Gavin Ror was arrested eleven days later.

The evidence did not come from Ross alone.

Warehouse owners came forward.

Drivers testified.

Store owners produced security footage.

Daniel agreed to cooperate.

And data recovered from Nathan’s phones connected the Ror brothers to the attempted abduction.

Beth was asked to identify the two men who had approached her car.

She did.

Afterward, she found Ross waiting outside the police building.

He held two coffees.

She took one.

“You remembered.”

“No sugar. Too much cream.”

“That’s disturbingly accurate.”

“I pay attention.”

“I noticed.”

They walked toward the parking lot.

Beth’s knee was almost healed.

The cut near her temple had faded to a thin pink line.

Ross still looked at it every time he saw her.

Beth finally stopped.

“Quit doing that.”

“Doing what?”

“Looking at my forehead.”

“I’m looking at you.”

“You’re checking the scar.”

Ross said nothing.

Beth stepped in front of him.

“It’s healing.”

“I know.”

“They caught them.”

“I know.”

“I’m safe.”

Ross looked toward the street.

Beth lowered her voice.

“Ross.”

His eyes returned to hers.

“I keep thinking about those ambulance doors.”

Beth waited.

“You were lying there, and I couldn’t do anything.”

“You came.”

“That wasn’t enough.”

“It was to me.”

He shook his head.

“You don’t understand.”

“Then explain it.”

Ross looked at her for a long moment.

“I spent most of my life believing control kept people safe.”

Beth listened.

“If I knew enough, owned enough, had enough people watching every door, nothing could surprise me.”

“And then I called.”

“And I heard that window break.”

Beth’s expression softened.

Ross continued.

“I couldn’t control anything.”

“No.”

“I hated it.”

“I know.”

“I still hate it.”

Beth stepped closer.

“But you called the police.”

“Yes.”

“You handed over the ledger.”

“Yes.”

“You let them handle Gavin.”

“Yes.”

“You kept your promise.”

Ross looked at her.

“I made it to you.”

“That shouldn’t matter more.”

“It does.”

Beth smiled faintly.

“That might be the problem.”

“What is?”

“You keep acting like caring about somebody makes them your weakness.”

Ross didn’t answer.

“It doesn’t.”

“Gavin thought it did.”

“Gavin was wrong.”

“He nearly got you killed.”

“And you nearly gave up evidence to save me.”

Ross’s expression tightened.

Beth touched his forearm.

“That’s not what I want.”

“What do you want?”

“A choice.”

Ross frowned.

“My own choice about whether being around you is worth the risk.”

“And?”

“And I’m still here.”

Ross looked down at her hand on his tattooed forearm.

“Beth.”

“What?”

“You should think carefully.”

“I did.”

“For eleven days?”

“For four months.”

That stopped him.

Beth smiled.

“You really thought you were subtle?”

“I was extremely subtle.”

“You visited your mother’s rehabilitation center six times after she was discharged.”

“She forgot things.”

“She forgot one scarf.”

“It was an important scarf.”

“It was from Target.”

Ross almost laughed.

Beth stared at him.

“There. That.”

“What?”

“You smiled.”

“I do that.”

“Rarely.”

Ross moved closer.

“Beth.”

“Yes?”

“Are you always going to argue with me?”

“Probably.”

“Good.”

This time, when he leaned toward her, Beth didn’t move away.

But his phone rang.

They both froze.

Beth stared at him.

“You have got to be kidding me.”

Ross checked the screen.

Detective Ortiz.

Beth sighed.

“Answer it.”

Ross did.

“Ortiz.”

He listened.

His expression changed.

“When?”

Beth watched him carefully.

Ross ended the call.

“What happened?”

“Gavin wants to make a deal.”

Beth frowned.

“What kind?”

“He’ll identify everyone involved in the protection scheme.”

“That’s good.”

“In exchange for reduced charges.”

Beth studied him.

“And how do you feel about that?”

Ross looked toward the courthouse across the street.

“Doesn’t matter.”

“It matters.”

“No.”

“Ross.”

He met her eyes.

“The system decides what happens to Gavin. Not me.”

Beth nodded slowly.

“That answer I like.”

“You approve?”

“Don’t get excited.”

He smiled.

She pointed at him.

“There it is again.”

“What?”

“That smile.”

Ross reached for her hand.

This time, his phone stayed silent.

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