"You are now the only witness who has seen Mark. We are responsible for your safety. We will assign someone to protect you, in a way that won''t interfere with your work or personal life," the officer continued.


    Yvonne nodded in understanding.


    For the next week, her hospital room was under constant police guard.


    When it was time for her to be discharged, she was told that a dedicated officer had been assigned to her.


    She never dreamed it would be Bet.


    He walked into the room, silhouetted against the light. His familiar presence, crisp and cool like the evening wind, filled the space. He extended a clean, long-fingered hand. “Hello, Bet Thompson," he said, his expression neutral.


    "Hi, I''m Yvonne Jones," she managed, her voice trembling despite her best efforts.


    Bet withdrew his hand. "Until Mark is apprehended, I will be with you at all times to ensure your safety. I hope this won''t be too much of an inconvenience."


    “No, not at all. Thank you for your help, Officer," Yvonne said, forcing a smile.


    “Have you packed your things? Let''s go," Bet said, his eyes scanning the room andnding on her duffel bag. He picked it up, and Yvonne followed him out of the


    room.


    Yvonne was cleared to return to work, but her amodations had been upgraded from a standard room to a two-bedroom suite.


    Bet meticulously inspected every corner of the room, then stood at the window, surveying the surroundings before turning back to her.


    "Vexel is a dangerous city, and Mark has a lot of power here. If you want to stay alive, you do not leave my sight. Understood?"


    His voice was even, his tone all business. The way he looked at her was formal, distant.


    The most familiar stranger, she thought, a pang of sadness hitting her.


    The doorbell rang.


    Bet opened the door to a young soldier in uniform, who snapped to attention and saluted him.


    "Sir, your things."


    "Thank you," Bet said, taking the duffel bag and carrying it into his room.


    The young soldier lingered at the door. Yvonne smiled and invited him in, offering him a bottle of water from the fridge.


    He was chatty-Bet''s aide-de-camp, here to deliver a change of clothes and toiletries.


    "I thought you were police officers," Yvonne asked, feigning ignorance.


    "We''re military. The case is big enough that they called us in for support," he exined.


    "Yourmander is such a high-ranking officer. Why would he be assigned to protect me?" Yvonne asked her eyes wide with innocent curiosity


    "Well, Colonel Thompson messed up. He went off-script during thest raid on Mark, got himself three days in the brig, and then got reassigned to your protection detail." The soldier added But don''t worry, He might look like a pretty boy but he''s the topbatant in the entire armed forces."


    Bet emerged from his room just in time to see his aide happily chatting with Yvonne.


    energy


    "Simon," he said, leaning against the wall, his gaze cool and deep. "You seem to have a lot of excess ener Starting tomorrow, you can add a five kilometer armed run to your morning routine."


    Simon''s face fell. "Sir, I''ve delivered your things, so I''ll be heading back now," he said, practically sprinting out the door.