Page 142 of The Defiant Curse

“You did the right thing. Back there, I didn’t take into consideration that the people you lost were your family and friends. I would have done the same thing had someone hurt one of my sisters or my wife.”

She wished it was so simple, but right was right, and wrong was wrong.

Wasn’t it?

That had been what Charlie taught her, and now, she was struggling with that more than anything.

Should she hand in her badge?

“I’m not proud that I broke the law. Trust me when I say I carry that shit deep in my chest, Finn.”

Behind them, Graham and Michael were not far away, with Gabby between them. He could see them from his peripheral, as they were making sure Elizabeth was safe.

He considered what she said and offered his opinion on it. Maybe it would help.

He hoped so.

“Sometimes, the law needs to be broken, and that’s okay. The bottom line as a cop is that you keep the law more times than not. It shouldn’t become the norm not to. I know for a fact, that you’ve done good work, Elizabeth. You’re well-known for it. Now, had you been well-known for being the opposite, that is where you should worry. Balance is everything. You’ve saved people and fought for justice. That’s all that matters.”

“Then why do I feel like I took a shortcut to get there?” she asked, honestly.

He laughed.

“Because cops are a special kind of stubborn, and we don’t like to lose. We especially don’t like to let the bad guy get away. Only, you’re forgetting one thing, Lass,” he said, his accent making his voice calming.

She was curious.

“What’s that?” she asked.

Finn shared.

“Your lady justice wears a blindfold, no?”

She nodded.

“Maybe that’s the sign that sometimes, she can’t look because she also can’t carry it all. If you’re tired, imagine how tired she is.”

He had a point.

“What you need is a break. I’m glad you chose to come here to do it.”

In a way, she was too.

“I know what we can all do,” he offered.

She glanced over.

“What?”

He went there.

“How about later, tonight, we all get together and work on that castle shit—because that’s what it is. A never-ending pile of shit that I can’t get away from because my wife is absolutely bonkers.”

There was laughter from her, and from behind him.

“I can hear you, Fineas,” Gabby admitted. “So either walk faster or talk quieter.”

He winked at Elizabeth.