Chapter 1

During a narcotics bust, my mom was taken hostage while protecting a civilian.

The bastards livestreamed the whole thing on the dark web.

"Ten minutes! If I don't walk out of here, I'll slit her throat!"

I frantically dialed Nolan's number. He was my mom's protégé, the rookie she'd personally trained and promoted to detective.

He was also the closest officer to the scene, the only one who could reach her in time. He finally picked up.

My voice came out raw. "Nolan, get to the address I sent you! You're the only one who can save my mom right now!"

"Is this your new trick to get my attention? I'm so sick of your constant jealousy." He laughed, cutting me off.

A dog barked in the background, followed by a cloyingly sweet female voice. "Nolan, you're using way too much doggie shampoo!"

"I just talked to Captain Monroe yesterday. She filed her retirement paperwork. She's not in any danger. Stop making things up and grow up, Harper." He hung up.

The countdown hit thirty seconds. I called again and again. He blocked me.

My phone buzzed with a text from Stella:

Your boyfriend's helping me give my baby a bath. Don't worry, we're just friends. No need to keep checking up on him.

The attached photo showed her and Nolan laughing, covered in soap suds, bathing a golden retriever. They looked like a couple in a goddamn laundry detergent commercial.

On my screen, the livestream showed my mother's throat being sliced open.

She collapsed, eyes wide, staring directly at the camera.

My phone slipped from my hand. Something inside me died with her.

...........................

The police brought my mother's body back.

At the funeral, one of her old colleagues came up to me. "I'm so sorry for your loss. Captain Monroe was the finest officer this department has ever seen. She solved countless cases, and she was protecting the city. She's a hero."

His voice cracked. He hesitated, like he wanted to say more but couldn't.

I knew what he was thinking. Everyone at the precinct knew my fiancé, Nolan had refused to respond to the emergency call because he was too busy keeping his girl best friend company.

I stood in front of the headstone but didn't cry. I just gripped the badge in my hand until my palm bled.

The pain kept me standing. It reminded me I couldn't break down.

My phone vibrated. A text from an unknown number.

I'm sorry for your loss. I know what happened. I'll make sure justice is served.

I scrolled through my messages. Nothing from Nolan.

I pulled up his contact and called him, hoping he'd at least come to say goodbye to the woman who'd raised him in the force.

Once. Twice. Three times.

All of them went straight to voicemail.

My mom had loved Nolan like a son. She'd taught him everything she knew, pulled every string to get him promoted to detective.

He'd been a good protégé. He'd been a good boyfriend.

Then Stella came back to Chicago, and everything changed.

He started canceling on me. He missed my birthday. He wasn't there when our dog of eight years was poisoned and died.

Even wasn't there when my mother was in danger. And now, at her funeral, he still wasn't here.

His text finally came through after the funeral ended.

Harper, stop being so childish. You're exhausting me. Stella is my best friend. We're JUST FRIENDS. There's no reason for you to be jealous of her.

I took two days off to take her hiking. The signal's bad up in the mountains, so don't blow up my phone unless it's an emergency.

Those two messages shattered whatever hope I'd had left.

I threw my umbrella aside and tilted my face up to the rain. It hit my skin like tiny blades. The pain finally made the tears come.

I blocked Nolan on everything. Don't worry. I'll never bother you again.

When I got home, I locked myself in my room and dialed a number I hadn't called in years.

He picked up immediately. He didn't speak, just breathed steadily on the other end.

I took a deep breath. "This is Harper Monroe."

His voice was low and controlled. "I know. I'm here."

"I want to finish what my mom started. I want to take down the people who killed her. I'm asking for your approval to reinstate me."

There was a long silence. I could picture him frowning, weighing his options.

"Those criminals work for the Blackwood Cartel. Your mother died trying to take them down. I can't let you risk your life too. And besides—"

I cut him off. "I already passed the internal assessment. I'm the best candidate for this operation."

"My dad died when I was a kid. My mom raised me alone. She died with her eyes open, Chief Thorne. I can't let the people who killed her walk free."

He sighed heavily. "Does Nolan know?"

"He doesn't. And he doesn't need to."

"Fine. Send me your report. I'll make the arrangements. The undercover operation starts in two days. Use that time to handle your personal affairs."

He paused. "Come back safe. For your mother's sake. And for the people who actually care about you."

"I will."

I hung up and started packing. I was selling everything I owned, including every gift Nolan had ever given me.

While cleaning out my desk, I found a framed photo of us.

In the picture, sunlight streamed through the windows. I had my arms wrapped around him from behind, my chin resting on top of his head. We'd looked so happy.

Now it just made me sick.

I pulled the photo out of the frame, tore his half off, and threw it in the trash.

That's when I heard a key turning in the lock.