Emily nodded toward the screen. “I should let you work. See you at the club this weekend?”
Forcing a shrug, she said noncommittally, “Maybe.”
She didn’t add,if I can bear seeing Rhys with someone else. Not when Emily looked so genuinely happy.
Seeing past her shrugs and forced smiles, her friend met her gaze. “Text me if you need anything. Even if it’s just to talk about hardheaded men.”
“I will, Em. Thanks.”
When she was gone, the room felt dimmer, quieter—as if Emily had taken the warmth with her.
Another ping. Gaby opened her laptop finding a calendar notification.
Meeting: Case Briefing – Rhys & Gabriella – 10:00 AM – Conference Room
Her stomach twisted into a cold knot. She opened her inbox, fingers trembling. Sure enough, there it was—an email from Devlin.
Subject: Assignment Confirmation.
Rhys will be taking lead on Natalie’s case. He’s already been briefed. Callan has made progress decrypting the files and will join you at ten.
—Dev
She stared at the screen, pulse rising, whiplashed between hope that Callan might have a lead, and anger. There had been no discussion. No warning. Just a decision abouthercase made without her.
She was halfway down the hall before she realized she hadn’t put on shoes.
Gaby didn’t knock. She stormed into Devlin’s office, the door coming close to slamming against the wall.
“Rhys? On my sister’s case?” Her voice cracked.
Dev didn’t look up right away. When he did, his expression was calm authority. “Good morning to you too, Gabriella.”
“You didn’t even ask me!”
“I didn’t need to.”
“I can’t work with him. I won’t.”
Nick Devlin leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers. “And yet you’re here. Which tells me you still want to find your sister.”
“Of course I do.”
“Then you’ll work with the best. And that’s Rhys.”
Her throat tightened. “You’re asking me to put aside everything.”
“I’m asking you to do your job.”
“You don’t understand—”
“I do,” he said, voice low but firm. “There’s something unsettled between you. I get it. But lock it down. Don’t make me regret hiring you.”
The words hit hard, but she didn’t flinch. Weakness from an investigator, male or female, wouldn’t earn this man’s respect.
“Fine,” she ground out. “But if he undermines me, I walk.”
Dev nodded once. “If you do, I’ll know I made the wrong call.”
