“This is Frost,” I said as I picked up the phone.
“Where the fuck are you?” Stone growled. “We have church. You should’ve been here--.”
I shook my head as I continued gazing up at the window. “I’m not coming to church.”
“What the hell did you just say?”
I maneuvered my bike to a concealed location. “I’m not coming to church. It’s a long story, but--.”
“Well, you sure as hell better start talking, otherwise you’re going to be in a fuckton of trouble when your ass gets back here.”
I closed my eyes and held my breath as the car eased on by. I wasn’t sure if that asshole had seen me or not, but I knew I needed to fill Stone in on what was going on. I knew he’d understand if I simply told him.
So, I drew in a deep breath. “The cartel knows where Lexi lives.”
He paused. “What?”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “I’m sitting outside her place right now. There’s a car driving up and down the main drag of her complex. And she’s got a child in there, Stone. There’s a fucking kid in that apartment. What would you do if it were Hayley?”
He didn’t skip a beat. “I already know what I’d do if it were her. You get her and that child back here, no matter what you have to do. They’re safer here, and we can keep an eye on them. Let them know that they won’t be alone.”
I swung my leg around my bike so I could get off. “Headed up now.”
“Don’t you come back without them.”
“Trust me, you won’t have to worry about that.”
I hung up the phone and shoved it into my pocket before I barreled my way up the stairs. I came to her front door, and I took a small second to remember why I was there in the first place. They were in danger. Things weren’t good. And as I raised my knuckles to rap against the door, I steeled myself for whatever argument was coming.
But nothing could have prepared me for the flood of anger in her voice as she ripped the door open.
Her eyes widened. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“Mommy, who’s that?” a little girl’s voice asked.
“Get in your room, sweetheart!” she exclaimed.
Then, she stepped outside and closed the door behind her before I could barge into her apartment.
“You’ve got two seconds to explain why you’re here before I call the police.”
“I know you have a child in there.”
She blinked. “That much was evident by her voice. My question is: what the fuck are you doing here and why do you think you have a right to be here?”
The revving of the engine outside leapt me into action and I grabbed her upper arms. I shoved her against the building and cloaked her with my body as she tried shoving me away. Her voice started mounting with her struggle and I clapped my hand against her lips, trying to get her to shut up as I peered over the balcony of the staircase.
And when I saw that car inching past her exact building, I took both of us to the floor.
“What in the fuck is--.”
I placed my finger to my lips as I kept her pinned to the wall. “You, Chloe, and your little one are in danger.”
She furrowed her brow. “The cartel? Don’t tell me they’re here.”
I sighed. “Look, for once? Just listen to me, because I need to talk, and quickly. The three of you need to pack up everything you can muster so you guys can come with me. All right?”
“Dean, I don’t under--.”
