That was before it all got sucked into a black hole, and any semblance of life and of the parents who once loved me more than anything was destroyed. If I had to assign a word to those earlier years, it would be bliss, when I felt completely safe and love penetrated every cell of my body. My mom packed lunches with little drawings, and Dad dedicated every Saturday to Fallon’schoice day, where I got to pick what we did. From that moment on, their entire life shaped around me like the careful organization of the planets in our solar system, their baby the center of gravity pulling each decision they made. My parents, at the time of my birth at least, viewed me as their little princess, a miracle after a battle with infertility. “Cool name.” My name meant descended from a ruler. His unwavering eye contact and firm handshake brimmed with the confidence normally reserved for someone beyond his midtwenties age. “I’m Dillon.” The handsome guy extended his hand as the elevator began its slow descent from the fifty-fifth floor to the ground level. Three minutes past my target time but still plenty of time to get to the precinct, change, and be in the conference room well before eight-nothing left to chance. I glanced at my phone screen, seeing it was 7:03 a.m. Showered, makeup and hair done here at the gym? Check, check, and check.
Workout this morning to burn off nervous energy and help keep my mind alert? Check. Police uniform ironed, crisp and waiting for me in the Chicago Police Headquarters locker room? Check.
I ran through my checklist for the millionth time. I’d worked three jobs to get my bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois, graduated at the top of my class from the police academy, moved to Chicago, and after gaining experience as a Chicago police officer, applied to and gotten accepted into a prestigious DEA task force. This all-consuming goal had guided my every move leading up to this moment. I just wanted to stay focused because today, my lifelong dream to dismantle the drug organizations that had destroyed my family was a huge step closer to coming true.
I offered a polite smile but said nothing back. “Morning.” His baritone voice rumbled through the space. Eyes that locked on to me as he casually rested his hand on a Gucci gym bag slung over his shoulder.
He looked like a model with dark hair and facial stubble, a tall, muscular body and captivating eyes. When a gorgeous guy walked into the otherwise empty elevator, I had no idea that in a few weeks, he would kill several men to protect me.
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