Page 2 of Frankie (Big Northwest #5)

CHAPTER TWO

JD

H e should have kept his stupid mouth shut.

Should have stayed where he was and let Frankie do what Frankie does. But fucking hell. She didn't even know this guy. He saw the ass introduce himself.

"I'm not talking about this with you right now." Frankie's voice was low and deadly. Scary enough most men would turn and walk—possibly run—the fuck away. They'd be right to. Frankie and her sisters were more dangerous than most people knew.

Including the dumbass in the suit still smirking his way.

"You can go now." JD met the man's gaze and pointed to the door. "I've got it from here."

"He's not going anywhere." Frankie grabbed the guy's tie, yanking him closer with a grip that had the other man's eyes widening.

Exactly the reason she couldn't go anywhere with him tonight. Frankie was wound up and the chances of her accidentally revealing her true nature increased astronomically when she was pissed.

He couldn't give a rat's ass who she fucked—had no right to—but he'd seen enough shit in the past few years to know what would happen if someone figured out what Frankie and her sisters really were.

"He's not going anywhere with you , that's for fucking sure." JD moved closer to the suited-up prick, expecting to intimidate him into leaving. "So he might as well find somewhere else to be."

To his surprise, the dumbass stared him down. "I'm not sure you'll want to deal with the fallout of me walking away right now."

"Is that a threat?" Was this guy really that fucking dumb?

"Not from me." The man's eyes snapped to where Frankie stood. "It's that one you'll have to worry about tearing you limb from limb."

The man's words made him pause. The fear that this dick—this stranger—might already suspect the secret Frankie and her sisters harbored was the only explanation for what happened next. The stupid decision he made.

Before the ramifications of his actions could register, JD had Frankie over his shoulder and was halfway out of the bar. The low rumble of her growl vibrated against his back as her nails sank into his skin through the worn cotton of his flannel shirt.

"Put. Me. Down." Her demand was low and deadly.

But he didn't stop, and he sure as hell didn't listen. He'd promised over a decade ago to keep Frankie and her sisters safe, and he intended to do it. Even if it killed him.

And chances were good, she was going to kill him.

As they busted through the door of the bar closest to Shadow Pine, he pulled in a lungful of fresh evening air. Savoring it, since it might be his last.

“I swear to God, JD—” The beginning of her next threat cut off in another growl as he quickly flipped Frankie to her feet. She landed like a cat, perfectly balanced and ready to fight. "Do you even know what you just did?" She shoved his chest, sending him stumbling back. "What you fucking cost me?"

"Calm down." The voice of the man from the bar sent them both spinning his way. "I don't have the energy or the inclination to deal with giving a statement to the police tonight, so I'd rather you resist the urge to slaughter him."

JD's attention bounced from the man to Frankie. He leaned toward her. "What the fuck did you tell him?" This guy knew too much. He could see it on his face.

"I didn't tell him anything because you hauled me out of the bar." Frankie shoved him again before turning to the man. "Can we get the fuck out of here now? "

The guy sucked his teeth, rocking back on his heels. "It's probably best if we have this conversation somewhere else, but I'm starting to think it's also best if your little friend here comes with us."

"Little friend?" JD repeated.

"No fucking way." Frankie's words overlapped his.

Ignoring Frankie, the man turned to him, holding out one hand. "Phillip Foster. I'm Craig's friend and I've been hired to find James."

What a fucking prick.

"You could've said that ten minutes ago." Before letting him ruin the first date he'd been on in a year thinking Frankie needed a fucking intervention.

Phillip's lips quirked. "What would've been the fun in that?" He leaned close, lowering his voice. "And don't pretend you weren't already shooting daggers at me before you thought we were leaving together."

"I heard that." Frankie snarled at Phillip.

"I know." He shot JD a smirk as he continued speaking to Frankie. "You're the one I was talking to."

The urge to kick this guy's ass was only getting stronger. "You love to stir the shit, don't you?"

"I love to do my job, and you're making it really hard for me right now. Might as well make your life as difficult as you're making mine." Phillip motioned toward a large black SUV. "Shall we?"

