Daniel sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. His long fingers moved with a certain grace, hinting at a hidden depth. “I suppose you’re right. It’s just… my last case, we took risks I didn’t like, and people got hurt. I can’t let that happen again.”

She watched him, noting the subtle signs of stress… the tightness around his eyes, the way his jaw tightened ever so slightly. This glimpse into his past, this vulnerability, both thrilled and terrified her. She wanted to reach out, to comfort him, but held back. Don’t get too close, she reminded herself. You know how that ends.

“We all have our ghosts, Daniel,” she said gently, her voice barely above a whisper. “But we can’t let them paralyze us. This case, this city… they’re counting on us to be brave.”