Carson studied her for a long moment. “You don’t have to be fine, you know. You almost died today. You’re allowed to not be okay.”
The words broke something in her. Tears spilled over before she could stop them.
“I was so scared,” she whispered. “When he had that knife—I thought it was over. I thought you wouldn’t get there in time.”
“But I did.” Carson stepped into the room, closing the distance between them. “I did get there. And I will never let anyone hurt you again. Do you understand me?”
“You can’t promise that.”
“Watch me.”
He pulled her into his arms, and Nora went willingly, pressing her face against his chest and breathing him in. He smelled like gunpowder and sweat and safety.
“I’m sorry,” Carson murmured into her hair. “For last night. For pushing you away. For making you think I didn’t want—” He stopped. “This isn’t the right time for this conversation.”
“When will be the right time?”
“When you’re not traumatized and exhausted and bruised.” His arms tightened around her. “When I know for certain you’re safe. When I can think clearly and say what I need to say without screwing it up.”
Nora pulled back enough to look at him. “You’re not very good at this, are you? The emotional stuff.”
A small smile touched his mouth. “No. I’m terrible at it.”
“Good thing I’m patient.”
“Nora...” His hand came up to cup her face, his thumb brushing gently over her cheekbone. “What you said last night. About feeling safe with me. I need you to know—”
His phone rang. The ringtone that meant it was the station.
Carson swore under his breath. “I have to take this.”
“I know.”
He answered, and Nora watched his expression shift from tender to grim in seconds.
“What do you mean he’s not talking?” Carson listened, his jaw clenching. “Even with the evidence we found? The photos, the list of victims?” Another pause. “Fine. I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”
He ended the call and looked at Nora with frustration written all over his face.
“Eugene lawyered up,” he said. “Won’t say a word. His lawyer’s already claiming self-defense, saying he was at my apartment for legitimate reasons and I shot him without provocation.”
“That’s insane. He broke in. He attacked me—”
“I know. And we have evidence to prove it. But his lawyer’s good. He’s going to drag this out, try to get charges reduced.” Carson’s voice was tight with barely controlled rage. “Which means I need to go build an airtight case. Make sure there’s no way Eugene walks away from this.”
“Go,” Nora said. “Do whatyou need to do.”
“I don’t want to leave you.”
“I’ll be okay. You caught him. He’s in custody. I’m safe now.”
But even as she said it, something nagged at the back of Nora’s mind. Something that felt unfinished.
Eugene had said he’d been watching them. That he knew about the kiss. How had he known? How had he been watching Carson’s apartment when Carson had been so careful about security?
Unless Eugene had help.
Unless this wasn’t over.
