“Thought what?”
“I thought maybe I’d be enough reason for you to try harder. To actually change instead of just promising to change.” Her eyes were bright withunshed tears. “But the job will always come first. The victims will always matter more. And I’ll always be the person waiting at home for scraps of your attention.”
“That’s not true. You matter. You matter more than—”
“Then prove it.” She closed her laptop. “Today. Right now. Choose me. Call Finn, tell him you can’t make the surveillance. Let someone else handle it. Stay home with me. Show me I actually matter more than the case.”
Carson’s stomach dropped. His mouth opened, then closed. “Nora, you know I can’t do that,” he said finally. “This is the break we’ve been waiting for. If Shaw meets with Maggie and we’re not there to document it—”
“Then someone else will document it. Silas and Knox are already positioned. Finn can handle the surveillance without you.” She held his gaze. “Unless you can’t trust them to do it right. Unless you’re the only one who can possibly catch Shaw.”
“It’s not about that—”
“It’s exactly about that. You don’t trust anyone else to handle things. You have to be there, have to be in control, have to be the hero.” She stood. “I’m not asking you to quit your job. I’m asking you to let other people do theirs. To trust your team. To choose me just once.”
Carson felt torn in two. She was right. He didn’t need to be there. The surveillance wouldhappen with or without him. His team was competent.
But what if something went wrong? What if they missed something critical? What if Shaw got away because Carson wasn’t there?
His gut twisted. “I can’t,” he said quietly. “I’m sorry, Nora. I can’t miss this.”
She nodded, like she’d expected that answer. “Then I think we need to talk. Really talk. About whether this relationship can work.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying I love you. But I don’t know if I can keep loving someone who will always choose the job over me. Who promises to change but can’t.” She picked up her laptop. “I need to get ready for my meeting. We can talk tonight. After your surveillance. After you catch Shaw. After the case is more important than us one more time.”
She left the bedroom, and Carson heard the bathroom door close.
He stood there, paralyzed by indecision.
Stay home. Choose Nora. Show her she mattered.
Or go to the surveillance. Catch Shaw. Serve justice for twelve women who deserved it.
His phone buzzed. Finn:Shaw’s flight landed early. He’s heading to The Brew & View now. Get here ASAP.
The decision was made for him.
Carson squeezed his eyes shut. Then grabbed his keys and left, hating himself a little more with each step.
***
Nora heard the front door close and felt something break inside her chest.
He’d chosen the case. Again. Like she’d known he would.
She wanted to be angry. Wanted to rage and scream and throw things.
But mostly she just felt tired. Tired of hoping he’d change. Tired of being second place. Tired of loving someone who couldn’t love her back the way she needed.
She got ready for her client meeting on autopilot, putting on professional armor—the sharp blazer, the confident makeup, the smile that said she had her life together.
But inside, she was falling apart.
Her phone rang. Lila.
“Hey, I know you have your meeting soon, but I wanted to wish you luck,” Lila said. “You’re going to kill it.”
