NADINE
I should have taken two days off work, but that would only make them see how weak I was. How affected I was by not getting the promotion.
Of course, I knew there would be gossip, just like there was now as soon as I stepped into the precinct, but I didn't care.
I made my way to Captain Riley's office. He'd texted that he wanted to see me as soon as I arrived. I didn't know what he wanted to say, and I'd rather be anywhere else but near him, since he was part of the reason I hadn't gotten the promotion.
Still, he was my boss, and I couldn't evade him.
A few seconds later, I was in his office.
I shifted on the leather seat, barely hiding the irritation on my face as I looked at him. "You wanted to see me, sir?"
"Ah, yes, Caruso," he murmured, flipping through the pages of a document in front of him. Yet, he didn't look up or say anything else.
Since I'd stepped into his office, he'd been doing that. When another five minutes passed in silence, I sighed, slouched in the chair, and let my eyes wander around the room—lingering on the blinds, always half-closed, letting stripes of afternoon sun fall across a battered metal desk.
At the far end of the wall, citations and old case photos hung next to a fading police academy diploma.
"Yes, yes." Captain Riley's voice finally pulled my attention back to him.
I sat up a little straighter as he shut the file on his desk. He didn't say anything right away. Instead, his eyes trailed over me from head to toe and back to my face. I shifted in my seat, narrowing my eyes as his stare started to make me uneasy.
A weird smile tugged at his lips, making me wonder what was running through his head.
He cleared his throat, his tone turning professional as he spoke. "I'm glad you didn't let what happened yesterday stop you from coming in."
I fought the urge to roll my eyes. Did he expect me to break down and beg for sympathy?
He gave a brief nod and continued. "That shows strength of mind, and that's exactly what we need for this job."
"A job?" I frowned, tilting my head as I watched him.
"Yes, Caruso," he said, that odd smile flashing again.
I swallowed, leaning forward. Whatever had him smiling like that couldn't be good, but curiosity won out.
"You've probably heard about the DiAngelo case. Of course, everyone has unless they've been living under a rock, or they're a rookie."
"I do. What about it?" I asked, remembering I'd first heard about the case by accident, eavesdropping on two sergeants my first year here.
"It's open," he said, holding my gaze. "And I thought of you."
I froze, staring at him with wide eyes.
The DiAngelo case was the kind of assignment that made even the toughest detectives flinch. For years, the file had gathered dust in Captain Riley's bottom drawer. Everyone in the department knew the DiAngelo name. It was whispered in courtrooms, muttered by terrified witnesses, and scrawled across crime scenes citywide.
Drugs, guns, bodies dumped in the river—if it was dirty, the DiAngelos were involved. Every cop who'd tried to get close either ended up transferred, missing, or worse.
It was a suicide mission, and he thought of me first?
Was he trying to get me killed?
"I'm not pushing this on you. You can refuse, but it's just a suggestion if you still want a shot at the next promotion," he said.
And to get it, I'd have to take the DiAngelo case of all things?
I shook my head, murmuring, "Why me? There are others out there. Maybe one of the preferred men you'd rather promote for handling a job like this."
I didn't bother to hide the sarcasm. After everything he'd said yesterday, he might as well have called on one of the male officers.
Captain Caruso didn't look offended one bit. Instead, he answered my question.
"You can talk your way into any room, and you're the only one who's got the guts to stay in character when things go sideways. Besides, DiAngelo would never expect someone like you to be a cop. That's what gives you a shot."
"Because I'm a woman?" I grunted.
Captain Riley only shrugged.
Of course it was—damned patriarchy.
"Well, do you want it—?"
"I'll take it," I said.
He looked genuinely surprised, maybe not expecting me to decide that quickly.
"You can think about it. Give me a response—"
"I'll take it, sir," I repeated, leaving no room for doubt.
Even though I was signing up for what could easily turn into a death sentence, all I could think about was the opportunity it represented. If I could get inside, bring the DiAngelos down from within… maybe I'd finally be more than just another Caruso kid desperate to prove something.
"Great," Captain Riley said, sliding the folder toward me. "Review the file. Start thinking about your cover. Once the brass signs off, you'll get the official green light. This is your shot, Caruso. Don't make me regret it."
"I won't, sir." My voice was steady, but adrenaline was already building in my veins.
I stepped out of his office and walked straight into the last person I wanted to see: Julian.
He spotted me and immediately got up, heading my way. I turned and made a beeline for the women's restroom, hoping he'd take the hint.
He didn't.
He followed me right to the door, so I spun around to face him.
"What do you want from me? Is it really that hard to understand we're done?" I snapped.
"Come on, baby," he murmured, grabbing my hand. Like he couldn't bear to let go, like he hadn't just ripped my heart out the day before. I tried to pull away, but he tightened his grip, his nails digging into my skin.
"It was a one-time thing, baby. I promise it won't happen again," he said.
A cold laugh burst out of me. "You slept with my best friend, Julian. With Maria. That's not a one-time thing. You fucking cheated."
That was a deal breaker for me. I drew the lines at that.
"Come back home," he said quietly. "I'll make it up to you."
"Let me go, Julian." My voice was barely above a whisper. "We're done. We can't be together anymore."
Especially not when he acted as if this were somehow my fault.
He pressed on, ignoring every word. "Do you want a gift? A necklace? Earrings? Tell me what you want, and I'll get it. Just come home."
I tried to pull my hand free. "I said, let me go!" But he only gripped tighter.
"You're my fiancée, Nadine. You owe it to me to forgive. I'm not letting you walk away until you acknowledge my apology."
Apology? He wasn't even offering one.
I glanced around, searching for an escape. That was when I spotted Mark Baker, easily one of the only real friends I'd made here, and fortunately, he was heading right toward us.
"What's going on here?" Mark asked Julian, his tone cool and his eyes sharp.
Julian's jaw flexed. He despised Mark, mostly because I was friends with him, but also because Mark had a specific effortless authority Julian could never match. Add Mark's good looks and his stripes as captain of a unit, and it was enough to turn Julian green with envy.
"I asked you a question," Mark repeated, voice low. "And shouldn't you be at your post?"
"Nothing," Julian finally muttered. He let go of my wrist and took a step back. "I'm leaving."
"Good," Mark said.
I rubbed my wrist, relief flooding through me. "Thank you," I said quietly to Mark.
He offered a gentle smile. "Anything for you, Caruso." Then he gave Julian one last glare before heading down the hall.
"I'll be expecting you home, Nadine. You know I am the only man who can be with you. No one will ever tolerate a woman like you," he snarled.
I turned around and muttered in the coldest voice I could muster, "Except my brain is hijacked, except someone cast a spell on me, because over my dead body shall I return to you, Julian Sanders. I broke up with you, so deal with it!"
I didn't know my voice was loud until I heard the shocked gasps around the precinct, followed by the murmurs.
I ignored every one of them as I made my way to my desk. Hopefully, I survive my day without having Julian's fan club come after my head.