"How's Emma? Did she get out okay?" Nick asked.
Jack shook his head sadly. "I'm sorry, Nick. Emma was shot. She didn't make it."
Nick paled and sat on the floor, hands resting on his knees. "Is everyone else okay?" he asked shakily.
Talia tuned out their voices. She couldn't take anymore. Willing her tears to cease, all she wanted was to check Chloe over for herself. Unable to stop hugging and just looking at her daughter, she struggled to accept it was over. Wanting to believe in this moment for many months, now it was here, it felt surreal.
Police and paramedics came, and Talia shielded Chloe when they took Bill Graham's sheet-covered body from his office. Eventually, she sat in a chair, just holding her child and singing softly. Chloe yawned a few times and then fell asleep as if it were the most natural thing to do. Talia's mind whirled. Her heart was bursting with love and happiness to have this precious bundle in her arms, and yet a part of it was sad because of Nick.
"Are you okay, sweetheart?' Nick crouched down beside them, looking tired and concerned.
"Am I all right? I will be," she whispered, so as not to wake her daughter. "Everything that happened today is no coincidence, is it, Nick? You told me that someone would be looking out for me and that I was safe at my parents' home. I trusted you, and you used me. Emma said you would do anything to close a case and I guess this proves it."
"Talia, please listen. It isn't like that at all." He touched her arm.
"Don't." She pushed him away. "It is like that. I'm so grateful to you for getting Chloe back safely, and I'll never be able to thank you enough, but the lies and deception are more than I can bear. I know that you're a good man, but I need peace right now for Chloe and me. It's always going to be about the job first with you." She'd begun to shake.
"We didn't want to keep you in the dark, but there was no choice. When we knew for sure that Randall had got away, I didn't want you to be any more frightened and upset than you already were. There was a mole amongst us, so the fewer people who knew about our plans, the better. When we became aware someone was watching you, I knew he would be in contact - it was just a matter of time. I admit it took longer than I expected, but Talia, we never had you out of our sight. One of us was always near."
"That's supposed to make it okay? I thought we had something special, and here you are gambling with our lives." She pulled Chloe closer. "We made, love, but I suppose that was all part of it. I trusted you, and I knew I should never have."
"Please don't say that," Nick pleaded. "You can trust me and I promise it really is all over now. Randall is truly dead this time, so you won't ever have to be scared of him again, and Jack has the other guy downstairs. It's over apart from the court case, and I know this is hard to assimilate right now, but it's a good ending."
Talia stiffened. "Actually, it's all over now. I've finished with all of this and with all of you. If you want me to testify, you can damn well subpoena me. Goodbye, Nick. You have a great life—without me." She stood with Chloe in her arms and head held high. Then she walked out of her old life for good.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Nick sat at his local bar, nursing a scotch, feeling sorry for himself. He missed Talia but knew she'd made the right decision to cut him from her life. His job was all about mistrust, and after what she'd been through, she didn't need that. She deserved much better than he could ever give her. There would always be bad guys; therefore, the fight would never end. He threw back the drink and ordered another.
"You're such an idiot, Nick." Jack pulled out another stool beside him. "I can't believe you stuffed this up. What the hell did you say or not say to her to make her leave like that?"
"Leave me alone. This is nothing to do with you, so get lost and go back to your groupies. Don't you think I feel bad enough without a lecture from a kid?"
Jack shrugged. "Probably not. Anyway, I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what you're going to do about Talia."
"Do? I think I've done plenty, so I'm going to do precisely what she asked and leave her alone." He nodded to the bartender for another drink.
"That's the coward's way out." Jack punched Nick on the arm. "For Pete's sake, do you love her or not?"
"With all due respect, kid, you have no idea what you're talking about, so kindly butt out and let me enjoy a bit of peace."
"We may not be partners anymore, but that doesn't mean I'll leave you to wallow. Answer the damn question. Do you love her?"
