John trailed after her as they exited the 141 base. It wasn't until they arrived at the line of vehicles parked at the compound's boundary that she finally spoke.

"What the hell were you thinking?"

"He was a threat."

"He was meant to be taken into custody," she fired back. "Do you know the meaning of protocol, John?"

"He pulled a knife on one of mine. Protocol ends when my team's safety is on the line."

"You executed him in cold blood—"

"I neutralized a threat." His tone cut through hers like a blade. "And I'd do it again."

"And what about Charlie?"

"Don't." His voice dropped, warning.

"You think this won't come back around? You're seeing my daughter! God forbid, if you're sleeping with her, this will blow our faces. Did you think Commander Shepherd won't rip us out when he finds out?"

"We're not talkin' about her."

"We are now," she said sharply—more mother than handler now. "Because she doesn't know what you do for a living and when she finds out—"

"She won't run," he cut her off.

"You sure about that?" Laswell frowned.

"I didn't take her, Kate. She came to me. I warned her who I was, and she stayed."

A beat of silence.

Then, he added more, "she's not a little girl anymore. And she sure as hell doesn't need permission to decide who she wants to date."

"Then I hope—for your sake—you're ready for what comes next."

"I've been ready since the day we met," he stated.

Laswell crossed arms.

"How long?"

He knew exactly what she was asking.

"Three weeks," he answered straight.

"Three weeks," she repeated as though tasting the words. "How the hell did this happen?"

"It was Soap," he said, his tone matter-of-fact. "He set me up through a dating app. Thought it'd be a laugh."

"Of course," she said, as though the name alone explained everything.

"That's his idea of 'helping.' Didn't ask me and I never asked of this."

"And you went along with it?"

"I wasn't keen on it, no," John admitted. "But I didn't expect to like Charlie as much as I do."

"Well, tough news, John," Laswell said sharply, crossing her arms. "She's not built for this. Not with you."

"What the hell does that mean?" John scowled.

"It means I will not let you drag her into this," Laswell lifted her finger and pointed to the ground as if she was getting straight to the point.

"How do you know?" John challenged her. "Between you and me, we both know this is more complicated than it is now."

She stepped forward, and stopped. She stood inches close to his height, as her face lifted to him.

"Break it off."

"And what if I don't?" John stared at her hard.

"Don't make this ugly, Captain."

"Or else what? Strip me off from the Task Force?"

Her piercing eyes narrowed. "I'm giving you a chance to do the right thing."

John took a step closer, his presence towering. His arms remained crossed, his icy eyes sharp. "The right thing? For who? You? or Charlie?"

"For her," Laswell shoots back. "You think this will end well? You're a soldier, Johnathan. Your lifeline is unpredictable. Anything could happen to you! She doesn't deserve to be dragged into this deep shit."

John tilted his head, his expression darkening. "I know my life better than anyone. And I know what she deserves—better than you, anyways."

"I'm her mother. I know exactly what she needs."

"Do you?" John challenged again. "Because from what I can tell, she's spent most of her life wondering where her mum is. Wondering if her job means more than her child."

Her eyes flared, but John didn't allow her to speak.

"I'm not someone she'll forget about next week," he continued, his voice low but firm. "I've put more time into her than you realize. And I'll be damned if I let her go because you think I'm not good enough."

Laswell stepped back, her expression faltering before hardening again. "You're playing with fire."

"And I'm used to the burn," he talked back. "I won't let her go. Not when I've started building with her."

Kate flinched—barely—but it was enough. The mother in her recoiled, even if the handler in her held steady.

"You're an arrogant sonvabitch, Price. You think you can take her like some—"

"I have taken her," John interrupted sharply. "And I'm keeping her under my watch."

"From what?" Laswell questioned.

"From people like Harkin," he pointed out.

Her expression shifted, confusion flickering across her features. "What does he have to do with this?"

"Plenty," John said, his tone serious. "He's a pawn with ties to Zakharov's network. Harkin may have told Rich about Charlie and my daughter as baits. Maybe to get under my skin, it's why I killed him.

"Charlie came across Harkin before I came into the picture—hell, she didn't know who she was dealing with. He's been trying to worm his way into legitimate circles to cover up his dirty works. God forbid also Zakharov doesn't know about Charlie, but he knew my daughter."

Her brows knitted together. "And how did she got tangled with him?"

"I don't know, maybe through a dating app I'll assume," John explained. "But not by choice, she distanced herself. But Harkin's got a way of making himself a problem. He doesn't let go of her easy."

Laswell ran a hand over her face, visibly trying to process the information.

"I can't believe she didn't tell me," she said to herself than him. "So, what are you? You're her knight in shining armor now?"

"No, but I'm not the type to stand by while she's at risk. I care about her, Kate."

She dropped her hand, and her eyes scrutinized him. "You're serious?"

"Very," John said without hesitation. "I've seen more shit than she has. But I have something good for the first time in a long time. Something I buried deep I didn't think it would catch up to me until now. I'll be damned if I let that go to waste."

