Kat’s head is held high as she leaves Portia sitting in the interrogation room, her arms wrapping around me the second the door closes behind her.
“Can we leave now?” she whispers, tears dampening my shirt as I stroke her hair.
“Yeah, baby, we’re all done here.”
Covering her with my jacket, we walk back through the building, exiting out a side door and into the cool night air. She’s silent as I tuck her into the passenger seat and fire off a text to Royce as I make my way around the hood.
TOM: Make sure everyone knows this case is done. Ensure all the pieces are wrapped up and then bury it. Portia wants this haunting Kat forever and that’s not fucking happening
ROYCE: I’m already on it
There’srelief in his words but not nearly as much as I hoped.
I’ve seen my fair share of bad things in my lifetime, been in bad situations, lost friends and teammates along the way, but this feels worse. It was senseless, Portia’s actions like tossing a rock in a pond, the ripples cascading out along the surface, the reach so much farther than anyone can guess.
Because it wasn’t just animosity between her and Hazel or her and Kat. She took her hatred and disdain and smeared it across the Internet in a time where that kind of campaign never dies. I’d wager most of the people in the comments simply jumped on a bandwagon for the sake of being included insomething.
It’s an affliction and one I fear will never die.
It’s sad but that sadness quickly turns to anger when I think about Portia’s parting words.
Her comment to Kat about putting her in the acknowledgments had been just another nail in the coffin. A woman who had lived in the shadow of her sister thought her legacy would live on forever with no regard for the destruction that happened along the way.
“I can’t believe I missed it,” Kat says quietly, her face turning to the side to look at me.
“Missed what?”
“That Hazel was actually Portia. It seems so obvious now.” It’s a forlorn admission. “I just thought she was grieving, that the change I saw was because she’d lost her sister.”
“There’s no way you could have known. She showed you what she wanted you to see and nothing more. Even her aunt didn’t realize it until tonight.”
“Did she say that?” Kat asks surprised.
“No, but I saw the moment it clicked. She confronted Portia at the bar before heading to the bathroom. Oh, and the hospital said she’ll make a full recovery once everything is flushed from her system.”
“That’s good.” She nods, her fingertips tracing over the silky red fabric of her dress. “It’s a beautiful dress but I feel like I didn’t get to enjoy it.”
“I promise I’ll enjoy taking it off you.”
Kat’s lips curve up but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “I do like that part but,”—she trails off, talking to her lap instead of me—“I guess I just wanted to be on your arm tonight. I wanted to have this moment with you. I get how selfish that sounds but?—”
“It’s not selfish. I feel it too, but you know what?” I ask, coming to a stop at the red light. “We made it and it’s time we let ourselves enjoy it.”
She’s halfway over the console, her hand cupping my face and her lips pressed to mine in an instant, and I pray I can get a few more seconds ofthisbefore the light changes.
“I love you,” she whispers, pulling back to look me in the eyes. Her gaze is searching and I let her look her fill.
Because I have nothing to hide—not from her.
“I love you too, Kitten, more than I ever thought possible.”
More than I’ll ever be able to put into words.
My apartment isquiet when we arrive, the kitchen only illuminated by the single bulb fixture hanging over the sink. It’s modern and clean, the only thing out of place a note left on the counter from Royce saying he’ll catch up with us in the morning.
And it’s just as well.
We all need the rest, and I need to show Kat how much her words mean to me.
