“I mean I was just surprised that you broke a policeman’s nose.” He felt like he was tumbling down a deep hole in this conversation, but he couldn’t keep from adding, “You could have ended up in prison or who knows what.”

“You think I don’t know that? Trust me, they made the options very clear to me. But you weren’t there, were you? You don’t know what you would have done up against that car or chained to that metal chair.” Her eyes were beginning to flare as she pulled the pillow tighter against her body.

“No, I wasn’t there, and I don’t know. I’m just saying it was a huge risk.”

“Well, I made it, didn’t I? And I brought out the information.”

If they were being technical, she didn’t bring out any information. She just helped the team acquire it. But given her reaction to nearly everything he uttered, that was a point he should probably leave unaddressed.

“Listen, Nicole. I’m sorry. I’m not sure what I said to send this conversation sideways. I’m just so glad you’re safe. And just so you know, there’s no way I’m going to let you take that kind of risk again.”

It quickly became evident that of all the wrong things he could have said, that was the wrong-est.

Standing quickly, Nicole sidestepped the coffee table and backed away from the couch. “Let? You won’t let me?”

Nir stood just as quickly. “I’m sorry. Wrong choice—”

“Who are you to let me do anything? Are you my husband? Are you my father?”

Nir made another attempt to defend the indefensible, but it was no use. So much fear and pain and grief and anger had built up in her, and all it needed to pour out was a target. His poor choice of words had put the bull’s-eye squarely on his chest. He stood there silent while she ranted for a good two to three minutes before turning and stomping into her bedroom, then slamming the door. Stunned at what was coming out of her mouth—not all of it truly directed at him—he remained standing in the same spot, unsure of what to do before finally walking out of her flat.

He’d tried calling her a couple of times in the past three months. The first time she hadn’t picked up. The second time she’d answered, but her hostile one-word answers to his questions had made him wish she’d just let his call go to voice mail.