Frost Bite

by Marissa Dobson

  “Frosty…” Evie smiled as she strolled toward him.

  “Hey.” The unease that had settled over him lifted as she used her special nickname for him. Turning toward her, the overhead light reflected in a way that he could see their mother’s deep brown eyes with hints of green swirling within looking back at him. Evie had the same wavy ebony hair and pale skin. Before the guilt could flood back into him, he closed his eyes, forcing a deep breath into his lungs as he tried to push the emotion aside. “Are you going to be our next pilot?”

  “I can’t believe how different it is being up there, the control…oh, Frosty, it’s amazing.”

  “Always were a control freak,” he teased, knowing Taber’s gentle guidance helped to get her over her flying anxiety. Having others around Evie would help her become a stronger woman. It was one of the reasons he decided this position and the move to Alaska was what they needed.

  “I get it from you.” She swatted his arm with a playful grin. “I didn’t get to say this before, but I’m proud of you. You worked so hard to get the spot on the team, and you did it. I knew you could, but you doubted yourself.”

  “I screwed up, left and opening for him to take me out. It almost ruined everything.”

  “Come on, Frosty, don’t be like that. You did great, especially considering your opponent.” Evie leaned closer and placed her hand over his. “Neither of us ever expected he’d be here.”

  “I should have.” He glanced behind Evie toward where Styx was gearing up, knowing everyone on the plane could hear their conversation. “He’s been training Brooklynn since she mated with Carran and joined the Alaskan Tigers.”

  “Evie, we’re going to be landing soon,” Taber’s voice came over the intercom.

  “I’ve got to get back up there. I want to see this.” She smiled up at him. “I just wanted to let you know I’m proud of you.”

  “Hey.” He placed his hand on her shoulder as she started to turn away from him. “During this mission, I need you to stay on this plane. No matter what happens, I want you to listen to Taber. Do you understand me?”

  “No matter what happens…” Her voice was low as she eyed him. “What’s going to happen? I thought this was a quick pit stop to pick up someone.”

  “It is,” he reassured her. “I need to know you’ll be safe and listen to Taber.”

  “Don’t worry about me.” She flashed him a bright smile. “I’ll be right here waiting for you. Then we can go to Alaska. I want to feel the snow on my face again.”

  “Go on, but remember what I said.” He nodded toward the cockpit.

  “Stay safe brother, and hurry back.” She gave him a quick hug before turning on her heels and jogging back toward the cockpit. As the door closed, Frost turned toward the group.

  “You’re protective of her,” Styx stated his observation, drawing Frost’s attention to him. “It’s understandable after everything, but she’s in good hands.”

  “After everything?” He shook his head. “Forget it, I should have guessed you researched me before you came.”

  “You’re a loner, not committed to any shifter group. You’re an unknown. So yes, we did an extensive search on you.” Brooklynn leaned back against her mate. “We also had a lengthy conversation with Ty—the Alaskan Tigers Alpha—and his mate, Tabitha, to discuss the possibility of bringing a thirteen-year-old back to the compound.”

  “What does that mean? She’s my responsibility. No one else’s.”

  “Since your parents were killed, you’ve taken care of her, and you’ve done an excellent job on your own.” Brooklynn’s voice was soft, but the conversation was heading in an uneasy direction. “That changes in Alaska. You’re no longer a one-man band. You’ll form bonds with those in the clan, and you’ll come to trust them. Those same people will look after Evie while we’re handling matters outside of our area. If you’re not willing to accept this then this position might not be for you.”

  “She’s capable of looking after herself while I’m away,” Frost defended.

  “That might be true, but we’re a family. We’re there for each other. The children raised within our clan have people to rely on besides their parents. It’s like the saying, it takes a village, or in this case a clan, to raise a child. Those members will not only be there for Evie while you’re away, but they’ll keep her safe. Isn’t that what you want for her?”

