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“Since when do you let Elio dictate your life?”
She has a point. But inviting a cop into the family? Yeah, that just doesn’t happen in my world.
She rises and comes to me, taking my hands in hers. “Don’t give up on love. Love has a way of bridging even the widest gaps."
I scoff, but Piper continues undeterred. "Do you think it was easy for me to trust Elio again? I was sure he’d abandoned me and Elysse?—”
“He’d never do that.”
“From where I stood, he did do that. His parents told me he did. Just like from your perspective, Henry was cruel."
I fight the urge to hope.
"And then I ended up in an abusive marriage. Fear ruled my life," she continues.
Her words give me pause. I turn to look at her, really look at her. I’ve always accepted her in the family, but I’d not been as welcoming to her as I should have been. I hadn’t ever really spent time getting to know her.
As I study her, I see a woman with warmth, unequaled devotion to Elio and Elysse, and strength to reach out for the family she and Elio always wanted. It's a nice dream, but not for me and Henry.
“It’s different with Henry. He's a cop, Piper. This isn’t just a misunderstanding. Our worlds aren't just different. They're at war."
Piper squeezes my hand. "Maybe that's exactly why you need each other.”
I can’t see how, and yet her words stir something inside me, a flicker of hope. "What if I let him in and he betrays me again?"
Piper's eyes soften with understanding. "Love is always a risk, Lana. But from what I've seen, Henry is willing to risk everything for you. The question is, are you brave enough to do the same?"
34
HENRY
Ileave Lana's home, my heart heavier than I’d ever thought possible. I'd hoped, foolishly, perhaps, that if I could just explain everything to her, she might understand. That she might see how desperately I tried to save her, how much I love her.
But the look in her eyes… God, I'll never forget it. The pain, the betrayal, the utter lack of trust. And who can blame her? After what she went through, after what I had to do to keep her alive, how could she possibly believe me?
I climb into my car, but I can't bring myself to start the engine. Instead, I sit there, replaying our conversation in my mind. I bared my heart, my soul. I told her that I loved her, that I would have done anything to make it work between us. But it wasn't enough. Maybe it never could have been.
The irony isn't lost on me. I became a cop to help people, to make a difference. And now, the woman I love sees me as part of the system that hurt her. I failed her in so many ways, even if I did ultimately help save her life.
Fuck! Frustration boils out of me. How did everything go so wrong? I think back to the first time I met Lana, how intrigued Iwas by her strength and intelligence. I never expected to fall for her, but I did. Hard and fast.
And now? Now I'm left with nothing but regret and a love that can never be realized. Because she's right, a cop and a criminal can never truly be together. Not in this world, not with the lives we lead.
As I drive back to my apartment, my mind fills with the events of the past few weeks. The day after saving Lana and arresting Peter and his gang, I went in to work, seething with anger at how the system had failed us both. What the fuck was my work all about?
Word about Peter and his goons was already fodder for gossip at the station. I ignored the looks and questions. What I couldn’t ignore was my sergeant calling me into his office.
This ought to be good. Would I be fired for having Peter arrested? For having cops from another area intervene in a case that should have been taken care of by us?
“What the fuck happened last night?” he asked.
“I told you. Detective Hartley, along with Officers Rogers and Johnson, kidnapped Lana D’Amato. Last I looked, that was against the law.”
His jaw tightened. “You said arrested.”
I shook my head, knowing where this was going. He was covering his ass.
“Well, there was a miscommunication. You can be sure, there will be a thorough investigation,” he said, his face a mask of practiced deniability.