Nick groaned. "Yes, I do, but that's not going to get me anywhere. She hates me, and I can't say I blame her."
"Rubbish. If you saw how Talia looks at you, you'd know she loves you almost as much as she loves her daughter. And if you love her, and you just said you did, then you have to fight for her."
Nick clenched his fist. "Fight who?"
"You, her, the world, dummy. Find Talia, make her listen, and tell her how much you love her."
"What if...?
"What if you don't try? You may lose the best thing you ever had. Apart from me, that is." He tilted his head to one side and grinned. "For a hard-assed detective, you can be such a wimp. Trust me and just do it."
"Do you really think she loves me?" Nick looked up, hopefully. Used to being in charge and having few doubts, he was out of his depth. Maybe Jack could see things clearer. "She was pretty mad about everything."
"Trust me, she may not realize it yet, but she does. Go get her, tiger." Jack pushed him towards the door. "Although, maybe some coffee first. And a shower wouldn't go amiss."
Nick suddenly had a purpose and was intent on it when he thought of something he's been meaning to ask. "Jack, did you know about Emma?"
"Being Randall's snitch? Not for sure, but I feel I should have questioned some of the things she told me and asked me to do. I wanted her to come with me when she helped rescue Chloe but she insisted she had a debt to pay and there was no time to argue. If she had left then, she wouldn't have been shot."
"I've given it a lot of thought, and I believe she felt trapped. Emma needed to make amends, but she wasn't thinking straight that day and probably for some time. She was taking drugs. They found out at the autopsy."
Jack shuffled his feet. "I had a suspicion she was. Sorry, Nick, I should have said something."
"She was your superior, and I don't hold you responsible for the life she chose. I guess drugs come with the undercover narcotics territory and must have been the reason she initially changed sides."
"It wouldn't surprise me if that was Randall's aim all along."
"To get to me?"
Jack shrugged. "You know what he was like—nothing was beyond him."
"True, but I have to confess I was worried you were the mole."
"Everyone was under suspicion. That's how it goes in a game like that."
"Anyway, I just wanted to thank you for being a great partner," Nick said sincerely. "I know I don't always say when you do a good job, but what you did for this case went above and beyond."
Jack looked sheepish. "I need to confess that Emma and I were in a relationship."
As much as he didn't approve, Nick smiled. "I'm a detective, Jack. It was pretty obvious."
"Really? Just so you know, I don't think she ever stopped loving you."
"I'm sorry about that. Emma was one mixed up woman, but you both deserved better."
"You'd better get out of here before we end up hugging or something equally bad." Jack laughed awkwardly.
Nick snorted but shook his hand firmly. What the hell, a hug wasn't the end of the world. Besides, the look of shock on the kid's face was worth it.
~~~
It took more time than he cared to spare to get the paperwork sorted and to tie up all the loose ends so he could go to Talia. He wanted to have all the answers she would ever need, but by the time Nick got to Talia's house a couple of days later, she'd gone. He wasn't surprised; this house held so many memories for both of them. It was here she'd been able to enjoy life for a short whil
e, and now she thought what they'd had was based on a lie.
Nick used his key, which he'd been unable to bring himself to return, and wandered through the rooms that still held furniture, were devoid of all vitality. He felt that way, too. Alone in the past, mostly by choice, he'd never felt such loneliness. It was as though a piece was missing.
He needed her, and he had to show her that she needed him. Where could she have gone? He searched her papers for a clue and was getting more frustrated when a thought occurred to him. Kirk would know. It should have been evident to him, and maybe if he'd been thinking straight, it would have come to him earlier.
Chapter Forty
Talia sat at her easel and half-heartedly dabbed a bit of paint on the canvas. It was her first attempt at normality, and since the day was bright, with a gentle breeze, it was perfect for being outdoors. Chloe was thriving here on Waiheke. The island agreed with both of them. Talia's nightmares had lessened for the second time, now that the stress was gone. She should have been content and perfectly happy.
