He had a career to think about. The stakes were so high he could barely wrap his head around the enormity of this moment. He’d spent the past two years striving to prove to himself that he’d made the right choice when he turned down all those high-paying tech job offers in exchange for joining FinCEN. To prove he not only belonged, but that he was an asset. As the lead agent on the most monumental case to hit the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network in years, everything he’d been working toward would be within his reach.

But how was he supposed to just pack up and leave? Even if Dwyer gave him time to tie up loose ends, the idea that in a couple of days he would be forced to say goodbye to Samiah forever sent a shock of panic rioting through him.

He couldn’t do it. Not yet.

“I…uh…I appreciate this vote of confidence, sir, but—” He stopped. Swallowed. “But, it wouldn’t feel right to leave things unfinished here.” Wrenching anguish twisted in his gut. “It may not have the panache of Vegas, but I’ve put too much time and effort into solving this case to just let it go.”

A daunting silence stretched out for several moments before Dwyer said, “You never cease to surprise me, Collins. Or to impress me.”

Daniel huffed out a humorless laugh. “You’re impressed that I turned down a career-changing opportunity?”

“I am. Don’t think I haven’t paid attention to the friendly competition between you and Stewart.”

He wouldn’t describe the pissing contest between himself and Bryce as “friendly,” but cool, cool.

“There’s a healthy rivalry,” Daniel said.

“And you know I’ll likely offer this job to Stewart now that you’ve turned it down, right?”

He bit the inside of his cheek to squelch the litany of profanities on the verge of spilling from his mouth.

“I understand that, sir. Stewart’s a sharp agent. No doubt he’ll thrive in Vegas.”

“The case Stewart’s working right now is as critical as what you’re doing in Austin. The difference between the two of you is that he won’t think twice about jumping ship. A half-dozen commendations look impressive on a résumé, Collins, but you know what also matters? Being able to sleep soundly at night, knowing you did the right thing for the right reasons.”

Daniel slumped against the cool glass window, his eyes falling shut.

He wasn’t doing this for the right reasons. He was doing this because he’d gotten in so deep with Samiah that he had no idea how to get out.

He turned to look out the window; the earlier downpour had dwindled to a light drizzle. A CapMetro bus shrink-wrapped with an advertisement for the Waterloo Music Festival pulled up to the stoplight, a light gray exhaust plume billowing from its tailpipe.