Page 17 of A Touch of Frost
“You’re taken, remember?”
“Are you always this big of an asshole and I just didn’t realize it?” Mozart sucked his teeth. He glanced over his shoulder, perhaps to ensure we were still alone. “No matter what youthinkyou know, she’s one of the closest friends I have. I’m risking that friendship to help you and Paul. If you fuck this up, it’s your ass—got it?”
“Unclench. Jesus. I don’t want to lose my brother anymore than you want to lose your girlfriend.”
Mozart reached out and caught me by the throat. Swiftly, he spun me, slamming me into the outer wall of the house. He brought his face up to mine, his breath hot on my face. “Let me give you a piece of advice. Donottest our friendship, Jesse. You’ll lose.”
I tried shoving him away, but he was strong. He only released me when he was ready.
Before I could say anything, Mozart turned on his heels and left me alone.
I was jealous of him. I was angry because at some point, Frost had looked at him like he was her everything. Though I didn’t know what their relationship involved, or how deep it had gotten, I knew it must have been something wonderful to have Frost even consider being his.
Mozart had known this woman in ways I’d never get to.
It made no sense I was pushing him the way I had.
But even though their friendship had hit a snag, it was obvious Mozart would move the world to ensure Frost was okay.
With them talking, no doubt about me and Paul, I busied myself trying to find something in the stack of emails Tex had sent us from Paul’s account. Though I was curious as to how he got in, I didn’t ask.
A part of me didn’t want to know.
But I couldn’t see anything off.
I knew about shady shit, but nothing popped out at me.
Well, one thing popped out at me—my brother led a boring life. It was all about work and business, investments. There was nothing about a social life.
Though my brother and I haven’t spoken in a while, I shouldn’t have been surprised. Paul was our parent’s perfect son. I, on the other hand, couldn’t seem to do anything right. In the end, I stopped trying. Everyone thought I was an idiot for walking away from the money—I didn’t care.
Irritated, I dropped the pile of paper on the desk and wandered into the bathroom. I stared at myself in the mirror, trying to see anyone except my father.
But I wasn’t so lucky.
It seemed no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t seem to escape his silver blue eyes, straight nose and almost perfect cheekbones. The full beard I’d grown over the years had done nothing to minimize my father.
Pushing a soft breath out my mouth, I turned on the tap, cupped my hand under the cold downpour and splashed my face.
But while my father’s face and my hatred of it slipped to the back of my mind, all the horrible thing that could be happening to Paul replaced it. I didn’t know he’d began taken on military gigs. I figured as a doctor he would be in a hospital, but he’d be relatively safe.
Sure, I hadn’t called him in over two years, but I always rode by the diner he frequented to get a look at him. Though it was as though someone had taken a hammer to our relationship, it comforted me seeing him moving around, breathing.
I never expected this.
My ringing telephone pulled me from my head, and I closed my eyes to reel in my thoughts. When I checked the face, the familiar grinning face of my best friend filled the screen. I smiled and answered. “Aren’t you a voice for sore ears.”
Calissa laughed out loud. “I haven’t said anything yet.”
“It’s the anticipation.”
She chuckled. “How’s it going? Any news?”
“Not yet.” I confided. “We’re with someone who’s going to help. Hopefully, we can get to Paul in time—wherever he is.”
“I’m sorry, Jess. I wish there was more I could do.”
“You’ve done a lot. You’re doing a lot.” I exhaled loudly. “Times like this I wish I hadn’t cut him off completely.”
