The thought of Tahir leaving shouldn’t be a shock. He was clear from the moment we met that he was here to do a job and he would be leaving when it was done. Even if he hadn’t told me, it would be foolish to think a man like him would settle in a place like Bell City.

I wasn’t a fool, yet here I was, shocked to my core at the thought of never seeing him again. Of course, I hadn’t expected to become so attached to him.

Attached wasn’t the right word to ...