Page 162 of Can You Take It?

I hold up a finger. “Option A: You have a secret soft spot for rebellious detectives. Maybe you see a younger, more handsome version of yourself in me.”

Wilson smirks but says nothing. I continue.

“Option B: You’re secretly my long-lost father, and this is your convoluted way of making up for years of abandonment.”

“And Option C,” I say, leaning in, “You can’t lock me up if you’ve been gatekeeping that information yourself.”

Wilson’s expression turns cold, but he doesn’t immediately respond. “So, which one is it,Willam Robert Wilson?” I ask, pushing the envelope containing the picture of his and Ava. “I hope that’s not too informal, Sir. After all, we’re not exactly high school mates catching up.”

Wilson takes the envelope and pulls out the picture. His lips curl into a smile, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. He looks at it for a moment, lost in thought.

“Help me understand,” I continue, since he’s clearly not planning to speak, “what does David have to do with this? Why was he trying to paint you as the one trying to kill or have killed Ava?”

Wilson scoffs, finally looking up from the picture. “David? That little weasel is just jealous,” he says with disdain. “He has always been jealous of me.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Jealous? Of what, exactly?”

Wilson’s eyes narrow. “You really want to know? Fine. David’s been trying to sabotage me for years. He’s planted evidence, spread rumors, so of course it's not surprising that he wanted to paint me as her killer. He was jealous because he liked Ava.”

I nod. “And Ava was your girlfriend.”

Wilson doesn’t confirm it, but a small smile creeps onto his face. It’s the first time I’ve seen him look almost happy, like he’s been waiting for someone to acknowledge it, even after all these years.

“You recognized Izel the minute she walked into the bureau, didn’t you?” I continue, the realization hitting me hard. “Is that why you wanted her under my protection?”

“I’ve said it before, Reynolds. You’re a good profiler,” Wilson replies. “I was in love with Ava. We were planning to run away toVirginia. But the day we were about to escape she went missing, her father told me she left me for another guy. I didn’t believe it. I went to Hollowbrook PD, but Victor Montclair’s influence kept me from doing much. So, I joined the force, hoping to find Ava.”

“So you put me on the case to get information about Ava from Izel,” I say, the pieces falling into place.

“Exactly,” Wilson nods. “I needed someone I could trust to get close to Izel.”

“And what if it hadn’t worked?” I ask, a chill running down my spine.

“People fall in love with non-living things,” Wilson replies, a grim smile on his face. “Izel is still a living, breathing girl. And if she’s anything like her mother, she knows how to lure men...goodmen.”

“Why didn’t you see Ava when you knew she was at the bureau?”

Wilson’s eyes turn distant. “Who says I didn’t? I just didn’t have the courage to go up to her.”

Understanding washes over me. The man who always seemed unshakable, the one who drilled protocols into our heads, was just as human as the rest of us.

“I’ll work with Internal Affairs to ensure you don’t face any charges,” Wilson says, snapping back to the present. “But remember, Richard, a man can either be a profiler—”

“Or be in love,” I finish for him, recalling his words from earlier.

He nods, a sad smile tugging at his lips. It’s like he’s speaking from experience, like he’s giving me permission to choose something he never could.

I’ve spent over a decade climbing the ranks, busting my ass to get where I am today. Getting promoted to SSA didn’t take long, but the journey was fucking lonely. My apartment isn’t a home, it’s just a place to crash. It’s always been just me, coming hometo no one. I never planned on having anything more. Not until Izel.

She’s my home. It’s only been a few months since I last saw her, and already I feel like my heart is being ripped out. The thought of going back to that empty apartment, of spending my days chasing ghosts while my heart is somewhere else, it’s unbearable. Izel is my light, my reason. Without her, everything seems pointless.

“You can have my badge,” I say firmly.

He looks at me, eyebrows raised. “Are you sure about this, Supervisory Special Agent Richard Reynolds?”

“Fuck yes, I’m sure.”

Izel’s face flashes in my mind, her smile, the way she looks at me like I’m her whole world. She’s more than just a reason to quit; she’s a reason to live.

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