Page 91 of Beneath the Surface

“I’m going to coordinate with Torres and the protection detail, make sure everything’s secure here,” he said. “You two going to be okay?”

“Yeah.” Quinn managed a smile. “Thank you, Nathan. For everything. For staying with Gran, for helping with the funeral, for—”

“You’re practically family, Quinn.” Nathan exchanged a quick look with Dax before pulling her into a hug. “You don’t have to thank me.”

After he left, Quinn and Dax stood beside his truck in the quiet suburban street. The sun was starting to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink.

“It’s really happening,” Quinn said, almost unable to believe it. “Wheeler’s going to be arrested.”

“Yeah.” But Dax didn’t sound happy about it. He sounded tense.

Quinn looked at him. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong. This is good. This is what we wanted.”

“Dax.”

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “I just keep thinking about all the ways this could go sideways. Wheeler’s rich. He has connections. Good lawyers. He might make bail.”

“For murder charges?”

“For fraud charges, maybe. The murder charges are going to be hard to make stick without a cooperating witness who can place him at the scene or on the phone ordering the hits.” Dax’s jaw was tight. “And if he makes bail—”

“He’ll come after Clara.”

“And you.” Dax turned to face her fully. “You’re the one who brought all this evidence together. You’re the one who wrote the articles exposing him. If Wheeler gets out, even temporarily, you’re a target.”

Quinn felt a chill despite the warm evening air. She hadn’t really thought about that. Had been so focused on building the case, on justice for her father and grandmother, that she hadn’t considered what would happen if Wheeler was released.

“The DA said he’d could be arrested as early as tonight,” she said, trying to convince herself as much as Dax. “And arraigned within forty-eight hours. Even if he makes bail, that gives us time to—”

“To what? Hide? Run?” Dax’s hands clenched into fists at his sides. “I don’t want you anywhere near this once Wheeler knows you’re the one who brought him down.”

“I’ll be careful.”

“Careful isn’t enough.” His voice was harsh now, edged with fear. “Quinn, this man has killed at least a dozen people thatwe know of. Probably more. He’s not going to just accept being arrested. He’s going to lash out. And when he does—”

“Then I’ll deal with it.” Quinn reached for his hand, uncurling his fist so she could lace her fingers through his. “We’ll deal with it. Together.”

Dax looked at their joined hands, then up at her face. “I can’t lose you.”

“You won’t.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Neither do you.” Quinn squeezed his hand. “But we can’t live in fear, Dax. We have to trust that we’re doing the right thing. That justice matters more than our fear.”

He pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her, and Quinn pressed her face against his chest. She could hear his heart beating too fast, could feel the tension in every line of his body.

“Promise me you’ll be careful,” he said into her hair. “Promise me you won’t take unnecessary risks.”

“I promise.”

It was a lie, and they both knew it. Because finishing her father’s investigation, seeing Wheeler brought to justice—that was inherently risky. But she needed Dax to believe she’d be safe. Needed to believe it herself.

They stood there in the quiet suburban street, holding each other as the sun set, and tried not to think about all the ways this could go wrong.

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