Page 64 of Beneath the Surface

She hesitated for a moment, glancing one last time at what she’d written. But Brad’s hand on her back was reassuring, his presence a reminder that she wasn’t alone in this nightmare. She nodded, letting him guide her back to their room, where the warmth of his embrace would give her a few hours of peace.

Twenty-Three

Brad’s car cruised down the quiet morning streets, the soft hum of the engine filling the space between them. He glanced at her as they drove, appreciating the rare moment of calm. “How’s your day looking?”

Isobel smiled, a lightness returning to her face. “Pretty easy. Just normal therapy sessions today. Nothing too complicated. Should be a quiet day.”

Brad gave a short nod, his fingers tapping lightly on the steering wheel. “That’s good. You need an easy day.”

She chuckled softly, shaking her head. “Would I even know what to do with an easy day?”

Brad’s mouth quirked up into a faint smile. “Maybe you’ll figure it out today,” he teased lightly. “After everything, you deserve a bit of normal.”

“Normal,” she echoed, her voice thoughtful. “I’d take boring over anything we’ve been through lately. Maybe I’ll read some more on how to keep my Dom happy.”

Brad chuckled. “Hmm.” He reached for her hand and linked his fingers in hers.

“What are you up to today?”

“I’m going over your profile with Larson. Then I need to head into my office and meet with my people.” He bobbed his head, checking off his internal list.

The sky above was overcast, the clouds low and heavy, but even the weather couldn’t dampen the subtle sense of relief that had settled between them. Brad shifted gears as they pulled into her office building’s parking lot. “You sure you’re okay? How’s your bottom feeling?”

Isobel nodded, her smile a little wider this time. “I’m okay, Brad. I really am.”

He parked the car, turning to face her more directly. “I’ll be close by. Call me if you need anything.”

“I know.” She reached over to squeeze his hand. “I’ll be fine. I have my two shadowing cops, after all,” she added with a slight grin.

Brad warned, “Just make sure you stay with them. We can’t take any chances right now.”

Isobel nodded. “I promise. I’ll be careful.”

As they approached the entrance, two uniformed officers stood waiting by the door, their expressions neutral but alert. They nodded at Brad as they approached.

He glanced at them and then Isobel. “You’re in good hands.”

She gave him one last reassuring smile. “I’ll check in when I’m done with my first patient.”

“I’ll let you get settled.” Brad glanced briefly at the officers. “Stay safe.” He gave her one last look before heading toward his car, though the unease lingering in the back of his mind refused to leave.

As Brad drove to meet Larson, he tried to focus on the meeting ahead, but his thoughts kept drifting back to Isobel. Even though she had looked relaxed, he couldn’t shake the sense that something was coming, that the calm they had found was temporary.

His phone buzzed again as he neared the station, this time with a call from Officer Dillon. His grip tightened on the steering wheel.

“Brad, we’ve got a problem,” Dillon said. “You need to get back here. Larson is on his way.”

Brad’s heart skipped a beat. “What’s happened?”

Every word Dillon spoke sent a chill down Brad’s spine: “There’s been an incident at Isobel’s office. We’re clearing the building now, but... it’s bad.”

Brad’s gut twisted. He slammed his foot on the gas, his pulse racing. “What kind of incident?”

Dillon hesitated, and the silence that followed was like a punch to the chest. “It’s Kathy. It’s a homicide.”

The world seemed to tilt. Kathy. Isobel’s assistant. The one person who had been with her through everything.

“I’m on my way.” Brad’s voice masked the storm of emotions swirling inside him. He ended the call and sped back toward Isobel’s office, his mind already racing with worst-case scenarios.

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