  Finding safety for Evie had been his priority. When he heard about the opportunity to try out for a position with the Shifter Peace Keepers, he knew it could give him everything he wanted for her. It would require him to trust them, and as much as he wanted to, it still made him uneasy because these people were still strangers. Forcing himself to meet Brooklynn’s gaze, he nodded. “She’s my priority. It’s why we spent the night driving to New York for this opportunity.”

  Carran’s phone buzzed, and he pulled it out of his pocket before glancing up at them. “So, here’s what we know right now.” He reached behind him, grabbing his digital tablet, unlocked it, and handed it to Brooklynn. “Human Alicia Huntington accompanied her boss to a meeting with Omar, who’s there representing Lorcan—the Washington D.C. Tigers Alpha.”

  “He’s one of the worst of the clan.” Styx stood near Brooklynn, glancing over her shoulder at the tablet. “They might be the smallest group of tigers refusing to submit to Tabitha’s rule, but they’re dangerous. They’re made up completely of men. They’re the ones no other Alpha will accept, at least no reputable ones. They had an extensive history of causing problems with other clans. Even humans.”

  “If they’re causing problems with humans, how are they able to keep their true nature a secret?” Frost questioned.

  “They have connections within the police force,” Styx explained. “Humans believe they’re a biker gang. In reality, they’re worse. They’re as close to what humans considers sociopaths as one could get and be a shifter. They’re not rogue, but only a step above it.”

  “We’ll need to keep an eye out for Omar and anyone else that might be with him.” Carran tipped his head toward his mate. “Swipe right for pictures of him. The Washington D.C. Tigers are known to wear leather jackets with an image of a tiger sewn on the right side. A bigger version of the same tiger image is on the back as well. It’s their signature. If we see anyone with one of those jackets, we’re going to have issues.”

  “What kind of business dealings would a human in New York have with that clan?” Brooklynn handed the digital tablet to Frost, allowing him to get a better look at the pictures.

  “Her boss is a shifter. From what we’ve been able to gather, he was concerned about the meeting, enough to give her his phone. He told her to launch his email. There was a draft saved for her allowing her to contact the shifter forum if anything happened to him.”

  “How were they able to learn that?” Frost lowered the tablet and faced Carran.

  “Turi and Trey contacted Connor, he heads the Nerd Crew. Connor and Harmony dived in right away, they were able to hack into the security system at the hotel where they met. It showed a man handing Alicia the phone before they went into the hotel room. Twenty minutes later, she’s running out the back of the building, glancing over her shoulder as if someone’s chasing her. She appears to be limping.”

  “Her boss is Lou Weldon.” Styx took the digital tablet from Frost’s hand, his fingers typing as he spoke. “He’s a lawyer and a wolf shifter. He left his pack more than a dozen years ago for solitary life. No one really knows why or what caused the division between him and the pack.”

  “Buckle up, we’re going to start our descent.” Evie’s voice came over the speaker. “Frost, you should see it from up here.”

  “She sounds like she’s settling in.” Brooklynn glanced over at Frost as he took his seat across the aisle.

  “She’s a strong girl. Seems I was worried for nothing.” He buckled his seatbelt and leaned back for the landing.

  “It’s been the two of you for five years now. It’s underst
andable you’re worried about her.” She leaned across the aisle, and with her voice low, she added, “I need to know now if you’re ready for this? If your mind’s not on the mission, Taber can accompany us while you remain here with Evie.”

  “I’m good.” His gaze shifted toward the closed cockpit door. “Evie doesn’t take to a lot of people. I’ve always said she has a sixth sense about who she can trust. She feels comfortable with Taber. I can hear it in her voice. So I know she’ll be safe with him. It’ll allow me to focus on the mission.”

  His words were true, yet it did nothing to loosen the tension in his stomach. He’d done his research. He knew the Alaskan Tigers were unlike any other shifter group. Those Tabitha and Ty let in their inner circle could be trusted. If they could protect the Queen of the Tigers, they could be trusted with a thirteen-year-old.

