It was two hours to Susan’s estate.
We had the FBI escort, Luca’s security team, and an ard convoy.
It was like we were heads of state, war criminals, or even both.
I was in Tony’s car in the passenger seat - silent and scared.
My hand was on my stomach at sixteen weeks pregnant with my baby, safe inside.
For now.
"This is happening again," I said, my voice sounding hollow. "We’re running again."
"We’re being smart and proactive. That’s not running."
"It sure does feel like running."
Tony’s jaw clenched, and his hands were tight on the steering wheel. "Would you rather stay and wait for them to attack?"
"I’d rather not be in this situation at all."
"Yeah. too." He said dryly.
Susan’s estate appeared before us. It had been rebuilt after the Twelve’s attack.
But it’s different now. Not just rebuilt but fortified with high walls, several guards at gates, and surveillance caras everywhere.
There was a checkpoint at the entrance with the security screening our vehicle, even though they knew us.
"Welco back, Mr. Marvin," the guard said.
Welco back. As if this was normal. Hiding from assassins was just another day to them.
Susan was already waiting at the front door.
I could see Bella beside her, Thomas, and Elliot.
It was a family gathering in protection mode.
Susan hugged imdiately. "You’re safe here. Both of you."
I wanted to believe it. Want to feel safe.
But whenever I felt safe before, it was always temporary.
"How long are we staying?" I asked.
"However long it takes," Tony answered.
That was not an answer, but I knew it was all I would get.
Timothy joined via video conference for an FBI briefing.
"The call was traced to a burner phone. It was purchased with cash, seemingly a dead end."
"Voice analysis?" Tony asked.
"Male, in his 40s to 50s, educated, likely East Coast accent. Consistent with one of Charles’s older students from the ’80s or ’90s."
"How many are we talking about?" Tony’s voice was tight and controlled. "How many students did Charles train?"
"They’re unknown. Charles operated for forty years. They could be dozens or even hundreds."
I felt the chills to my bones. "You said The Twelve were all of them. You said it was over."
Timothy looked uncomfortable. "We thought they were, but we were wrong. Charles was more prolific than we realized. He had cells and multiple training operations. The Twelve were just the most recent."
"So there could be more?" I was already shaking. "Coming for us? For our baby?"
"We’re still investigating and cross-referencing, but Katherine - yes. There could be more."
We were in separate bedrooms as Tony insisted.
"You need your space. Your own room."
I’m grateful, as I needed sowhere that’s mine.
But we’re in the sa house, the sa hallway. This was a proximity-forcing interaction.
We had breakfast together in the dining room since Susan insisted on family als.
We also had dinner, small conversations, just like a normal dostic routine.
It was almost... comfortable and natural.
And it terrified .
Because I could get used to this - living with Tony and being a family.
"Stop it," I told myself at night when I was alone in my room. "This is temporary. Just until the threat is neutralized."
But what if it never was? What if this were permanent?
My phone rang constantly from Pete.
I couldn’t answer because I couldn’t explain where I was and why I disappeared.
Finally, I texted him: "Family ergency. I’m safe and will explain soon."
Pete responded imdiately: "Are you okay? Is the baby okay? Where are you?"
"Can’t explain right now. I’m sorry."
"Mandy misses you, and so do I. Co ho soon."
Ho. He called it ho. The small town, the apartnt, and that life.
That was ho now. Not this fortress, and not hiding with Tony’s family.
But I couldn’t go back. At least not yet, or maybe not ever.
The doctor appointnts were via teledicine. I couldn’t risk leaving the estate.
Dr. Patel was on video looking concerned.
"Your blood pressure is elevated. Are you stressed?"
"I’m in hiding from people trying to kill . Yes, I’m stressed."
"Katherine, stress isn’t good for the baby. You need to stay calm-"
"How exactly do I stay calm? I’m being hunted, and my daughter is being targeted before she’s even born."
Dr. Patel sighs. "Maybe therapy? Soone to talk to?"
After my session, I spoke with Dr. Nina Cole, and she agreed to video sessions from our old sessions months ago.
"Katherine, you’re in survival mode again. We need to address your PTSD."
"I don’t have ti for PTSD. I’m pregnant and being hunted."
"That’s exactly when you need therapy most. You’re reverting to trauma responses. Fight or flight. Hypervigilance. It’s not healthy for you or the baby."
"What choice do I have?"
"You always have a choice. Even in impossible situations."
But I didn’t feel like I had choices. I felt like I was trapped... again.
It was eighteen weeks for my special ultrasound.
The technician brought it to the estate. Security had cleared him and had his background checked.
Tony and I were together in the dical room that Susan had set up.
Our daughter was on the screen, bigger and clearly defined. She was now recognizable as human, sucking her thumb, moving, and being active.
"She’s beautiful," Tony whispered.
She was perfect.
"What should we na her?" I asked.
I hadn’t thought about it as I was too focused on survival.
"Can we think about it together?"
"Okay."
Late that night, I couldn’t sleep. The baby was kicking constantly.
I wandered through the mansion. It had twenty rooms with endless hallways.
I found Tony in the library, reading or pretending to.
"Can’t sleep?" he asked.
"No, baby’s active and she’s been kicking constantly."
"Can I...?"
I should say no, maintain our boundaries.
But I sat beside him instead, and he put his hand on my stomach.
And I didn’t know if it was a feeling for sothing else I wasn’t ready to address yet.
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