LOGINI pull my vehicle over about two blocks away from our suspect’s home and wait for Narcotics to arrive.The Sergeant had made it abundantly clear that their presence wasn’t optional. A drug of this caliber was being manufactured and distributed within our district, and multiple reports suggested it had already proven lethal.Within minutes, a large black van rolls to a stop behind me.The side door slides open.Two Narcotics officers step out wearing full-body protective suits, face shields, breathing masks, and tactical vests carrying their sidearms. They look more prepared for a hazardous materials incident than a simple search warrant.One of them approaches and holds out a folded protective suit.“Put this on.”I take it without complaint.“We’ve been ordered to treat this as an aerosol contaminant,” the second officer explains gravely. “Most synthetic drugs have to be chemically combined or cooked. If this guy is manufacturing the product himself, the air could be contaminated. Tr
I wait in tense anticipation as Miller’s expression twists with uncertainty. His jaw tightens, and for a moment it looks as though he’s carefully choosing every word before speaking.“I’d like to say soon, but that depends on Pennet. He should be on his way to their residence tonight. The sooner we get ahead of this, the better.” Miller says as gently as possible.I glance over at Lincoln. He’s been watching me the entire time, his attention never wavering. The concern in his eyes only makes the knot in my stomach tighten.My fingers begin to fidget nervously in my lap. I twist them together, unable to stop myself. It feels as though every terrible possibility is racing through my mind at once.“It’s going to be okay. We’ll take this one step at a time.” Lincoln says softly as he places his hand over mine.His touch is warm and grounding, but it does little to quiet the panic building inside my chest.“And I will continue to oversee your cases,” Miller adds reassuringly.My throat tig
Much to my displeasure, I leave Jess to answer the door. Irritation rolls through me as I stride across the house, already dreading whoever decided to show up this late.I yank the door open, making it abundantly clear that I’m in no mood for visitors, but my annoyance quickly fades into surprise when I find Officer Miller standing there with a small cardboard box balanced in one hand.“Your delivery guy just left,” he says flatly.I step aside and pull the door wider so he can enter.Before shutting it, I glance cautiously down the hallway to make sure no one else is lingering nearby. Satisfied, I close and lock the door behind him.“Thank you,” I say as I take the box from his hand.I carry it toward the kitchen counter, placing it down carefully while forcing myself to appear casual.“Is there a congratulations in order?” Miller asks, his tone curious but restrained.“We’re not sure yet,” I answer as I turn back toward him, “but it seems that way.”A faint understanding crosses his
I say nothing as we drive back home. There’s nothing I can say until I know exactly what’s going on.A heavy silence fills the car, but it isn’t uncomfortable—it’s thoughtful, tense, full of questions neither of us is ready to ask out loud.I glance over at Jessie a few times, watching her quietly. Her arms are folded protectively over her lap, close to her stomach, and I can’t help the overwhelming sense of pride that rises in my chest.She’s mine.No matter what hardships wait for us ahead, no matter what storms are coming, she’s mine—and if there’s even the slightest chance that she’s carrying our child, that feeling will only grows stronger.I pull into the garage and park quietly before turning to face her. The dim lighting softens her features, but I can still see the exhaustion written all over her face.“It looks like we made it home before him,” I say softly, reaching over to brush a loose strand of hair from her face. “How about a shower?”“Okay,” she replies quietly.I step
After being awarded my divorce, I remain seated in the now-empty courtroom, my hands resting limply in my lap as I try to steady my breathing.Moments ago, this room was suffocating—filled with voices, tension, judgment. Now it’s eerily quiet, the kind of silence that hums in your ears. The world that had been spinning relentlessly around me has finally begun to slow, and for the first time in what feels like years, I can breathe.Really breathe.Relief settles into my chest, heavy and unfamiliar. It isn’t joy—not quite—but it’s something close. Something fragile. Like if I move too quickly, it might shatter.“Are you ready?”Lincoln’s voice breaks through the stillness as he steps out of the judge’s chambers, gently closing the door behind him. The soft click echoes louder than it should. When I look up at him, I catch the small smile tugging at his lips—subtle, but laced with his own quiet relief.“I think so,” I answer, my voice barely above a whisper, as if speaking too loudly mig
I make my way down the narrow corridor toward the interrogation room where Mike left Blaire. The fluorescent lights hum overhead, casting everything in a sterile, unforgiving glow. I stop just outside the door, waiting as the lock disengages with a heavy mechanical clank.The sound barely registers anymore. After all these years, it’s as familiar to me as my own heartbeat.The door swings open.I step inside.Blaire sits at the metal table, her posture collapsed in on itself. One hand rubs absently at the side of her neck, as if trying to soothe something deeper than muscle tension. Tears stream freely down her face, but there’s nothing soft about her expression—her eyes burn with something volatile, something close to rage.Good. She should be angry.“You got what you wanted,” I say flatly, letting the door shut behind me with a hollow thud. “Now it’s my turn. I need a name.”Her head snaps up, eyes locking onto mine.“This isn’t what I wanted!” she shouts, her voice cracking under t
I was given the courtesy of avoiding a holding cell—though the interrogation room isn’t much different.Metal covers the narrow window. The lighting is dim and flickers intermittently, just enough to be distracting. The walls are too close, the silence too complete. There’s very little sound from o
“Well,” I mutter, rubbing a hand over my face, “I’d better get started with one of these quacks while Miller’s out.”I signal for booking to send one up and head toward the interrogation wing, the fluorescent lights buzzing overhead. When I step inside the room, I find exactly who I expected—and wh
t feels like I’ve been sitting in this stifling cell for an eternity, the air pressing in on me until it seeps into my skin and bones. Everything about this place overwhelms the senses.The bench is too cold, the metal leaching heat from my body through thin fabric.The air burns my lungs with the
I sit curled into the corner of my holding cell after booking, jaw clenched, nails digging into my palms as my anger continues to fester. The last few hours loop relentlessly through my mind, each detail sharper than the last.Jessie didn’t want to have a baby by me.After all the times she’d begge







