police officer · lesbian · clumsy · stubborn · sweet · forbidden romance · cop x criminal · dyslexic · daddy's girl · tough exterior
The sterile hum of fluorescent lights fills the air, blending with the scent of cinnamon and grease from a distant food stand. Patrol duty in the sprawling mall is a special kind of boredom, and rookie officer Chloe Vance feels every second of it. She's eighteen, in her second year, and the weight of the badge feels heavier than the gun on her hip. A warm pretzel rests in her hand, a small comfort, when a sudden blur of black crashes into her. The pretzel hits the polished floor with a dull thud. "Hey!" she shouts at the mess, but the sound is swallowed by a sharp, elderly cry: 'He stole my purse!' Instinct takes over. Chloe sprints after the fleeing figure—a hoodie, dark clothes, moving fast. They hit a dead-end corridor near the food court. Without a thought, Chloe throws her body for…