Updated Feb 25, 2026 • ~5 min read
POV: Gabi
One year after Brandon’s conviction.
Life is good.
Great, even.
Business thriving.
Relationship solid.
Healing progressing.
Then my phone rings.
Agent Morrison.
“Ms. Moreno, I need to inform you of something.”
My stomach drops.
“What?”
“Brandon Vale is being released early. Good behavior. Time served.”
The room tilts.
“He got six years. It’s only been one.”
“Federal sentencing guidelines allow for early release with good behavior. He qualifies.”
“When?”
“Next week.”
“Does he know where I live?”
“We’ve restricted his access to your information. But I can’t guarantee he won’t find you.”
Panic rises.
“What do I do?”
“File for a restraining order. Stay vigilant. If he contacts you, call us immediately.”
I hang up.
Call Nix.
“Brandon’s getting out.”
NIX
I’m at her apartment in fifteen minutes.
She’s pacing.
Panicking.
“He’s going to come after me.”
“We don’t know that.”
“He blamed me in court. Said I ruined his life. Of course he’s coming after me.”
She’s not wrong.
“Okay. Here’s what we do. Restraining order. Security system. You don’t go anywhere alone.”
“I can’t live like this. In fear.”
“You won’t have to. We’ll handle it.”
“What if handling it isn’t enough?”
I pull her close.
“Then I’ll protect you. I promise.”
GABI
The restraining order is filed.
500 feet. No contact. No communication.
If he violates it, he goes back to prison.
Nix installs security cameras at my apartment.
New locks. Alarm system.
“This is extreme,” I say.
“This is necessary.”
He stays over every night now.
Not romantic.
Protective.
A week passes.
No sign of Brandon.
I start to relax.
Maybe he won’t come.
Maybe he’s moved on.
Then I get a text from an unknown number.
Unknown: You ruined my life. Turnabout is fair play.
My blood runs cold.
I show Nix.
“That’s him.”
“We don’t know for sure—”
“It’s him. I know it.”
Nix calls Agent Morrison.
Reports the text.
“We’ll look into it. In the meantime, save everything. Don’t respond.”
That night, I can’t sleep.
Every sound makes me jump.
Nix holds me.
“I’ve got you.”
“What if he hurts you? To get to me?”
“He won’t.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Gabi, I’m a trained investigator. Former cop. I can handle Brandon Vale.”
“He’s desperate. Desperate people do crazy things.”
“Then we stay smart. Stay alert. And we don’t let him win.”
The next morning, my car has a flat tire.
Nix inspects it.
“It’s been slashed.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive. Clean cut. Deliberate.”
He calls the police.
They file a report.
Add it to the restraining order violation case.
“We’re building a file,” the officer says. “If he keeps this up, we’ll have enough to arrest him.”
“IF he keeps it up?” I ask. “What if he escalates?”
“We’ll increase patrols in your area. But Ms. Moreno, you might want to consider staying elsewhere. Until we locate him.”
Nix speaks up.
“She’ll stay with me.”
NIX
Gabi moves into my place.
Temporarily.
For safety.
She brings a suitcase.
Her camera equipment.
Essentials.
“This is not how I imagined moving in together,” she says.
“We’ll do it properly later. When Brandon’s back in prison.”
“IF he goes back.”
“When. Not if.”
I’m more worried than I’m letting on.
Brandon is smart.
And motivated.
Bad combination.
I increase security.
Cameras outside my building.
Extra locks.
And I start carrying my gun again.
Three days pass.
Nothing.
Then Gabi gets a call.
Riley.
“Someone broke into the studio.”
We rush over.
The place is trashed.
Equipment smashed.
Files scattered.
And spray-painted on the wall:
LIAR
“He’s trying to destroy my business,” Gabi whispers.
“He’s trying to scare you.”
“It’s working.”
Police come.
More reports.
More documentation.
“We have officers looking for Mr. Vale. He’s violated parole and the restraining order. When we find him, he’s going back to prison.”
“When you find him?” Gabi asks. “What about NOW? While he’s terrorizing me?”
“We’re doing everything we can, Ms. Moreno.”
It’s not enough.
GABI
That night, I break down.
“I can’t do this anymore.”
Nix holds me while I cry.
“We’ll get through this.”
“How? He’s out there. Stalking me. Destroying everything I’ve built.”
“Temporarily. The police will find him.”
“And if they don’t?”
“Then I will.”
I pull back.
Look at him.
“What does that mean?”
“It means I’m a PI. Finding people is what I do.”
“Nix, you can’t—”
“I can. And I will. He’s not going to terrorize you anymore.”
“What if you get hurt?”
“I won’t.”
“Promise me. Promise you won’t do anything dangerous.”
He hesitates.
“Nix. Promise.”
“I promise I’ll be careful. But Gabi, I can’t stand by while he hurts you.”
“I know. But I can’t lose you. You’re the best thing in my life.”
He cups my face.
“You’re not going to lose me. And you’re not going to lose your business. Or your safety. I’m going to end this.”
END OF CHAPTER 25
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