NATE'S POV
I had not seen my family in four days.
For the last fucking I was just a Captain obsessed with bringing down the Blackwood network. Now, I was a Captain obsessed with the Blackwood heir, fresh off securing a massive human trafficking bust that had earned me both a commendation and the watchful eye of Internal Affairs. I left the CSI offices under the pretense of finally getting some rest. The truth was, I needed the absolute, mundane anchor of my family dinner. I needed to see Ma, Thomas, and Seanice, people who loved me, who were completely outside the dark orbit of Adrian Blackwood.
I drove to Ma's house, the familiar suburban street a jarring contrast to the docks and the sterile prison corridors. The scent of garlic and simmering sauce hit me the moment I opened the door. It was the scent of safety, warmth, and the life I was fighting to protect.
