Page 67 of The Stolen Dagger

“I’ll be straight with you, son,” Captain Rodgers said. “I’ll do everything I can to help this girl, but I can’t ignore the fact you broke protocol working on this case and went behindmy back. You’ll be suspended when this is over, but I’ll do what I can to help.”

My shoulders sagged in relief, expecting something worse than a suspension.

“I understand, sir,” I said. “What are our next steps?”

“Well, first things first.” Captain Rodgers leaned forward with his elbows on the desk. “I need to speak with Katherine. I want to hear her side of the story. The sooner I have that, the sooner we can catch this guy.”

“Yes, sir,” I said, already reaching for my phone in my pocket.

I stood and exited the office, dialing Katherine’s number. While she didn’t want to talk to Captain Rogers, it was our only way to stop Adrian and make sure no one else was hurt in the process.

I needed to tell her about this before she took matters into her own hands.

KATHERINE

With my packedbag in one hand and phone in the other, I was halfway out the door when Drew called.

After he left for work that morning to talk with his captain, I’d been formulating a plan of my own, and the first step: leave.

Knowing Drew would try to stop me, I had to go before he got back. It should have been the easiest part of the plan. All I needed to do was get in my car and drive.

So why was I hesitating?

Because you love him, that little voice in my head whispered.

Which was exactly why I had to leave, wasn’t it? Toprotect the people I loved. To protect Drew and Leah from Adrian. Because it was my fault they were involved at all.

Because of me, Hunter threatened them and the life I’d made for myself away from Vegas, away from Adrian.

Yes, I reminded myself.I do love Drew, which was why I had to leave. To make sure this mess would be over with. For good.

But now, as my phone vibrated in my hand, I froze.

A lump lodged in my throat at the sight of his name on the small, lit screen and shame flooded me. I stepped back into the apartment and dropped my bag on the floor.

If I answer it, will he know something is wrong? Will he hear it in my voice? Will he try to stop me?

I answered the call before I could overthink it.

“Hey,” I said, trying to sound normal.

“Hey, baby,” Drew replied.

Baby.Something in my chest lurched.

“Captain Rodgers agreed to help, but he wants to speak with you first. I can leave now and be there in about ten minutes to pick you up.”

A wave of strife washed over me, pulling me in two different directions. I should walk out the front door right now, but another part of me wanted to trust that Drew knew what he was doing.

“Why does he want to speak with me?” I asked. “Doesn’t he have all the information he needs?”

“Yes, but it would be better if?—”

The vibration of an incoming call cut off his sentence. I pulled the phone from my ear.

Leah’s name flashed across the screen. I narrowed my eyes at the little screen until the call dropped just for her name to pop up again a few seconds later.

Why is she calling me?