After several weeks, Harvey had fully acclimated to his new position. The threat was still present, but the security systems in place helped him feel more at ease on the property, knowing that Donna was safe at home.

Louis, of course, was still a pain in the ass, but he enjoyed driving him crazy with childish remarks, a payback for not wanting to tell the redhead the true extent of the danger.

He had also grown closer to Mike, who, despite his lack of experience, possessed a remarkable intelligence. The contrast between his thirst for knowledge and his lost puppy demeanor amused Harvey more than he cared to admit, seeing how out of place Mike was in this world that seemed too big for him.

The driver hung on to every word Harvey said, his eyes shining with insatiable curiosity. Mike's lack of an authoritative figure in his life likely played a role in this. There had been no role models or examples for him to follow, hardly anyone to guide him. So naturally, Mike had been drawn to Harvey like a magnet.

And the fact that Harvey didn't have to repeat himself was one of the things he appreciated most about the young man. That's how they ended up in the garage, a flashlight and a mirror in hand, inspecting the underside of the car.

"Make sure to check absolutely everywhere. Look for anything that seems out of the ordinary," he explained, his voice low but authoritative.

Mike furrowed his brows, focusing intently on the mirror he passed under the vehicle. "What exactly are we looking for?"

The bodyguard, still impassive, answered after a small, dramatic pause: "A bomb."

The young man whipped around so fast he could have twisted his neck. His eyes were wide with panic, and his mouth opened, struggling to find words. Harvey burst out laughing at his palpable terror.

"Relax, I already checked before you got here," he teased, savoring the effect of his joke.

Mike let out a breath, still shaken. "That wasn't your best joke."

"Shut up, I'm hilarious," He shot back. "Seriously though, it's something you need to know how to do, Mike. I won't be here forever."

The driver raised an eyebrow. "I thought things were better between you and Donna."

"Doesn't matter. I'm here for a reason. Once the threat is dealt with, I'll be gone." His tone left little room for argument, and the words filled the space with an uncomfortable tension.

Mike didn't reply immediately, his gaze drifting off into the distance. Harvey could almost see the gears turning in his head, guessing the flood of thoughts behind the unusual silence.

The Marine narrowed his eyes, probing his behavior. "What?" he asked, sounding suspicious.

"Nothing, it's just…" Mike hesitated, taking a deep breath before shaking his head. "Rachel told me something, and I thought… Never mind."

"What did Rachel tell you?"

"It's nothing, I—"

"Mike," Harvey growled, using that warning tone he knew intimidated the young man.

With a sigh, realizing he couldn't avoid the interrogation, he finally spilled. "She thinks Donna is… more relaxed since you've been around. Less stressed, more smiling. I think she likes you."

A heavy silence fell between them after that revelation. Harvey froze for a moment, digesting Mike's words. He tried to mask his surprise behind his usual stoic expression, but the slight furrowing of his brows betrayed his unease.

He had always been good at compartmentalizing his emotions, never mixing business with personal matters. However, hearing that his presence could actually influence Donna's behavior... He hadn't expected that, and he wasn't quite sure what to make of the information.

"She really said that?" he finally asked, his usual arrogance replaced by a more subdued tone.

Mike nodded slowly. "She even said she saw Donna laugh—a real laugh, not just a polite one. Other than with Max, she never really laughs since... you know."

The bodyguard gave a brief nod, fully understanding what Mike was implying, but he remained silent. If Rachel hadn't told him, he never would've believed that his presence could affect Donna's attitude in any way. Sure, they flirted occasionally, but most of the time, they were at odds, bickering. They spent more time exchanging barbs than sharing genuine smiles. So, why would his presence have any effect on Donna? It was incomprehensible to him.

Harvey glanced out through the car's tinted window as Mike slowed down in front of the convention center. A large crowd of fans who hadn't managed to get tickets had gathered at the entrance. Dozens of people, phones in hand, trying to snap a photo of the redhead. The frenzied energy of the mass crushed against the security barriers was palpable, and Harvey didn't like it one bit.

"This is ridiculous," he hissed through clenched teeth. "The organizers clearly didn't arrange enough security."

Donna smiled at Harvey through the rearview mirror. "It'll be fine, Gunny. I'm used to this."