Frankie shot JD a dirty look before lifting her chin and giving Phillip a tight smile. "Fine." Her posture was stiff as she marched to the passenger's side of the vehicle, yanking the door handle as soon as the lock clicked open. Phillip took the spot behind the wheel, leaving JD to get in the back. To his surprise, Phillip made no attempt to start the engine. Instead, he reached for a file on the console, opening it up before clicking out the ballpoint of his pen. "When was the last time you heard from your sister?"

Frankie rattled off the same date he'd heard repeated over and over. Phillip continued asking questions, most of which Frankie didn't know the answers to. Questions like: Where's James staying? Who are her friends? Where was she last working?

With each question Frankie couldn't answer, her shoulders slumped more, until she was slouched down, looking dejected and depressed.

JD leaned between the seats. "Isn't this the information you're being paid to get?" He didn't want Frankie feeling like it was her responsibility to know all this, or like she failed for not tracking her sister's fucking bathroom schedule.

"The more I know going in, the faster I can find her." Phillip flipped the folder closed. "And I was under the impression time was of the essence."

"It is." Frankie turned to where he sat between them. "It's fine. He can ask me as many questions as he wants."

JD studied her face, reading all he saw there. It was easy to do. He'd known Frankie for years. Watched her go from a sheltered teenager to a worldly and empowered woman.

But even when she was younger, Frankie was a force. She was always the bravest and most outgoing of her sisters. She knew it too. That's why the second she was old enough, Frankie stepped up and figured out a way to take on the world. A way to bring in the money she and her sisters desperately needed. The woman drove him fucking crazy, but he still admired the hell out of her for all she'd accomplished.

The reminder of who Frankie was had him leaning back, crossing both arms over his chest. He wasn't happy about it, but he’d let this bullshit continue if it's what she really wanted.

"Have you talked to any of my other sisters yet?" Frankie's eyes went to the folder. "Did they know more than I did?"

"You’re the first one I approached." Phillip flashed her a smile that had JD leaning forward again. "Craig thought you might be the easiest one to start with."

Frankie's brows lifted. "Not Danny?"

JD had to agree with her. Danny was Craig's wife, so it was surprising he didn't start there.

"I'm sure you'll be shocked to discover Craig's a little protective of her." Phillip slid the folder back onto the console before dropping the pen on top. "I think he wanted to see how you handled my questions before he unleashed me on his beloved bride."

JD cracked his knuckles. It looked like he was going to have a busy couple of days, because once he was done kicking Phillip Foster's ass, he was going to have to go kick Craig's ass. "So he sent you after the sister who didn't have someone who'd get between you and her?"

Phillip smirked. "Obviously, that's not the case, is it?"

Yeah. He was definitely kicking this dick’s ass. Maybe even twice.

Frankie reached out to grab Phillip's face, squishing his cheeks as she turned it her direction. "If you two are done trying to figure out how to get into each other's pants, I have a few questions for you."

Phillip pulled his face from her grip and leaned back, wrongly thinking he'd be safer out of arm's reach. "What are your questions?"

"How long is it gonna take you to find her?"

"No clue." Phillip lifted his shoulders in a shrug. "But the fact that even her own family doesn't have any idea about where she might be doesn't bode well for my investigation."

Frankie's eyes narrowed, but she simply fired off her next question. "What if you can't find her?"

Phillip's eyes narrowed back. "I've never not found someone."

"There's a first time for everything, Phil." Frankie sat a little straighter, finally coming back to herself. "James isn't like everyone else you've been hired to find. If she doesn't want you to know where she is, you're going to have your work cut out for you. "

Phillip stared Frankie down, running his tongue across his front teeth before finally saying, "I'm aware your sister isn't typical."

Frankie stared at him a few seconds. "What do you mean by that?"

It's what JD wanted to know too. If Craig told this guy?—

"What I mean by that is you and your sisters aren't exactly normal, are you?"

His plan had changed. He was now kicking Craig's ass first. "What the fuck did Craig tell you?"

Phillip's attention snapped his way, and his voice was hard when he said, "Craig told me what I needed to know to be able to do my job."

"Fucking Craig." Frankie pressed two fingers against each temple. "I hate to tell you this, Phil, but Craig might not really be your friend."

Phillip lifted his brows. "What makes you say that?"

Frankie leaned across the console, resting one arm on the file between them. Her lips curved into a slow smile. "Because the last time a man knew about me and my sisters, we fed him to a bear."