"Don't Leave Me" from Glory in Death by J.D Robb | Noticeable Scenes

This was originally part of my review for the book, but I've decided that scenes that truly stood out to me in books will be featured separately on this new blog, because they deserve the spotlight. 

Kicking off this new feature is a scene from J.D Robb's Glory in Death.  

Glory in Death by J.D. Robb

In Death #2

First Published: 1995

Paperback

Adult, Mystery

Rating:

It is 2058, New York City. In a world where technology can reveal the darkest of secrets, there's only one place to hide a crime of passion-in the heart.

Even in the mid-twenty-first century, during a time when genetic testing usually weeds out any violent hereditary traits before they can take over, murder still happens. The first victim is found lying on a sidewalk in the rain. The second is murdered in her own apartment building. Police Lieutenant Eve Dallas has no problem finding connections between the two crimes. Both victims were beautiful and highly successful women. Their glamorous lives and loves were the talk of the city. And their intimate relations with men of great power and wealth provide Eve with a long list of suspects -- including her own lover, Roarke.

In this scene, the main character Eve Dallas comes to question her boyfriend Roarke in the middle of the night about his connections to the second murder victim. They are in the middle of a huge fight, and this questioning doesn't really go well.

As Eve turns to leave, she ends up crying, asking Roarke not to do it. Not to leave her.

(I've read the book so long ago that I don't recall the specific wording, but that's the gist of it).

When this happened, when Eve cried, I wanted to break down right there in my room. I had to stop reading, to close the book and take deep breaths to compose myself before I could safely continue. And even then, my eyes teared up again almost immediately.

My heart was clenching and there was no overcoming it. 

The power in this scene is that it's not a tragic scene. It doesn't need to be to involve all your feels and completely wreck you. 

The magic of it lies in seeing such a strong, fearless and fearsome woman just... break down. Break down because the thing that scares her the most is being alone again, when just a few months ago she didn't really know anything other than being alone.

It's... quite frighting, as Roarke said.

And moving.