Take (Fury Brothers #4)

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.