The station doors swung shut behind Dominic Conti, but his parting words still clung to the air like smoke.
"You fight so hard for a system that's already sold you out."
The bastard had walked out of here like he owned the place. And maybe he did.
My hands were still curled into fists as I turned on my heel, barely noticing Gabriel falling into step beside me. The usual hum of the station—ringing phones, low conversations, the tapping of keyboards—felt distant, drowned out by the pounding in my skull.
I didn't stop moving until I reached my office, shoving the door open and stepping inside. The moment it clicked shut behind me, I exhaled sharply, trying to force the tension out of my body. It didn't work.
Instead, I stared at the file on my desk—the same one we'd spent months building against Conti. Now, just another useless pile of paperwork. The weight of it all pressed down on me, frustration simmering just beneath the surface.
The door creaked open, and Gabriel stepped in, his brows drawn together in concern. "Lex, you good?"
I let out a humorless laugh, shaking my head as I dropped into my chair. "What do you think?"
He sighed, shutting the door behind him before crossing the room. "I heard the ACP let him go."
I scoffed, running a hand through my hair. "Let him go? Try rolled out the damn red carpet. Apologized to him. Made me void the arrest like we didn't just spend months gathering evidence." I gestured toward the file on my desk. "Everything we had? Wasted. Like we never even started."
Gabriel dragged a chair over and sat across from me, resting his elbows on his knees. "Jesus. That bad?"
I clenched my jaw. "Worse. It wasn't just orders—it was a warning. He basically asked me if I liked my job. Like he was reminding me how replaceable I am."
Gabriel's expression hardened. "That's bullshit, Lex."
I exhaled sharply, leaning back in my chair. "Yeah, well. Seems to be the theme of the day."
Silence stretched between us, heavy with unspoken frustration. Gabriel studied me for a moment before reaching out, placing a firm hand on my shoulder. A rare moment of softness from him. "I get it. I do. But this? This isn't on you."
I let out a slow breath, shaking my head. "Doesn't make it any less infuriating."
"No, but it means you don't have to carry it alone." His fingers gave a brief, reassuring squeeze before he leaned back. "You need to step away for a bit. Go home. See Max, see your mom. Clear your head before you do something reckless."
I huffed a dry laugh. "I'm not gonna do anything reckless."
He raised a brow. "Lex, five minutes ago, you looked like you were two seconds away from putting your fist through a wall."
I crossed my arms but didn't argue. Mostly because he wasn't wrong.
Gabriel smirked. "See? I usually am."
I rolled my eyes. "Don't push it."
His smirk widened, but the concern didn't fade from his eyes. "You want me to drive you?"
I shook my head. "Nah, I got it. But thanks."
He hesitated before nodding. "Alright. Just—call me when you get home, yeah?"
I gave him a look. "I will, but no promises."
Gabriel narrowed his eyes. "Lex."
"Fine, fine. I'll call."
Satisfied, he pushed himself to his feet, heading for the door. He paused with his hand on the knob, glancing back at me. "And hey—don't let this shit eat you alive. We'll get another shot at him."
I nodded, but as he walked out and the door clicked shut behind him, I wasn't sure I believed that anymore.
By the time I pulled into my driveway, the weight on my shoulders hadn't exactly lifted, but at least the air didn't feel as suffocating. The quiet of the night wrapped around me as I stepped out of the car, the familiar sight of my house standing in stark contrast to the chaos of the day.
Here, there were no corrupt officials. No smug criminals walking free. Just home.
I unlocked the door and stepped inside, instantly greeted by the scent of something warm and familiar wafting from the kitchen. The soft glow of the living room lamps bathed the space in a comforting light, and before I could even take a full breath, a blur of excitement launched toward me.
"Mum! You're finally here!"
Max's grin was wide, his eyes shining as he bounced on his toes. Whatever exhaustion had been clinging to me cracked under the force of his happiness.
"Hey, sweetie," I murmured, scooping him up effortlessly. His little arms wrapped around my neck, and I pressed a kiss to his forehead. "Missed you like crazy."
His giggle was pure sunshine, and for the first time today, I felt like I could breathe.
From the kitchen, my mum's voice floated over, warm and steady. "How was your day, love?"
I sighed, setting Max down and dropping my bag onto the couch. "Long. Frustrating. I'm exhausted."
Mum glanced over her shoulder, stirring whatever was simmering on the stove. "Then sit. Eat. You'll feel better."
Max tugged at my sleeve, his excitement far from over. "Mum, don't forget your promise!"
I blinked, trying to remember what promise he was talking about. "What promise?"
His eyes practically sparkled. "You said we'd play games tonight after dinner!"
I chuckled, ruffling his hair. "And I wouldn't dare break that promise, baby. After dinner, we'll play as much as you want."
Dinner was a blur of warmth—laughter, teasing, the clinking of plates, and the kind of grounding I hadn't realized I was starving for. By the time I tucked Max into bed, the stress of the day had dulled into something bearable.
I brushed a lock of hair from his forehead, watching as his eyelids grew heavy.
"Love you, Mum," he murmured sleepily.
A small smile tugged at my lips as I kissed his cheek. "Love you more, baby. Sleep tight."
His breathing evened out within minutes, and as I sat there for a moment longer, watching him, I realized—despite everything that had gone to hell today—this was the only thing that truly mattered.
After tucking Max in, I lingered in his room for a moment, watching the soft rise and fall of his chest. The peacefulness of it should've been enough to lull me into sleep, but as soon as I stepped into my own bedroom, exhaustion hit me like a freight train.
I barely made it to the bed before collapsing onto it, face buried in the pillow. My muscles ached, my mind still replaying the events of the day like a never-ending reel. Dominic Conti walking free. The ACP's cold stare. The smirk on Dominic's face as he taunted me.
I squeezed my eyes shut, willing it all to disappear.
Then my phone rang.
I groaned, blindly reaching for it on the nightstand. The name flashing on the screen made me sigh and smile at the same time. Ava.
I answered, and before I could even say hello, her voice filled my ear.
"Bestie!" she practically sang, full of energy I didn't have.
I couldn't help but smirk. "What's up, Ava?"
"I heard your day was a mess." Her tone was a mix of sympathy and curiosity, which meant she was dying for the full story.
I exhaled sharply. "You could say that again."
A brief pause. Then, her voice turned downright mischievous. "Alright, that's it. Get your ass dressed in something sexy—we're hitting the club tonight. You need to dance that stress away."
I groaned, throwing an arm over my face. "Ava, I've got work tomorrow. I'm wiped out."
She scoffed. "So? That's a tomorrow problem. Right now, your best friend is giving you strict doctor's orders to let loose. And I'm not taking no for an answer."
"Ava…"
"Nope. Nope." You're either meeting me there, or I'm coming to drag you ass out of your house myself. And we both know I'll do it."
I sighed, rubbing my temples. There was no winning against Ava when she had her mind set on something. And maybe—just maybe—a night out was exactly what I needed to shake off the weight of today.
"Fine," I muttered. "But this better be worth it."
A delighted squeal came through the phone. "That's my girl! I'll be waiting. And Lex?"
"Yeah?"
"Wear something hot. You deserve to feel good tonight."
I rolled my eyes but couldn't stop the small smile on my lips. "See you soon."
I hung up, staring at the ceiling for a moment before finally dragging myself up. Ava was right—if I stayed here, my mind would keep replaying every frustrating second of today.
So, screw it. I was going out.
I pulled open my closet and grabbed something decent to wear. If Ava said I needed this, then damn it, I was going all in.
To Be Continued...