Chapter 13 #2
Later, they lay tangled together, sheets twisted around them, both breathing hard.
Nora’s head rested on Carson’s chest, her fingers tracing idle patterns on his skin. She felt boneless. Sated. More at peace than she’d ever felt in her life.
“That was—” she started.
“Yeah.”
“I mean, really—”
“I know.”
She propped herself up on her elbow to look at him. His hair was mussed, his eyes soft in a way she’d never seen, a small smile playing at his lips.
“You’re smiling,” she observed.
“I smile.”
“Not like this. This is different. This is...happy.”
“I am happy.” He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Haven’t been this happy in a long time. Maybe ever.”
The admission made her throat tight. “Me too.”
They lay there in comfortable silence, just holding each other, until Carson’s phone buzzed from the nightstand.
He groaned. “I told them not to call unless it was an emergency.”
“Then it might be an emergency.” Nora sat up, pulling the sheet with her. “You should check.”
Carson grabbed his phone and frowned at the screen. “It’s Finn.” He answered. “This better be good.”
Nora watched his expression change as he listened—from relaxed to tense in seconds.
“When?” A pause. “How? I thought—” Another pause. “No. No, don’t tell her yet. I’m on my way.”
He ended the call and sat up, already reaching for his clothes.
“What happened?” Nora asked, dread pooling in her stomach.
Carson turned to look at her, and she saw something in his eyes that terrified her. Not anger. Not fear.
Guilt.
“Eugene escaped custody,” he said. “He’s gone.”
***
The drive back to Blackridge was tense and silent.
Carson’s hands were tight on the steering wheel, his jaw clenched, his entire body radiating controlled fury. Nora had tried to get more information out of him, but all he’d said was that Eugene had escaped during a medical transfer and was now in the wind.
And somehow, Carson blamed himself.
“This isn’t your fault,” Nora said for the third time.
“Isn’t it? I’m the one who shot him. I’m the one who insisted he be transported to a better hospital for his shoulder. I gave them the opening to make the transfer where he could escape.”
“You couldn’t have known—”
“It’s my job to know!” The words burst out of him, sharp and angry, shocking her. Then, quieter, “It’s my job to protect you. And I let my guard down. I brought you to that cabin and turned off my phone and pretended everything was fine when Eugene was planning his escape.”
“You didn’t know,” Nora repeated softly. “No one knew. You can’t blame yourself for—”
“I can and I do.” He glanced at her, something broken in his eyes. “I promised you’d be safe. I promised it was over. And I was wrong.”
Nora’s throat tightened. This was what Holloway had warned about. Carson taking too much responsibility. Carrying too much guilt.
“What happens now?” she asked quietly.
“Now we find him. Every cop in the state is looking for him. He won’t get far.” Carson’s voice was hard. Determined. “And when we catch him, I’m going to make sure he never gets another chance to hurt you.”
“And me? Where do I go?”
“Protective custody. Safe house. Somewhere Eugene can’t possibly find you.” He reached over and gripped her hand. “I know you hate being locked up. But just until we catch him. Please.”
She wanted to argue. Wanted to say she could take care of herself. But the fear in Carson’s voice—the desperate need to keep her safe—stopped her.
“Okay,” she agreed. “But you stay with me. Don’t shut me out because you feel guilty.”
“Nora—”
“Promise me. Whatever happens, we face it together.”
Carson was quiet for a long moment. Then, “I promise.”
But Nora heard the lie in his voice.
He was already pulling away. Already retreating behind the detective’s armor. Already preparing to do whatever it took to protect her.
Even if it meant pushing her away.
They’d had one perfect afternoon. One moment of peace and connection and love.
And now the nightmare was starting again.
***
By the time they reached Blackridge, night had fallen.
Carson drove straight to the police station, where Captain Holloway was waiting with Finn and half a dozen other detectives.
“We’ve got every available unit searching,” Holloway said without preamble. “Roadblocks at every major highway. His photo has been sent to every department within two hundred miles.”
“How did he get away?” Carson’s voice was tight.
“Transport van was hit by another vehicle—a stolen truck. Two men with guns got Eugene out before the guards could react. Professional job. Planned in advance.”
“Who?” Carson demanded. “Who helped him?”
“We’re working on it. But, Carson—” Holloway’s expression was grave. “Eugene left a message. Spray-painted on the side of the transport van.”
“What message?”
Holloway pulled out his phone and showed Carson a photo.
Nora leaned in to look, and her blood turned to ice.
Written in red spray paint: FOUND YOU AGAIN.
“He’s coming for her,” Carson said quietly. “That’s the message. He’s not running. He’s hunting.”
“Which is why we need to get Ms. Bell somewhere secure,” Holloway said. “We have a safe house ready. Two officers on guard 24/7. No one in or out except authorized personnel.”
“I’m going with her.”
“Carson—”
“I’m going with her.” Carson’s tone left no room for argument. “She’s my responsibility. I’m not leaving her with anyone else.”
Holloway looked like he wanted to argue. But something in Carson’s expression made him nod. “Fine. But you follow protocol. You don’t go rogue. You don’t make this personal.”
Too late for that, Nora thought. This had been personal from the beginning.
They were escorted to an unmarked car, Finn driving, another detective following behind. The safe house was thirty minutes outside the city—a nondescript ranch house on a quiet street.
Inside, it was functional and cold. Bare walls. Basic furniture. Everything temporary.
Everything wrong.
Nora stood in the middle of the living room, feeling like she’d stepped back in time. Back to hiding. Back to being afraid.
Back to being a victim.
“I hate this,” she said quietly.
Carson came up behind her but didn’t touch her. “I know. I’m sorry.”
“This isn’t your fault.”
“It is. I let my guard down. I let myself believe it was over.” His voice was rough. “I should have known better.”
Nora turned to face him. “So what? We’re just going to hide here until Eugene is caught? And then what? Wait for the next threat? The next danger?”
“If that’s what it takes to keep you safe.”
“That’s not living, Carson. That’s just existing in fear.”
“Better than dying.”
The words hung between them, harsh and final.
Nora felt tears prick her eyes. “Is this how it’s going to be? Every time something goes wrong, you retreat? You push me away?”
“I’m not pushing you away. I’m protecting you.”
“It feels the same from here.”
Carson’s jaw clenched. “Nora—”
“Forget it.” She turned away. “I’m going to lie down. It’s been a long day.”
She walked to the bedroom and closed the door, not quite slamming it but close.
Carson stood in the living room, listening to the lock click, and wondered how he’d managed to ruin everything in the span of a few hours.
They’d been happy. They’d been in love. They’d had something real.
And now Eugene was out there, hunting her, and all Carson could think about was Lily.
About failing.
About losing someone else he loved because he wasn’t good enough to protect them.
He sank onto the couch and dropped his head into his hands.
This time, he would do better.
This time, he wouldn’t fail.
Even if it cost him everything, including Nora’s love.