  The last streaks of sunlight peaked through the shutters covering the windows, giving Alicia enough light to check the cabin. Leaning against the wall she took the weight off her injured leg and quickly scanned the open space making up the living area and kitchen before moving to the only closed door, behind it laid the bedroom. Silence echoed until it was deafening. As long as no one was in there, she’d have her hands on Lou’s rifle in the matter of seconds.

  Sucking in a deep breath, she wrapped her hand around the door handle, turned it, and standing to the side of the door, she pushed it open. If anyone was inside and decided to take a shot at her, at least she wouldn’t be standing out in the open.

  The creaking of the door echoed through the still cabin. With no noise or gun blasts, she forced herself to move. Turning to face the room, it appeared just as the last time she was there. Full-size bed directly under the window, though with the shutters and the heavy drapes drawn, it was nearly pitch black in the room. Pulling the cell phone from her pocket, she slid her finger over the screen, unlocking it, to give her a little light. Using it to scan the room, she spotted the gun safe standing in the corner.

  “Almost there.” Limping forward, she fought against the adrenaline dump and blood loss shutting down her body. The need to collapse overwhelmed her. The seven feet between her and the safe seemed further than the distance she’d already traveled. As close as she was to a little protection, she couldn’t give up now.

  “Stick to the plan. Gun, then the first aid kit.” The makeshift bandage had done its job as she made the way through the woods, now she needed something more suitable to her injuries. She couldn’t stop the bleeding without stitches but she could wash out the wound and protect it with a fresh bandage. If someone didn’t arrive soon, she was going to have to figure something else out before she ended up bleeding out. With shaky hands and her stomach rolling at the very thought she knew she’d never be able to stitch her own wound.

  Leaning her weight against the side of the safe, she pressed the code he made her memorize into the keypad. Seven, four, nine, six, two. A soft beep echoed through the room. Opening it, she directed her light inside the dark cabinet, quickly spotting the rifle and the ammo on the shelf above.

  Balancing Lou’s cell phone on the shelf, she quickly loaded the rifle before stuffing the rest of the ammo into her pocket. With the loaded gun, the tension within her eased. If anyone found her she wasn’t going down without a fight.

  Aim for the heart or head. Anything less won’t kill a shifter.

  Why had Lou told her he was a shifter? Why had he prepared her for a day when she might need to defend herself against one? None of it made any sense. Humans didn’t know about his kind, it was what kept him and others safe. She could have exposed his second nature to the world. For some reason, he thought she could be trusted.

  So why had he trusted her with his secret but not the reason he was so afraid? What did Omar have on him that was worth risking their lives? She was missing something. As an estate lawyer, there was nothing dangerous about his career. Even less so for her, as his personal assistant. She knew details about his job but nothing seemed like a red flag.

  Grabbing the first aid kit off the top of the safe, she made her way back to the living area. The last of the sunlight was gone, leaving behind an eerie darkness. She couldn’t risk using what little phone battery she had by leaving the flashlight on. Even using the light from the screen while tending to her leg would drain the battery lower than she’d like.

  Cell service had dropped more than a mile back, but she wanted to save whatever was left of the charge in case she had to make another run for it. Whoever might be looking for her from the Alaskan Tigers expected her to be here. If the cabin was jeopardized, she had to find a way to alert them to her new position.

  “I hope someone received my message and they’re looking for me. Maybe I’m just collateral damage. A human with knowledge of the shifter secret, they might not even care if I’m killed by Omar. It might make things easier for them.” Dropping onto the sofa, she prayed she was wrong. Lou had trusted them surely that meant she wouldn’t end up dead because she contacted them. At least she hoped.

  “Focus.” She leaned the phone against the sofa’s armrest and opened the first aid kit. “If I can’t slow the bleeding, it won’t matter who finds me. I’ll be dead.”