Once she turned her gaze back to the outside, Louis shot Harvey an exasperated look, which he royally ignored. It was bad enough that Donna wasn't aware of the full extent of the threat, he wasn't about to make things easier for her during events like this.

"Always so dramatic, perfect boy," the manager said mockingly.

"I've been in less tense situations in war zones," he muttered, his eyes still glued to the chaos outside.

When Mike finally stopped the car, Harvey instructed him to keep his phone on hand and be ready at all times, having a bad feeling about this.

He then stepped out of the car, instinctively scanning the surroundings, before opening the rear door for Donna. There were a few security guards doing their best to keep order, but not nearly enough for his liking. Far too much unmonitored space, far too many opportunities for something to go wrong. Every suspicious movement set him on edge, and despite the beaming smiles and waves Donna directed at her fans, he felt her tension as well, moving closer and closer to him, until she was practically pressed against him.

After pushing through the dense crowd, they finally managed to enter the building, where the atmosphere was slightly calmer, despite technicians and organizers rushing about.

They reached the dressing room, furnished with a sofa, a lit-up mirror, and water bottles set neatly on a small table. Harvey opened the door, quickly scanning the room before allowing Donna inside.

"I'm going to do a quick sweep of the building. Louis will stay with you," he told Donna, then turned to the manager. "Lock the door once I leave."

She thanked him with a smile before moving toward the large bouquet of flowers near the vanity.

Harvey lingered for a second longer, hesitating, before closing the door behind him. Once he heard the lock click, he began patrolling the hallways, checking entry points, emergency exits, and the placement of surveillance cameras. He sent a text to Mike, instructing him to move the car to a back alley behind the building for a quick and discreet exit.

On his way back, Harvey received a text from Louis: "Emergency, get your ass back here!"

The Marine cursed under his breath, his bad feeling confirmed, and hurried back to the dressing room. When Louis opened the door, the first thing Harvey noticed was Donna's expression. He had left her only minutes ago, cheerful and relaxed, but now she was pale, her breathing shallow, and her eyes filled with tears.

"What's going on?" Harvey asked, his words sharp as a blade.

The manager handed him a piece of paper, his face tense. "Donna found this in the bouquet."

Harvey didn't need to open the paper to know what it was. "The same guy again?" he growled, his jaw tightening as he read the latest letter.

"Donna, my hands will be on you soon. You're going to learn to love it."

At that moment, Donna snapped out of her stupor, her eyes widening in fear. She seemed to be trying to make sense of it all, to piece things together: "What do you mean the same guy?"

"We may have received other letters like this..." Louis confessed while Harvey paced around the room like a caged lion.

"May have?" she pressed, feeling anger rise within her.

"Donna, listen—"

"Tell me the truth, now!" Her voice cracked, betraying the panic she was trying to contain.

Louis looked down, aware that the truth wouldn't sit well with her. "We've been getting these kinds of letters for a few weeks... months."

The realization hit Donna like a ton of bricks. "Oh my God… That's why you had me hire Harvey," she murmured, putting the pieces together. "Was it the same person who followed us in the car?"

"Probably," Harvey replied, his tone grim.

"We don't know that, let's not panic!" Louis exclaimed, clearly panicking.

But Donna fixed him with a devastatingly intense look, her gaze full of accusation. "What else are you hiding from me?"

"Donna—"

Knowing Louis, she was sure he'd sugarcoat things, take a roundabout way, and ultimately avoid telling her the truth. "Harvey, what else?" she asked, turning to him. That was the thing with military men, straight to the point. And she needed that right now.

Harvey finally stopped pacing and locked eyes with her. "Someone broke into the house," he admitted.

"WHAT?!" she shouted, her voice filled with a mix of fear and anger. She immediately turned to Louis, her expression one of deep betrayal, as if each lie was another blow. "Someone broke into my house? While Max was there?!"

"Max is fine, sweetheart, she's safe," the manager tried to reassure her.

But nothing reassured Donna. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, then another. She needed to regain control, to find her calm again. After a long moment, she opened her eyes and, in a more controlled voice, asked, "What do we do now?"

"We should leave," Harvey replied bluntly.

"You're joking, right? Do you know how long people have had their tickets? They'll riot if we leave!" Louis exclaimed, his eyes wide.

