Page 4 of Wild Frost

Nobody said a word.

JD and I exchanged a look, climbed out of the van, and the door rumbled shut behind us. Tires chirped, spitting gravel as the van sped away.

"You look like shit," I said to Jack.

He was in as bad a shape as I was.

"Hello, pot. Meet kettle."

We ambled down the dock toward theAvventura, squinting from the brilliant Florida sun. I had one thing on my mind.

3

Ihurried across the passerelle to the aft deck of the superyacht. Usually, I was greeted by an excited Jack Russell, but the hyperactive terrier was nowhere to be found. I was hoping Teagan had figured something was amiss.

I unlocked the glass door, slid it open, and stepped into the salon. The boat was quiet. I called out for Buddy, but he didn't come running. Fluffy wasn't on her usual perch.

The feds had confiscated our phones and our weapons when we were bagged. I hustled up to the bridge deck, grabbed my other phone from the nightstand drawer, and called Teagan. Only a few people had this number. And there were dozens of missed calls and texts.

The gorgeous brunette answered a moment later. Commotion in the background filtered through. "Where have you been?”

"Long story. Did you come by the boat and pick up the animals?”

"You’re welcome.”

"Thank you," I said in a relieved breath.

"Who is she, and was she fun?” she asked with a hint of jealousy in her voice.

I chuckled. "I wish.”

"Is this one of those things where I shouldn't ask questions?"

"Yes.”

She huffed. "Fine. But you know me. I'm not going to tell anybody. I can keep a secret."

"It's better if you don’t know.”

"You mean safer?”

"Something like that."

A frustrated exhale escaped her lips. "You need to be careful.”

"Some things can't be anticipated."

"How much longer are you and Jack going to do this?”

"How's everything at the bar?" I asked, changing the subject.

"Don't dodge me.”

I laughed. "What do you want me to say?”

"I've been terrified for the last three days. I kept thinking the sheriff was gonna walk in here and tell me bad news. I mean, you guys disappear all the time, but I had a bad feeling about this one," she said with a shaky voice.

"We’re still here.”