  Chapter Three

  Through the darkness, the team hiked toward the cabin, searching the area for Omar and anyone who accompanied him. Frost followed Brooklynn’s lead, taking in everything around him, as well as how the team leader moved. For him, this was a chance to get a better understanding of how she operated and what she expected from them. In the future, it wouldn’t be Carran and Styx with them, but the rest of the team she’d assembled. He might be behind the eight ball when it came to the training, but he was determined to catch up quick. This mission would give him the chance to do that.

  It was interesting how both Carran and Styx let her take command. Styx was a natural born leader, and if rumors held true, a former assassin, yet he allowed her to lead this mission. Then there was her mate, Carran, who suppressed his own natural instinct to protect her. Even with the shift, it felt natural, as if everyone knew this was her domain. Their faith in her reassured Frost he’d made the right decision.

  Carran’s phone vibrated, and as if understanding, Brooklynn held up her hand, halting them. While Carran read the text message, Frost scanned the area. They were coming in from the opposite direction than the woman had, leaving them unable to catch her or Omar’s scent. Besides animals roaming the woods, it was quiet. Nothing out of the ordinary.

  “An hour ago, Omar was spotted in town at the hotel where Lou reserved two adjoining rooms.”

  “Maybe he decided to wait her out,” Brooklynn added hopefully.

  “Doubtful. They lost him coming out of the hotel. They’ve searched the cameras in the area and nothing yet.” Carran shoved his phone back into his pocket. “Maybe we can beat him there and extract her without any problems.”

  “You of all people should know whenever you think it’s going to be uneventful is when things hit the fan.” Shaking his head, Styx shot a glance at Carran. “Let’s get moving.”

  “It doesn’t make sense.” Brooklynn shifted to look at Carran. “He could have tracked her scent. Why go back to the hotel? If he wanted her dead, why not go after her and finish the job?”

  “Turi spotted him on surveillance video going into one of the rooms and twenty-three minutes later coming out with a briefcase bag slung over his shoulder. It’s possible he was more concerned about whatever he found at the hotel than the woman.”

  “Then why go after her now?”

  “He’s a lawyer, right?” When Brooklynn nodded Frost continued, “I’m guessing there was a laptop in the bag. It’s possible whatever he found on it might need a password to unlock it. She could hold the information he needs and she’d know if he backed up the information anywhere else. If I were him and I had something someone would kill for, I’d make sure I had a duplicate somewhere safe.”

  “Or now that he has it, he’s going to eliminate the onl
y remaining connection. Take her out and he gets off scot-free, and without the risk she’ll let something slip. Either way we know he’s not going to give up until he finds and destroys whatever brought him here. That includes her, so we should continue moving.” Styx nodded toward the direction of the cabin, but before he could move, Carran spoke.

  “Turi’s still searching for Omar while Trey and Ivy are searching for anything connecting Omar or the Washington D.C. Tigers to Lou. There’s got to be something there; something we’re missing. When we figure it out, we’ll be that much closer to keeping this woman safe.” Carran ran his hand along Brooklynn’s arm.

  “How do we know she’s not part of the problem?” She glanced between Carran and Styx. “Maybe Lou died protecting her. Getting involved with her could bring trouble our way.”

  “We’re going to have to deal with the clan eventually. Lorcan’s a threat to us all, we can’t allow him to remain in power.” With his attention focused on the woods around them, Styx added, “Best way to find out if she’s involved is to question her ourselves.”

  “Let’s get some answers. As the trees get denser, and we move further from the road, we’re going to lose cell service, so whatever they find will be waiting for us when we get back to the SUV.” Carran stepped back from his mate and began moving toward the cabin.

  “At the cabin…” Brooklynn met his gaze. “Frost, you’re the one with the best chance of getting her to trust us. Focus your attention on her and get her ready to move. Carran will give the cabin a quick search to see if there’s anything Lou might have left there that will give us answers. Styx and I will watch the perimeter.”

  “Why do I have the best chance?” Frost questioned, even as the group began to move again.