Page 112 of Shadow Dance

She blinks, looking down. “I thought you said you would’ve retired anyway.”

“I knew I was done with undercover work, but I was open to working in law enforcement again. In a different capacity, a different place. But by the time I left California, all I could think about was you.” I duck down, trying to catch her eyes. “I knew if there was even a sliver of a chance, I’d choose you.”

Maeve nods slowly. “What are you saying?”

“That I want to be with you.”

“I want to be with you, too, but I’ll never leave my family,” she warns. “I might not always agree with everything they do, but I’d die before I go against them. Do you understand? I’ll never let anyone come between us again.”

“I know that.” The joy Maeve has with her family is a stark contrast to the haunted look she wore when we first met, when the weight of the world seemed to rest on her slender shoulders. Now, she looks free, unburdened. How could I ever take that from her? “And I respect it. Family is important.”

“So, our life doesn’t bother you?” she presses.

“Look, your family is nothing like the families I took down. They’re nothing like Cal and the De Leons,” I say. “You guys are genuine. You love each other.”

“That’s true,” she says, taking my hand. “Dario ruled through fearmore than love. I always felt like his affection was conditional, even with Callum.”

“That kind of leadership works for a while, but eventually the cracks start to show. You start seeing power plays, infighting and jealousy,” I say. “If we hadn’t taken the De Leons down, they probably would’ve done it to themselves eventually.”

“I can see that,” she says thoughtfully.

“Even the dynamic between your brothers seems healthy. I never get the feeling that Tristan resents Lucky.”

“I never thought about that,” she says. “But yeah, they’re really close. Like annoyingly close.”

“That’s a testament to how they were raised.”

“Speaking of which, it always really bothered me how dismissive Dario was of women. It was like we were just commodities.” Maeve frowns. “And the more time Callum spent around him, the more he began acting like that. It was gross.”

“It’s pretty common in that world.”

“Maybe, but I didn’t grow up like that. My dad treats my mom like his queen, not his servant or his whore.” I follow her gaze to her parents, who are just coming back from their stroll on the beach. Their hands are linked loosely between them, and Owen’s listening to whatever Sloane is saying.

What would it be like to have a relationship like that? Still looking at each other with love and respect through decades and kids and grandkids?

“Like I said, your family is different.” I bring my eyes back to Maeve. “They’re good people, full stop. And trust me, I’ve dealt with all kinds of people in my line of work—criminals, cops, and everything in between. Just because someone’s got a badge, it doesn’t make them good. And just because someone operates on the other side, it doesn’t make them bad.”

“Glad you realize that,” she teases, her eyes gleaming. “I just want to make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into, Officer Franco.”

“I’m just a civilian now,” I remind her. “I’m not about that life anymore.”

“But it’ll always be in you, won’t it? Something attracted you to that profession.”

“My mom was a drug addict for years,” I say. “She got clean when I was in high school, but I watched her go through so much bullshit and knew I wanted to dedicate my life to righting those kinds of wrongs. I felt like if I could strike these people at the source—the drug dealers, the abusive assholes—then maybe I could save another kid from seeing the things I saw growing up. Very idealistic, I know. Very naïve.”

“Maybe, but very honorable as well.” Maeve searches my eyes. “This makes so much sense. I knew you were different, Jamie.” She sucks in a sharp breath, like she’s startled. “I mean, Cruz. Sorry.”

“Don’t be,” I say with a chuckle. “I’m surprised you haven’t slipped before now.”

“I still have so much affection for him,” she says, her eyes going glossy. “I fell in love with that guy. And I know that he’s you, and you’re who I actually fell in love with, but sometimes it still feels like you’re two people.”

“I get it. Imagine being that guy, always having to keep your shit straight.”

She laughs a little, shaking her head. “I can’t.”

“Well, we can role play any time you want.” I give her a wolfish grin. “Just let me know.”

Just then a loud, hysterical laugh floats across the patio followed by splashes. Tristan and Evie are in the pool now, fully clothed.

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