Page 76 of Corpse Roads

She halts. “Huh?”

Blowing out a breath, I prepare to plunge into the deep end. “I want to chase down every last lead and make them talk. Not being in control is hard for me.”

“That’s not an apology.”

I splutter a laugh. There’s a hint of a smile pulling Harlow’s mouth taut as she stares up at me, a challenge burning in her irises.

The others think she’s just a precious wallflower that has to be protected and nourished, but I see the other side too. There’s a caged lion beneath her skin, begging to be set free.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart.” I run a hand over the rough scruff of hair covering my chin. “I was wrong to push you.”

Despite every reason my obsessive mind has already considered, my fingers still twitch with need as I battle not to drag her closer, pin her against the fucking wall and show her exactly what I’m thinking.

“I never thought I’d hear you say that,” she murmurs.

“Enjoy it while it lasts. It’s not happening again.”

Harlow stares at me with an adorable crease between her brows. Unable to stop myself, I reach out and run the tip of my finger over it.

“I thought you hated me.”

Her words crash into me like a five-vehicle pileup.

“What on earth made you think that?”

“You barely speak to me. Not like the others do.”

Struggling to find an explanation that won’t make me sound like an egotistical asshole, I sigh heavily.

“My priority is to solve this case. It doesn’t leave room for emotion. The work comes first, you see? Especially when lives are at stake.”

“I understand.” She looks down, fighting to keep the pain off her face. “As soon as this is over, I’ll leave you in peace.”

“Fuck, that’s not what I meant.”

“Isn’t it?”

She inches backwards, anxiously fiddling with her hair. The distance growing between us again is strangling me. I don’t want to leave this cupboard and go back to how things were.

“They should be gone by now.”

Her voice is detached, robotic. Without waiting for my answer, she opens the door and steps out into the corridor, leaving the shadows of our intimate moment behind.

Cursing myself, I follow behind her, wrestling with the truth. We’re not good enough for Harlow. She deserves the world, and I can’t give it to her. Theo was right.

I have to call her family and share the good news, even if that means giving her up and breaking my teammates all over again. Another loss may be the final nail in the coffin.

I’m not naive enough to ignore the impact she’s had on our family in a matter of weeks. Enzo, Leighton—they’ve accepted her into our family without hesitating. I knew this would happen.

Losing her may be the end of us.

But like usual, I have no fucking choice.

CHAPTER 16

HARLOW

(IF) YOU ARE THE OCEAN (THEN) I WOULD LIKE TO DROWN - VIOLET NIGHT

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