Page 74 of Under Her Command

Victoria’s jaw tightened. “That’s not up to me.”

“Please,” Darcy whispered. “Cass Bellamy runs everything. She’s ruthless. But her second, Evelyn Cross—she’s the one you really need to watch. Military, tactical, completely loyal to Cass. They’re planning something big. I can help you stop it.”

Victoria’s eyes flicked briefly toward Isabel, then back to Darcy. “You’ll have your chance to cooperate. But whether or not that earns you leniency—that’s for the DA to decide.”

Darcy sagged, defeated. The tears didn’t stop.

Victoria gave a curt nod to the two officers outside the door. “Take her to holding.”

When the door shut, silence settled over the room again.

Isabel watched Victoria for a long moment as she straightened the files on the table, every movement controlled and methodical. She recognized that posture—the one Victoria wore when she was holding everything in.

“She’s a mess,” Isabel said softly.

“She’s a criminal,” Victoria replied, her tone clipped. “And she almost got you killed.”

“I know,” Isabel said. “But she’s also human. You saw her in there—she’s drowning.”

Victoria turned to face her, the faintest trace of exhaustion in her eyes. “Sympathy is dangerous in this job.”

“Yeah,” Isabel said bitterly. “I’ve noticed.”

Victoria didn’t respond, just brushed past her and out into the hallway. Isabel followed, the weight between them heavier than the air itself.

They walked in silence all the way to Victoria’s office. Inside, the blinds were drawn, the last light of dusk fading through the slats. Victoria closed the door behind them and leaned against her desk, her arms folded tight.

“You did good work today,” she said finally.

Isabel let out a humorless laugh. “You mean besides getting myself taken hostage?”

Victoria’s lips twitched. “You kept your head. That’s what matters.”

There was a pause. The kind that felt like it stretched too long. Isabel stepped closer, searching her face. “So, what now? We just… pretend this didn’t happen? Everything that’s been going on between us?”

Victoria’s gaze dropped to the floor. “It was a mistake.”

The words hit harder than Isabel expected. “A mistake,” she repeated, voice barely above a whisper. “That’s what you call it?”

“Our fling can’t continue,” Victoria said, voice firm. Final. “I’m your commanding officer. It compromises the department. It compromises you.”

Isabel shook her head. “A fling. Wow. Don’t do that. Don’t hide behind the badge. You’re not ending this because it’s wrong—you’re ending it because it scares you.”

“Torres—”

“No,” Isabel cut in, her eyes bright with tears. “You run from anything that makes you feel. You think if you just stay cold enough, disciplined enough, you’ll never get hurt again.”

Victoria’s silence said more than words could.

Isabel stared at her for a long moment, her chest rising and falling, trying to hold herself together. Then she exhaled sharply and turned for the door. “You know what? Forget it. You made yourself clear.”

She walked out before the tears could fall, before the sound of her breaking heart could fill the room.

17

VICTORIA

The door had barely clicked shut behind Isabel before the silence hit her like a wave.