But clearly, the bodyguard didn't care. "I'm sure you'll figure out a way to refund them. We're leaving."

"Hold on! It's up to Donna to decide," Louis retorted, desperate for the young woman to side with him. He crouched down toward her and softened his voice. "What do you want to do, sweetheart?"

.

She remained silent for a moment, her gaze lost in the distance, weighing the pros and cons of the situation. "Can you… Can you give us a minute?"

Harvey let out an irritated sigh but headed for the door anyway, until Donna stopped him.

"No, not you." She turned to Louis, who went pale.

"Donna—"

"Louis, please, just give us a minute. We have a lot to talk about, but this isn't the time or place." Her tone was meant to be reassuring, but everyone could hear the hint of impatience in her voice.

Louis swallowed hard, hesitating for a moment before nodding and leaving the room in silence.

Harvey didn't say anything for a while, waiting for Donna to speak. But several minutes passed, and she was still silent. He watched her, her shoulders slightly slumped under the weight of the shock, her trembling hands resting on her knees, her eyes fixed on the floor as if trying to find answers there. Harvey wasn't known for being good at comforting people, gentle gestures and soothing words didn't come naturally to him. So, he decided just to be there, hoping Mike had been right earlier, that his mere presence would be enough to calm her.

He dragged a chair in front of her, sat down straddling it, his arms resting nonchalantly on the backrest. She leaned toward him immediately, like a compass needle drawn to the north, and placed her hands on his arms, like she needed to make sure he was really there. He could feel the slight pressure of her fingers, as though she was clinging to something solid. And today, it seemed, she had decided that he would be her rock.

After several minutes of silence, Donna finally spoke, her voice weak, almost broken. "Is it safe?"

Harvey frowned, unsure of what she meant. She raised her head slightly, her eyes still shining with anxiety as they met his. "The house. Is it safe now?"

He nodded immediately. "The house is a fortress. You're safe. Max is safe," he emphasized, knowing that for Donna, nothing was more important than her daughter.

The redhead closed her eyes for a moment, trying to hold onto his words. He could see her lips tremble slightly, a sign of the internal struggle she was fighting. "He's here, isn't he?"

"It's a possibility," Harvey admitted, tense at the thought that this man could be so close to them right now.

Donna took a deep breath, as though a decision was forming within her. "We're staying."

Harvey stared at her, incredulous. "What? I just told you he might be here."

She turned her eyes toward him, and despite the fear still evident in her gaze, there was a determination there too. "You know who else is here? You."

He felt his heart tighten, an unusual sensation for him, as he realized for the first time that Donna had placed her trust in him. And that thought filled him with a sense of responsibility, something that went beyond just his job.

"Donna—"

"The day Louis told me about you," she continued, as if he hadn't spoken, "he assured me you were the best. Are you?"

"I am." There wasn't a trace of doubt in his voice.

"Then it doesn't matter whether he's here or not. As long as you stay with me, I'll be fine." She spoke with a fragile conviction, and then her eyes pierced him with a nearly desperate look. "You will stay with me, won't you?"

He felt an unexpected warmth spread through his chest at her words. "Of course," he replied, his voice softer than he intended but just as sincere.

In that suspended moment, Harvey understood that he was no longer just a Marine on a mission or a bodyguard assigned to a celebrity. He had become something more to Donna—not just physical protection but an emotional anchor. And though this new responsibility surprised him, it didn't deter him. Because she truly depended on him now.

The panel had gone off without a hitch. Donna had put her mask back on the second they left the dressing room. She was radiant, answering questions with her usual ease, charming the audience with her humor and warm presence. When the session ended, thunderous applause filled the room, and she stayed on stage, smiling, ready to take photos and sign autographs. It was her habit to remain accessible to her fans, to share a moment after these events.

Harvey stayed in the background, his vigilance heightened by the atmosphere. He didn't like these moments when Donna was so exposed, but this was how she operated, and it was a rule she refused to break.

Still, he couldn't shake a growing tension building in his chest. He watched the crowd with heightened scrutiny. Most of the fans wanting to interact with her were young women or even teenage girls. Excited, nervous, but overall respectful of boundaries. His focus, however, was more on the people at the back, mostly men, watching from a distance. It was this kind of behavior that unsettled him. These weren't people standing back because they were too shy to meet their idol, they were men who had come to watch. Vultures waiting for their prey to weaken so they could strike with their sharp beaks.