The sound of birds and sea was soothing and masked the noise of anyone approaching, and Nick's voice made her hand freeze in mid-air.
"Talia? I had to come, so please don't send me away. I need to tell you some things, and I'd like you to listen."
She didn't move, and he continued.
"All my life, I've pushed people away—until I met you. I knew in my heart you were the one, even though I tried to fight it. I love you, and I'd do anything to have you in my life. Please try to forgive me for not telling you everything. At the time, I couldn't see a way to catch Randall and get Chloe back without doing that. I can't imagine never seeing you again."
She turned slowly, her tears nearly blinding her. The look on Nick's face was indescribable. The heartache and pain she was experiencing also seemed to be etched onto his forehead. Once she's spoken to Kirk and had time to digest what had happened, she'd missed him more than she cared to admit. Standing, she put a hand to his face to flatten the lines and watch the hope come alive in his eyes.
"I'm sorry I was so harsh to you that day. You brought my daughter back, and I didn't thank you enough. It's no excuse, but I'd had enough secrecy, lies, drama, and broken promises. These things are what your job entails, and I understand, but Chloe and I can't live like that." She tried to push past him, but he held her arm. "I need to check on Chloe."
"Chloe's still asleep, and I know Kirk's there keeping an eye on her. I'm glad you had him to turn to," he said sincerely.
She should have expected Nick would know about Kirk. "He insisted, and I was happy to reciprocate, taking care of him for a change. I don't know what I would have done without him."
"You're so strong and capable, and you would have managed. You've come a long way from the woman Randall forced you to be."
She smiled at his praise. It meant a lot that he thought that way about her.
"Kirk told me about Emma, and I'm sorry she died helping Chloe."
"Thanks. She did the right thing in the end by leading us to your daughter. I don't know if we would have found his new hide-out otherwise. Anyway, are you going to be alright?'
"Randall never changed his will, so everything he owned is mine. There's little money, but the land next door is worth a heap even without a house on it. I couldn't live there, but this place will do just fine. I don't need much to make me happy, as long as I have Chloe."
Nick looked sad. "What about us? I can't leave knowing there's no hope. I love you, Talia. I need you."
Suddenly, he dropped to one knee, and Talia's heart missed a beat when he pulled out a small red box. He opened it to reveal a delicate diamond ring. It was exquisite.
"Talia, if you marry me, I promise to tell you everything you ever want to know. I promise to keep you and Chloe safe for the rest of our lives."
"Those are big promises to make in your line of work," she said instead of the intended no.
He smiled. "I've had enough of no life and no one to share it with. I handed in my notice, and as soon as possible, I'd like to take you and Chloe on holiday. Anywhere you choose and a million miles from here. I don't ever want to let you out of my sight again."
Talia was shocked. "You'd leave the police with no regrets?"
"The only regrets I have all revolve around you."
She smiled. "Well, I don't know about a holiday just yet. The lady who owns this place decided to stay with her daughter in Australia, and I'm in the process of buying it. I guess that must sound strange, bearing in mind what happened not too far from here, but this cottage feels like a home, and it's where I fell in love." Her cheeks burned. "I just didn't know it at the time. Now that Randall's dead, he has no hold over me. This cottage is my reminder that I can make choices that aren't based on fear."
I didn't see that coming. Does that mean you want to live here all the time?"
She nodded. "What do you think? This could be your home, too—if you want."
He looked around the tidy garden for all of a second, then grinned. "I know I'll be happy anywhere as long as you're there, and this is the perfect place to begin our lives together, because this is where I realized I loved you, too. I'm happy to get a job doing anything?"
Her heart fluttered, and she wondered if she were dreaming. "Won't you miss being a detective?"
"I think for a while now, I've wanted to get out, but didn't know what I'd do. You and Chloe are the best reason I could ever come up with and who knows, maybe the island needs another constable?"
She nodded. "It wouldn't hurt to ask."
