Page 18 of Finn

The only thing keeping me sane was knowing that I'd see Finn tonight. We'd fallen into a rhythm over the past few days—I'd go to his place after work, we'd eat dinner, we'd talk about everything except the sword hanging over our heads. Then we'd fall into bed and forget the world existed for a few hours.

It was the happiest I'd been in years, which was insane considering I was also committing multiple felonies. But there it was.

I was halfway through a stack of filing when I heard my name.

"—Chloe's car over by the highway a couple times. Near that old motel."

My blood turned to ice water.

Peters was standing by the coffee machine with Margaret, his voice carrying across the bullpen like he didn't have a care in the world. Like he wasn't casually dismantling my entire life.

"So?" Margaret sounded bored. "Maybe she's got a boyfriend."

"Yeah, but that area's sketch. Lot of biker traffic out there. You know, with everything going on..."

My fingers had frozen over the keyboard. I couldn't move. Couldn't breathe. Shady Meadows was near that stretch of highway. If Peters had seen my car there, if he'd seen me with Finn?—

No. Stop. Think.

I forced my hands to relax. Forced my face into something neutral. Then I stood up from my desk and walked over to the coffee machine like I didn't have a care in the world.

"You guys gossiping about me?" I kept my voice light, teasing. The Chloe they knew. The Chloe who flirted with everyone and took nothing seriously.

Peters had the decency to look embarrassed. His ears went pink. "Just noticed your car out by Route 66 a couple times. You got a secret lunch spot or something?"

I laughed. Please, God, let it sound natural.

"There's a taco truck out there that's incredible. Seriously, best carnitas in the county. Don't tell anyone—I don't want the line to get longer."

Peters shrugged. "Huh. Might have to check it out."

"You should. The green salsa will change your life."

I grabbed a coffee I didn't want and walked back to my desk on legs that felt like jelly. My hands were shaking. I tucked them under my thighs and stared at my computer screen until the words stopped swimming.

That was too close. Way too close.

I needed to be more careful. No more meeting Finn anywhere public, not even the outskirts of town. His place only. Maybe I should start parking down the street from his house instead of in the driveway. Maybe?—

The front door of the station banged open.

I looked up, startled, as Deputy Shaw came striding in with a grin splitting his face. He looked like a kid on Christmas morning.

"Sheriff!" He was practically shouting. "You're going to want to hear this!"

Malone emerged from his office, newspaper still in hand. "What's all the commotion?"

"Just got word from Albuquerque. The task force hit the Cobras this morning. Major bust—we're talking drugs, unregistered firearms, the whole nine yards." Shaw was practically vibrating with excitement. "Three dead in theshootout, including their VP. They've got the president in custody and he's already trying to cut a deal."

The room erupted. Peters let out a whoop. Margaret actually clapped. Malone's weathered face broke into a smile I hadn't seen in months.

"Hot damn," Malone said, slapping the newspaper against his thigh. "That's exactly what we needed. The Cobras have been a thorn in everyone's side for months. Dealing near schools, robbing liquor stores—bunch of smooth brains with more guns than sense."

"Task force is going to be tied up processing this for weeks," Shaw added. "They're calling it the biggest bust in the region this year. Albuquerque's already talking press conferences."

I sat very still at my desk, afraid to move, afraid to breathe, afraid that if I did anything at all someone would see the relief flooding through my body like a tidal wave.

The Cobras. Not the Guardians. The task force had found their win, and it wasn't Finn's club.