida. Move for me, make me see stars too.”
His rough command was undeniable, and even if she had the upper hand, it was impossible to deny him.
Pleasure rose sure and fast, and when he snuck his fingers between her legs and started a slow rub around her clit, making her head spin, she had to put her hands on his chest to stay upright.
“This madness is only ours, my love. My Frida. You can feel it, can’t you? How much I want you, how much deeper this thing between us is than just lust.”
She absorbed his words, every syllable of them, this raw declaration of the love that had taken them both by surprise, forged by their common past and the very fabric of their souls.
“Yes, yes, it is. I love you, Malco. Please never sacrifice yourself for me again. I’d rather you stand by my side and fight with me.”
The words flowed, revealing her feelings for the man, as her body became desperate for his, her hips bucking against him, his meeting hers. She should’ve been worried about his comfort, but she was too far gone. Everything was moving too fast to be stopped now.
Malco took her free hand, bringing it to his lips as he heightened his assault with the other. “I love you too.”
Frida shattered, screaming his name as she felt him pulsing inside her, his low groan a sure sign he was as lost as she was, and had been found in each other’s arms.
Her body shut the world out for a moment, suspended in time, focused only on their shared pleasure, this connection she never thought she craved.
Peace invaded her as she melted into his arms, leaning on his good side. As consciousness came back to her, she was glad to see him as breathless and sweaty as she was, but it was his lopsided grin that spread delicious heat in her chest.
This shared silence was precious, and when Malco kissed her hair, she wiggled a little closer. “Are you cold?”
“No. Are you hurting?”
“It’s a good kind of hurt. And if you want to have your way with me again, I’m ready for another round.”
“I don’t want to overexert my sex god.”
Malco relaxed even more. “Glad to know everything that’s happened hasn’t made you reconsider loving me.”
It was her turn to tense. “Why would it? Are you having second thoughts?”
He took her hand and nipped at her palm. “Not in a million years. I just thought that because of everything that has happened, with the police and the gang, you’d be reminded of things you’d rather forget. I’m part of that past with my brother and what happened to your sister. We’re linked because of it. I was worried that by being pulled into that darkness and violence, you’d realize it wasn’t something you ever wanted again.”
The way he averted his eyes made her realize that she hadn’t been the only one struggling with the return of a past they’d rather forget.
“I love you, Malco Aguilar. You, your heart, scars, and past. You’re a package deal, and I wouldn’t change a thing about you. I saw how good you are at your work and how your past helped you. All I ask is that you’re careful, and you don’t shut me out to protect me. I can take way more than you think. I need you to trust me.”
He turned and looked deep in her eyes, caressing her face with the tips of his fingers. “I think it will take a little time for me to stop being the man I am, sweetheart, but I will try.”
Her laughter poured out of her as part of the world righted itself. She was stronger with him, and she suspected that happy discovery was only the beginning of the wonderful things they’d share together. “I can accept that.”
“I think we both need it. I know the next months will be busy ones for both of us, but I’ll be sure to add romantic touches here and there. A reminder of how much I love you.”
Lips hovering over his, Frida smiled. “I could never forget, but I’ll never say no to a reminder. The more often, the better.”
His smile said it all when he took her lips again. From two children prisoners of dangerous gangs, they had come a long way, but at last, they had found their place in the world and in each other’s arms. For better and for worse had never sounded so perfect and exciting as Frida kissed the most wonderful man she had ever known.
Epilogue
“We the jury find the defendant Charles Kasten, guilty on all counts.” A cheer went up in the courtroom at the jury’s findings, but Malco only had eyes for the woman he loved. Her gaze swung to him at the back of the courtroom, and he thought his heart couldn’t love her more than he did at that moment.
Triumph, relief, pride, and love filled her stunning features. He returned her smile before she was swept into a hug from Cleo, who’d given up her own time to help out with recruiting and training more staff for Frida’s practice.
He twisted when a hand landed on his shoulder and saw James and Alex either side of him.
“I knew she could do it.” Alex nodded at Frida, who was shaking hands with Chief Randall.
James grinned at him. “Me too, she’s the lawyer and friend I want on my side in any situation.”
“She worked her ass off this last year to make sure the evidence she had and the case she made was watertight,” Malco told the men needlessly because they’d been there through every late night, through every struggle or set back, and there had been a few. A case like this was always going to have blips, and sometimes it had seemed like it had all been for nothing, especially when the gangs claimed more lives. In the end though, through the hard work, grit, and tenacity of the woman he loved, justice had prevailed.
James looked across the room at Mercy, who was with Frida, and his face softened. “The streets are safer for a little while, at least.”
Frida finally made it past the melee and threw herself into his arms.
Malco caught her and held her tight to his body, his head buried in her neck. “I am so proud of you.”
Her arms tightened around his neck at his words, and he felt the shudder of relief go through her body.
Frida pulled back, and her eyes were full of joy when she looked at him. “We did it.”
Malco shook his head. “You did it. I was just the cheer squad. It was your brain, your skill, and your hard work. All I did was provide the foot rubs and the tacos.”
“And what amazing foot rubs and tacos they were.”
Her expression was euphoric, and Malco had the perfect plan for them to celebrate, but first, they had something to do.
Frida nodded. “Shall we go tell them?”
He took her hand, guiding her through the courtroom, frequently stopping for expressions of congratulations from other lawyers, and lots of people wanting her to call them. Malco knew her star was only just beginning to shine and that every ounce of success she had was hard-earned with blo
od, sweat, and sacrifice.
As they drove, he could feel her relax as she slid out of her suit jacket and slipped her feet into flats. Pulling up outside the Youth Center, he smiled when he saw the huge banner the kids had made for her. Frida looked at him with a raised eyebrow and a beautiful smile.
“Did you do this?”
Malco took her hand and brought her knuckles to his lips, kissing them lightly as he did.
“No, this is all the kids. They wanted you to know how proud they are of you and how much it means that you see them.” Her eyes began to water, and he waited patiently as she blinked the tears away.
“They didn’t know I would win,” she stated.
“They never doubted you.” He nodded to the door where Danie was standing with her son nestled against her body. He saw Frida’s face soften at the sight of her and little Moses.
“Shall we?”
Frida nodded, and they alighted the car to be greeted by cheers and excitement as they moved forward into the center past Danie, who immediately handed Moses to Malco. Frida accepted hugs from Tycen, Mrs. Neal, Ward, and even JaKheel, who was at the back. Malco walked to them and heard the end of the conversation.
“You gave me back my life and my family.” JaKheel took his son into his arms, and the look of love in his eyes told them more than words ever could.
“You were the one that took the leap, JaKheel. Your testimony is what put Bullet and the others away for life. Will you stay around here?” JaKheel had decided not to take the WitSec program, instead, he wanted to show his son that good could win and be a role model for others.
JaKheel smiled as Danie appeared at his side. “Me and Danie are gonna go stay with her aunt in Carolina and see how we like it there.”
“Carolina is beautiful, but whatever you do, stay in touch. I want pictures of this little guy.” Malco observed Frida as she gently stroked her finger over Moses’s cheek with such a tenderness he longed for the same.