"Just to clarify things–are you going to say yes, or do I have to stay in this position indefinitely?" he teased.
Talia laughed and took the ring, sliding it on her finger. It was a perfect fit, but there was barely time to admire it before he stood and pulled her into his arms and kissed her passionately.
After some time, she pushed away, a little breathless. "Um . . . You'd better get a job soon if we're going to raise our blossoming family here because we may need to do some extensions," she said mysteriously.
"What are you saying? Will Kirk be living with us, because I don't mind."
She shook her head. "I'm sure he'll be a regular visitor, but that's not what I meant. At some stage, we were a bit careless, and there's going to be another mouth to feed early next year."
Nick looked shocked, then delighted. With a huge smile plastered on his face, he held out his arms to her.
Without hesitation, Talia walked into his embrace. The kiss was a release to all her pent-up emotions. Finally, their hopes, dreams, and promises might come to fruition, and now that they could trust each other, their love would heal the pain of the past as they started new lives together.
When they eventually came up for air, Kirk was coming down the steps with Chloe like the doting uncle he'd become, and her happiness over-flowed.
Finally, she had a family once more.
~~~
Thank you so much for reading When We Break and please consider leaving a review.
While it's my only Romantic Suspense novel so far, I hope you'll find something that interests you in my other works.
Read on for an excerpt from The Millionaire Next Door.
The Millionaire Next Door
He was a man used to people doing what he wanted without question; therefore, he was not her type.
One thing was sure—whatever her type might be, he wasn’t going to find her behaving like a madwoman again—if she could possibly help it.
Sacha sighed. Who was she kidding? Staying away from him was her best option, neighbor or not. Only, she’d felt something when their hands touched for that brief moment. Something she’d only read about.
Darn her hormones. Refusing to date, sometimes, when she lay in bed, her body cried out for a man’s touch. Now it appeared she’d have a face to add to the day or night-dream the man next door might conjure.
Of course, the sure-fire way of dulling that ache was to remember her
ex-husband with his arms around her sister. It might have been four years ago, but so clear was the memory, it could have been yesterday.
She shook her head. No, she wasn’t going to think about Rory or her sister. She’d been pretty good at not thinking about them, and delving into her sordid past would get her nowhere. Moving to the kitchen table, she pulled her laptop towards her.
The movement caused the screen to lighten, and a 3-D picture appeared of a townhouse that Sacha was quoting on decorating. Feeling the familiar pull of her imagination wanting full reign, she gladly gave in to it, making the next few hours pass easily.
Eventually, hunger dragged her out of her rapture. Sacha stood and stretched, then finished preparing the salad she’d been working on earlier. She took it back to the table to munch on as she worked.
At some stage, she turned a light on, but it was only as her eyes grew weary that Sacha looked at the clock. Where had the day gone? Forget dinner; it was far too late now. A quick shower, a hot drink, and bed sounded like heaven to a workaholic.
The reality was far from perfect. As she slid between the crisp sheets, Sacha hoped she’d be tired enough, but sleep proved elusive once more. Strangely, instead of thinking about Rory, she thought of Lucas Marshall.
Sacha’s cheeks heated as she recalled her outrageous behavior that morning. Until now, she’d managed to put the events out of her mind, but lying there, thinking of the shocked expression as she’d shut the door in his face, she was mortified. When he told Keith and Jeremy what had happened, they were bound to think she was a terrible friend and neighbor.
Having few friends, she couldn’t afford to lose the ones she did have over something so ridiculous. Plus, there was the irrefutable fact that she had been rude.
All she need do was apologize. Easier said than done. The man was ridiculously good looking. Exceptionally tall, with thick, dark hair, and a spectacularly even tan. His steel-blue eyes made her heart race, the short-sleeved polo shirt hugged his biceps, stretching across the vast expanse of chest as he’d reached out for the bottle of milk. Jeans had encased narrow hips and muscular thighs.
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