Suddenly, a man climbed onto the stage with a blissful grin, getting far too close to Donna for his liking. He stepped forward, ready to intervene, but Donna discreetly raised her hand in his direction, signaling that she could handle it.

Harvey clenched his teeth, feeling his frustration build. Donna believed she could manage, and maybe she could, but Harvey saw threats where she saw admiration. The man hugged her, and every muscle in his body tensed. He was ready to disregard her order and act when the man finally pulled away, still smiling.

As the Marine forced himself to stay put, two more men tried to get on stage, pushing each other in their excitement. Event security reacted just in time, turning them away before they could reach Donna. But that was the alarm bell Harvey was afraid of. The tension escalated, and the crowd became harder to control.

And then everything fell apart.

A group of overexcited fans started pushing their way onto the stage. Harvey saw Donna freeze, her smile disappearing, replaced by a look of panic. The crowd surged around her, and before he could react, she stumbled and fell hard into the pit where the rest of the fans were gathered.

They didn't even realize what they were doing, almost trampling her in their frenzy to get closer, to touch her. Harvey pushed his way through the crowd aggressively, but there were too many, and Donna was on the ground.

Without a second thought, he spotted a fire extinguisher mounted on the wall to his left. He grabbed it, yanked out the safety pin, and pointed the nozzle toward the crowd. A thick cloud of white powder erupted, engulfing the stage in a suffocating mist. Screams echoed, and panic spread in the opposite direction as the group backed away, trying to escape the choking smoke.

Taking advantage of the confusion, Harvey reached Donna, still on the ground. She looked dazed, disoriented, but conscious. He scooped her up quickly, one arm under her legs and the other supporting her back, holding her firmly against him. Her arms instinctively wrapped around his neck, knowing that now that they were together, she was safe.

Wasting no time, he carried her off the stage and headed straight for the emergency exit. He vaguely heard Louis shouting for him to wait, but he ignored it. He knew exactly where the car was, and his route was the quickest. With a swift kick, he opened the door, bursting into a dark, quiet alley where Mike was waiting, the car engine already running.

He managed to open the door and slide into the back seat with Donna still in his arms. Mike sped off as soon as the door slammed shut, and Harvey was finally able to breathe properly. He could feel Donna's trembling body against his, her arms tightly wrapped around his neck as if clinging to the only stable thing in a world that had just flipped upside down. The chaotic scene that had unfolded before his eyes in that crowded room kept replaying in his mind. He was used to dangerous situations, but seeing her like that had stirred a rage in him that he was still struggling to control. His breathing was still heavy, his heart racing, and adrenaline coursed through his body, but he forced himself to stay calm for her.

Harvey glanced down at Donna, still curled up against him, her fingers gripping his shirt tightly. She hadn't spoken a word since they got into the car. She was frozen in that posture, almost like a child seeking shelter after a nightmare. Harvey held her a little tighter, as if to reassure her, whispering soothing words into her ear.

"It's over, you're safe," he murmured, lowering his head to be closer to her. His fingers gently stroked her thigh, through the fabric of her pants, a quiet reminder that she was no longer alone, no longer in danger.

She didn't respond, but her breathing, which had been rapid and uneven, slowly began to calm. Harvey tried to ease her onto the seat next to him so she could rest, but she immediately clung to him, her arms tightening around him.

"Okay, okay, we'll stay like this," he said softly. His hand continued to glide gently over her thigh, a protective, almost unconscious gesture. "I've got you, Donna. I've got you."

Night had started to fall, and a light rain had begun to set in. The rhythmic sound of the windshield wipers and the rain drumming against the car roof added a strange sense of serenity after the chaos.

Mike, focused on the road, glanced occasionally in the rearview mirror. Harvey noticed him nod slightly, as if asking if they were okay, to which he responded with a nod too, signaling that everything was under control. But in truth, he knew nothing was under control. Because as strong and capable as he was, Harvey couldn't control the outside world or the invisible threats lurking around Donna.

But for now, the most important thing was that she was safe. That he and Mike could get her home, back to Max. He didn't yet know how he would handle this situation in the long run, but one thing was certain: he would never let anything like this happen again.