Page 68 of Solanum

"Okay," Nora cracked, her voice hitching. "Okay."

"Dismissed," he said, nodding to the door. "Leave it open."

Nora bolted ahead of me, fire in her step as she almost raced down the hall. I hurried after her, at a gentle jog as to not alert too many of our colleagues to our predicament. My heart slammed in my chest, though I tethered it, securing its comfortable bindings away from the heavier emotions that threatened to close in on me. Everything Wilkinson did made sense to me then. The way he split us up on purpose. Changing the hotel room reservation situations. It made sense to me before, but I did everything I could to not validate it.

"Nora," I called after her when she scuttled into the stairwell.

At that point, I charged after her, finally catching up to her in the parking garage ten floors below. I grabbed her arm, and she spun around, a rageful shriek leaving her.

"I can't do this anymore, Caroline!" she shouted, her voice echoing in the space around us. "I can't do it. I can't."

"Okay." I swallowed down the thickness in my throat when I approached her. "Okay. I hear you."

"No, you don't. You don't!" She cried hard, gesturing wildly around us. "People know, Caroline. I can't lose my job. I can't. My license. My everything." She covered her face and folded herself down on her knees when she crouched. "I can't do this back and forth anymore. It's killing me." She thumped her fist against her chest as sobs wracked her body.

"Nor." I dropped down in front of her as my rampaging heart broke free of its chains. "Look at me, please."

"No." She shoved me away from her, her panicked tones making it to the surface. "Leave me alone. Just leave me alone—"

"Nora, please listen to me—"

"No, Caroline." She sobbed now, standing up and pushing at me when I approached. "Stop! Get away, just stop—Nightshade! Okay, nightshade."

I froze, my hands held in the space between us when she invoked our safe word in the most unusual of circumstances. The distance allowed her a moment to catch her breath, though she continued to cry quietly, her hands clasped over her mouth. Watching her crumble in front of me while being unable to console her destroyed me more than the words she tossed at me.

"Nora…"

"It's over, Caroline." She choked, then repeated, "Whatever we're doing is over. It has to be, and I have to be the one to say it." Her pitch increased with the intensity of her attempt to gain control of herself. "I can't do this anymore. I have Maya to look after. I can't lose my job. I can't have nothing ever again. I can't." Her sobs quieted then, and she finally met my gaze when we stood up. "I'm sorry. I can't do this."

All I could do was stare at her. The protective shell I painted over myself affixed itself in place like a warrior's shield. I fought every part of me that wanted to crumble just like her. Both of us, sliding over the edge of the waterfall we once danced under, except now, it led to only a devastating cascade of pain.

She swiped at her eyes, drawing in shaky breaths. "Say something," she demanded, her brow narrowing.

No words made it to my lips, but how could they? Any reason for speaking, any will I had to bother, ended with us in a concrete sarcophagus that echoed when we spoke.

"Say something!" she shouted, lunging at me in the midst of her frenzy. She thrust my shoulders back, and I shrugged away from her.

There wasn't anything to say. Nothing at all.

"Caroline," she cried, her voice softening then.

In the sudden silence, the faint chirping of birds singing in the midday sun echoed in the vast space.

I turned away from her, leaving her there as I made my way back to my desk. My insides settled, my emotions stilled, and when I picked up the phone to requisition vehicles for our field work that afternoon, I left all thoughts of Nora by the side of the road.

***

"My turn," I spat, shoving my way through the crowd at Leather & Lace.

Raven frowned at me when I wrapped my finger around the leather lead attached to the collar of the pretty brunette dancing between us.

"You always steal my toys," argued Raven, despite allowing me to take hold of the leash.

"It's your own fault for playing, but never caring." I grinned when the woman tossed me a shy smile. "Permission to intervene, Marley?"

"Granted, Beast," she said, snickering with it.

I slipped my arm around her waist and smooched her cheek. "Play time. Let's go."

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