Page 126 of Keller

I take a breath and try again. Clearer this time.

"Had y'all said those words to each other before?"

"No."

"And what did he say back when you told him you were in love with him?"

"That love and disloyalty don't co-exist. He said love is a joke."

"Shit."

"What I wanted to say to him is that if the company did nothing wrong, they have nothing to worry about, but this could lead to finding whoever is responsible for his dad's murder. It's all just part of a process. I made a preliminary recommendation based on specific anomalies. That's all it was. Not a task force. Not formal charges."

"And you believe that was the right call."

"Yes." The word comes out firm. Certain. "Professionally, I did the right thing. The data supported the recommendation. The compliance gaps were real."

"But?"

I close my eyes.

"I thought I could keep them separate. The investigation and what we had. I thought I could compartmentalize."

"You always think that."

Her voice is gentle, not like she's trying to hurt me. I know that.

I look at her. "What do you mean?"

"Quinny, you've always drawn hard lines. Black and white. Right and wrong. Professional and personal." She sets her mugdown and turns to face me fully. "But life doesn't work that way. Love definitely doesn't work that way."

"I know. But what could I have done?"

"I honestly don't know. I'm not sure you could have done anything different. Maybe if you'd told him before he was blindsided by it? I don't know."

"I couldn't have told him, ethically."

"I guess it just depends where your priorities are."

I don't answer. My throat's so tight that it's like I can't swallow.

"I underestimated the fallout." I press my palms against my eyes. "I thought I could control it. Keep it contained. I didn't expect it to hurt this much."

"Of course it hurts. You love him."

We sit in silence for a moment. The midday light has shifted, casting longer shadows across the floor.

"Even if nothing criminal comes out of this," Leah says quietly, "the scrutiny alone is going to put pressure on him. On his whole family."

"I know."

"And you can't undo the recommendation?"

"No." I shake my head. "I can only stand by its integrity. And accept the consequences."

"Even if the consequence is losing him."

The words land in my chest. I feel them settle there, sharp and permanent.