"You don't know what she's been through," Laswell said, still frowning. "After her father was killed in active duty—she was a wreck. Therapy, depression, grief... it took her years to get herself together again. And now, this? You?"

"I'm not here to break her," John said firmly, his voice dropping to a near growl. "I'm here to build her up. Do you think I'd let her go through something like that again?"

"You say that now, but what happens when you're on a mission, and she's left waiting? Wondering if she'll get a call that you didn't make it back?"

John paused, biting his bottom lips. He looked away briefly and looked back at Laswell.

"You know me better than this."

"Cut the bullshit," she hissed. "I don't want to go through this again, John. I trust you, and I can't deal with you mingling in her life to where if things go south, Charlie would go back to the bottom.

"As a mother, I have a tough job, but that doesn't mean I'm ignoring my child. Charlie has faced a lot, and she tends to pull away from building connections, choosing isolation instead. I want her to live to where she can thrive and stand on her own, not when she can't make it through another day."

John stared at her.

She inhaled deeply, then exhaled, trying to steady herself before she continued. "Yes, she's inquisitive and quiet, but that's only because she's constantly battling her own demons. Do you remember feeling helpless? I doubt it, because as a mother, I'm torn between wanting to protect her and knowing I can't stand by and watch her drown herself. Not this again." Laswell paused, and she swallowed before raising her backhand to quickly wipe her left eye.

"As your case officer, I order you to break it off." She repeated the last statement, but this time it was more a plea than a command.

His gaze hardened, taking all of her words into his heart.

"No."

"John..." Laswell said before he cut her off.

"You heard me," he said, his tone unwavering. "And before you start throwing in orders, let me make myself clear—you don't dictate part of my life, too."

"I am your superior."

"You might outrank me in the field," he countered. "But when it comes to Charlie? You lost the right to speak on that the second you left her behind. She's mine now. And there's not a damn thing you—or anyone—can do about it."

Her jaw locked.

"Do you now?" she said coolly. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks like I'm the one trying to protect her."

"And you think I'm not?" John said, his eyes burned into hers. "You believe cutting her loose would keep her safe? That if I walk away now, she'll go back to normal like none of this happened?"

He shook his head slowly, the anger twisting deeper.

"No. She'll question everything—what she did wrong, why I left, why someone she liked threw her aside like she didn't matter. And she'll blame herself, even though it's got nothing to do with her. Just like you said she did after her father."

Her expression changed when she processed his words.

"So don't talk to me about protecting and forcing me to break up with her. You've had your way for twenty-three years."

"And what about you?" she snapped. "You think she's safe with you, but when you drag her into your world. She'll see blood on your hands, a kill list longer than my inbox—I trusted you! And now, my daughter is sleeping next to the man, who is also a weapon to handle any works that none couldn't fix or handle." Her voice cracked—not from anger. "She was innocent before you," she said. But even she knew that innocence hadn't lasted long—not after she lost her father. "Now she's compromised. And you've marked her without asking if she was ready!"

Silence stretched and he stepped forward, calm but lethal.

"She was ready."

"Oh, really?" she bit back. "Did you stop to consider what happens when they come after her? What if Zakharov sends someone with a gun to her classroom? When she becomes collateral?"

John didn't blink. He let the silence stretch—it was his turn for her words to settle.

"You may think she's yours, but when the day comes—and it will come—when she ends up hurt, or worse. Don't you dare show up at her funeral and act like you weren't the reason she lost her life."

Tension filled the air between them. He remained still and silent at first.

When he finally spoke, his voice was a chilling whisper.

"I won't attend her funeral," he stated icily. "I'll die before anyone harms her."

He moved closer to her.

"You think I'm blind to the danger? I see it every time I look at her. But I'd prefer to fight by her side than exist in a world where she believes I left her."

Her lips began to part, but he didn't allow her to respond.

"I'll say it again," he said it straight. "I've warned her, and she chose to stay, instead of walking away. Now, moving forward. You don't need to agree. You just need to know."

"Fuck you."

He released a dry laugh. "It's not the first time I've heard you say that."

Laswell shook her head in disbelief, keeping silent, though her jaw clenched as if holding back words.

"Anything else to add?" He asked in his icy tone.

Her jaw was tight, her gaze steely.

"You're holding onto her. When she sees the real you, it'll shatter her."

"You're not wrong," he replied evenly. "She might break, but she'll still have me."

Laswell began to speak, but he raised a hand—not to silence her.

"I've been watching the time run out since the first day I kissed her," he went on. "But the difference between us is that I don't flee from what I want. And you're scared, Kate. Because for once, you can't control the outcome. Can't control her."

Her eyes narrowed, but he continued.

"You need me more than you'll admit," he said, his voice softening. "You need me out there. You need someone to get their hands dirty. And I'll keep doing that. I'll keep being your weapon."

His tone then grew darker.

"But I won't give her up. Not for you. Not for anyone. Even if it costs me."

He walked past her to his truck, opened the driver's side door, and got in without hesitation. Sitting behind the wheel, he rested an elbow on the door and stared through the windshield for a moment. He started the engine and drove away.