Two days ago, I arrived in Katherine’s town.
I didn’t co alone; I brought Luca and three of his best people, along with an FBI consultant Timothy recomnded.
We set up a command center in a rented house two miles from Katherine’s apartnt, using surveillance equipnt, weapons, and everything we needed.
The official mission was to track Hassan Patton and prevent him from attacking Katherine or Elliot.
And my unofficial mission was to watch Katherine from a distance and make sure she was okay.
Even though she didn’t want there.
"Hassan Patton’s been here six weeks," the FBI consultant reported. Her na is Agent Naomi Mills, and she was efficient and professional at her job. "He’s been watching Katherine and Elliot, docunting their routines and planning."
"We take him before he strikes," I said.
"It’s complicated," Mills cautioned. "We need evidence. We need to catch him in the act for prosecution; otherwise, a good lawyer will get him out on bail."
"Then we catch him in the act before he hurts anyone."
Luca was reviewing surveillance footage, which showed Hassan’s movents, patterns, and locations.
"He’s careful. His military training shows that he knows how to avoid caras and stay invisible."
"Nobody’s invisible forever," I muttered.
I couldn’t stop myself.
I pulled up the surveillance feed on Katherine’s apartnt.
I knew I shouldn’t be watching and should focus on Hassan, but there she was - getting ready for sothing with her hair down and makeup on.
That green dress. The one I bought her; she wore it on one of our dates.
She’s wearing it for him. Pete Anderson, her high school boyfriend, was a safe choice.
It felt like soone was ripping my heart out.
"You okay, Marvin?" Luca asked quietly.
"Fine. Focus on Hassan."
"You’re watching her."
"I said I’m fine."
But I knew I was not. I was dying inside watching the woman I love get ready for a date with soone else.
They left her apartnt together. Pete picked her up and opened her car door - the perfect gentleman.
I followed in the surveillance van, keeping my distance professionally.
They go to an Italian restaurant downtown. It was pretty small, seeming intimate and romantic.
I parked across the street and watched through the window.
Katherine was smiling, talking, and laughing at sothing Pete was saying.
She looked happy, relaxed, and felt safe.
Everything I couldn’t give her.
"She’s moving on," I said, my voice hollow. "Like I told her to."
Luca was beside . "You should go in there. Interrupt and claim her."
"She doesn’t want . She made that clear."
"Did she? Or was she trying to convince herself she didn’t?"
"What’s the difference?"
"The difference is you’re sitting in a van watching her date another man instead of fighting for her."
I want to. God, I want to. Walk in there, pull her away, and remind her she’s mine.
But I promised to give her space and respect her choice.
Even if it killed .
Two hours later, the dinner ended.
Pete paid, they left, and he drove her ho.
I followed, couldn’t help it.
He walked her to her door. They were talking, and she was smiling politely.
Then Pete leaned in, attempting to kiss her.
I was out of the van before I could even think. Moving and ready to intervene.
But Katherine turns her head, and Pete’s lips land on her cheek, not her lips.
She was rejecting him.
I stopped, hidden in shadows... watching.
Relief flooded through . She’s not ready. Not for Pete. Not for anyone but .
And I thought that maybe - just maybe - she still loves too.
Pete left disappointed, and Katherine went inside alone.
I stood in the parking lot, watching her window light up and wanting to go to her.
But I don’t, because I promised.
Back at the command center, 2 AM. I was reviewing Hassan’s patterns.
An alert movent was detected.
"Hassan just left his location," Mills reported. "Heading toward Katherine’s neighborhood."
I was instantly alert. "How close?"
"Two blocks. Moving directly toward her building."
"Everyone up. Move now! We intercept before he reaches her."
Luca was already gearing up. "You think he’s making his move?"
"I don’t know, but we’re not taking chances."
We positioned strategically. Katherine’s building was in sight.
Hassan was approaching casually as if he belonged there. But I saw it: the way he was scanning, assessing with a professional-grade cara in hand, taking photos of Katherine’s door, her windows, her car. Everything.
Planning his attack and docunting his target.
"We take him," I ordered quietly. "Clean and quiet. No shots fired. I can’t risk Katherine hearing."
Luca nodded. "On your mark."
I waited until Hassan was focused on photographing Katherine’s window.
"Now."
We moved as one in a professionally coordinated manner.
Hassan didn’t see us coming until it was too late.
I tackled him from behind, my hand over his mouth and weapon pressed to his back.
He struggled strongly since he was trained, but he was outnumbered.
Luca secured his arms. Mills disard him, took the cara, and his phone.
"Hassan Patton. You’re under arrest."
He was fighting and trying to scream, but we’ve got him controlled.
Mills was reading rights, collecting evidence, and planning docunts he had in his jacket.
"This is enough," she confird. "Attempted murder, stalking, and conspiracy. He’s going away for life."
We got him to the van, restraining him, but he was furious.
"You can’t protect her forever," Hassan spat. "There are others more like . The Marvin family destroyed too many families. Soone will always co for revenge."
"That was my father’s world, not mine. Your revenge is pointless."
"Not pointless but painful. I wanted you to suffer as I suffered. Losing everyone you love. Watching them die because of what your family did."
His voice was raw and bitter. Twenty years of hatred pouring out.
"Thomas Marvin killed my brother twenty years ago over a territory dispute. Shot him in the street like a dog. I swore revenge."
"So you target an innocent student and a woman who had nothing to do with it?"
"They’re connected to Marvin’s family. An eye for an eye and pain for pain."
I stared at him and realized this cycle would never end.
My father’s sins, his father’s sins before that, and generations of violence and revenge.
How many Hassan Pattons are out there? Waiting, planning, or holding grudges that span for decades?
We delivered Hassan to the FBI custody while Timothy coordinated the transfer.
"He’ll go to prison. Life sentence minimum. It’s over."
But was it?
Hassan’s words echo. "There are others."
How many more enemies were out there?
How many more threats to Katherine? To Elliot? To anyone I love?
By 4 AM, I was standing outside Katherine’s building.
Hassan was arrested; the threat has been neutralized; our mission was accomplished.
I should leave. Let the FBI inform her officially. Let her think she’s safe now.
But her lights were on, aning she was awake.
She probably saw the photos Hassan left and was probably terrified.
"I should go," I told Luca. "Let her live her life."
"You’ve been watching her for three days. Saw her date another man, which nearly broke you. And you’re going to just leave?"
"She asked for space."
"And you gave it. But Tony, that woman is still in love with you. I saw her face when Pete tried to kiss her. She’s not over you."
"Doesn’t matter. She chose safety and chose her brother. I respect that."
"Do you? Or are you just too scared to fight for her?"
The accusation stung because it’s true.
I knew I was terrified of rejection. Of her confirming that it’s really over.
Three months without her nearly destroyed . Losing her permanently might actually kill .
Katherine’s door opens.
She stepped out to look around as if sensing sothing.
Our eyes t even in the darkness, across the parking lot.
"Tony?"
Her voice was shocked, confused, hurt, and hopeful. All at once.
I stepped into the light to let her see clearly.
"Hassan Patton’s been arrested. You’re safe, and Elliot’s safe."
She paused for a long ti, then said. "You... you’ve been here. This whole ti?"
"Three days. Watching and protecting. Making sure he didn’t hurt you."
The silence that ensued was heavy and charged.
"You should have told ."
"You asked for space, and I gave it. But I couldn’t let you die for that space."
She was crying now, and I could see it even from where I stood.
"Co inside," she said, her voice broken. "We need to talk."
I looked at Luca. He nodded. "Go. We’ll finish up here."
I crossed the parking lot, and every step felt monuntal.
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