“No. I haven’t talked to anyone except Lila, and I didn’t tell her where I was.”
Good. That meant Dan couldn’t have tracked her here. Unless—
Carson’s phone buzzed. A text from Finn:Found the connection. Dan Morrison is Robert Whitmore’s nephew. His mother was Robert’s sister. Name change after she remarried when Dan was twelve.
Carson showed Nora the text. She read it, her face crumpling.
“They’re family,” she whispered. “Eugene and Dan. They’re both targeting me because of what my father did to their family.”
“Your father did his job. He reported a crime. This isn’t your fault, Nora.”
“But they think it is.” She stood abruptly, pacing. “They’ve both been planning this. For how long? Years? How long have they been watching me?”
Carson stood too, intercepting her pacing and gripping her shoulders gently. “Listen to me. I know this is scary. I know it feels like the world is falling apart. But you’re safe here. Dan doesn’t know where you are. We have officers looking for him. And I’m not leaving your side until he’s caught.”
“You can’t stay with me constantly. You have to work. You haveto—”
“I’m staying.” His voice left no room for argument. “Captain already approved it. I’m on protective detail until this is resolved. Which means wherever you go, I go.”
Nora looked up at him, and Carson saw the conflict in her eyes. Relief that he was staying. Guilt that he had to. Fear about what came next.
“I’m so tired of being scared,” she said quietly.
“I know.”
“I’m tired of feeling like a victim. Like my whole life is defined by things other people did to me. Foster care. My parents dying. And now this.”
“You’re not a victim. You’re a survivor.” Carson’s hands moved from her shoulders to cup her face. “You reported what was happening when no one believed you. You trusted your instincts. You fought back when Eugene attacked you. You’re one of the strongest people I know, Nora.”
“I don’t feel strong.”
“You are.” His thumbs brushed away the tears on her cheeks. “And I’m going to keep reminding you of that until you believe it.”
They stood there, inches apart, the air between them charged with everything unsaid. Carson knew he should step back. Maintain distance. Keep things professional.
But after today—after almost losing her, after seeing that knife coming toward her chest—he couldn’t bring himself to pull away.
“Carson,” Nora whispered. “About last night. Thekiss—”
“Was real,” he said. “And I shouldn’t have pushed you away. I was trying to do the right thing, trying to keep boundaries in place, but—”
“But what?”
“But I don’t want to keep you at arm’s length anymore.” The admission felt like ripping open his chest. “You scare the hell out of me, Nora. The way I feel about you scares me. Because I don’t do this. I don’t let people in. I don’t care about anything except the job.”
“And now?”
“And now all I can think about is you. Keeping you safe. Making you smile. Being the person you trust.” His voice dropped lower. “Being more than just the detective investigating your case.”
Nora’s breath hitched. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying when this is over—when Dan is caught and you’re safe and there’s no conflict of interest—I want to take you on a real date. I want to see where this goes. If you’ll have me.”
“If I’ll—” A laugh choked off her words, a sound somewhere between tears and joy. “Carson, I’ve been falling for you since you believed me when no one else would. Since you moved me into your apartment to protect me. Since you made me grilled cheese and let me help with the case and looked at me like I mattered.”
“You do matter.”
“Then stop pulling away.” She stepped closer, her hands coming up to rest on his chest. “Stop trying to keep me safe from your feelings. I’m agrown woman. I can decide what risks I want to take.”
