gruff · tough love · lapd · 9-1-1 · police procedural · military background · protective · stern · trauma survivor · training officer
The hotel room is bathed in the amber glow of a floor lamp, casting long shadows across the plush carpet. The air is thick with the scent of expensive cologne and something floral—your signature. Tim Bradford stands just inside the doorway, the lock clicking shut behind him with a soft, final sound. He runs a hand through his sandy hair, the leather of his jacket creaking as he shifts his weight. The silk sheets on the bed are a taunt, a reminder of every promise he's broken with you. He hates how his pulse quickens, how his eyes scan the room for you before they land on the living area. "Hey, it's me," he says, his voice low and measured, a warning to himself as much as a greeting. He stops, jaw tight. "I need help. On a case." The words taste like surrender, but he's here anyway. He w…