♣ CHAPTER 37 ♣
Liam and Tina sat quietly at the small table. The air between them was heavy. Liam leaned forward slowly.
"Tina, do you have a picture of Raymond?"
Tina frowned. "Why?"
"Just show me. Please," Liam said.
She reached into her phone, opened her gallery, and tapped a photo. She turned it to face him. Liam stared at it for a long second. His heart skipped.
"No," he whispered.
"What?" Tina asked.
"This... this is Clark," Liam said.
Tina blinked. "What are you talking about?"
Liam grabbed the phone. "Tina, this is not Raymond. His real name is Clark. He changed his identity. This is the same man William's been hunting for years."
Tina's mouth parted. "What? You're joking."
"I wish I was," Liam said. "But this is him. This is the bastard who tried to ruin William's family. And now… he's using you."
"No," Tina said slowly. "He wouldn't…"
"He would," Liam snapped. "He's smart. He's dangerous. And he's playing a long game. You said he's been acting strange. Disappearing. Taking calls. Hiding things."
Tina swallowed. "I thought I was being paranoid."
"You were right to be suspicious," Liam said. "He's using you to get close to Kate. To William. You're Kate's best friend. That's why he chose you."
Tina covered her mouth. "Oh my God."
"We need to catch him," Liam said. "You and me."
Tina looked at him. "You really want to do this?"
"I have to," Liam said. "But I also need to tell William."
"Do it," Tina said. "And Liam… be careful."
---
Meanwhile, William parked the black SUV deep in the hills, far away from Greensville. The cabin was silent. Isolated. Kate stepped out, folding her arms.
"You brought me to the middle of nowhere," she said.
"It's for your safety," William said.
"You could've told me," Kate said, annoyed. "You just said we were going out for a while."
"I didn't want to argue," William said. "Clark is too close. I won't take chances."
"You can't lock me away like this," Kate said.
"I'm not locking you away," he said. "I'm protecting you."
Kate turned sharply. "And who protects me from you?"
William looked hurt. "What does that mean?"
"It means," she said, "every time we get close, you pull back. You hide. You pretend you don't care."
"I care too much," William said. "That's the problem."
Kate stared at him. "Then say it."
William stepped closer. "You want the truth? I think about you day and night. I worry about you. I get scared just imagining something happening to you."
Kate's eyes softened. "Then stop running."
"I don't know how to be soft, Kate," he said. "I've only known how to fight. How to win."
"Well, maybe it's time to learn something new," she whispered.
William reached out, gently touching her hand. "I don't want to lose you."
"Then don't," she said.
For the first time in days, they stood still. Breathing. Feeling. No more pretending.
---
Back at Dray Corp, Liam burst into William's office. William looked up sharply.
"What is it?" he asked.
Liam didn't waste time. "Raymond is Clark."
William froze. "What?"
"He changed his name. Changed his life. That's how he's been hiding all these years."
William stood slowly. "You're sure?"
"I saw his picture. Tina showed me. It's him."
William clenched his jaw. "He came back as someone else… clever bastard."
"And he's dating Tina," Liam added. "Kate's best friend."
William's eyes darkened. "So that's how he planned it. Getting close from inside."
"Exactly," Liam said. "He's been working with Carlos too. I saw them together."
"This means war," William said. "They're coming for everything."
"Me and Tina already have a plan to catch him," Liam said. "But we'll need your help."
William nodded. "We hit back. No mercy."
"Good," Liam said. "Because if we wait, they'll strike first."
William's voice turned cold. "This time, Clark doesn't walk away."
Tina walked out of her apartment and stood near the balcony, her phone trembling in her hand. Her heart hadn't stopped racing since Liam left. She scrolled down and tapped on Kate's name.
"Pick up, Kate, please," she muttered.
The line clicked.
"Hey, Tina, are you okay?" Kate's voice came through, calm and sweet.
"No, Kate. I'm not okay," Tina said, her voice shaky.
"What's wrong? Talk to me."
"It's Raymond," Tina said.
Kate went quiet. "What about him?"
"He's not who he says he is. His real name is Clark."
There was silence. Then Kate said, "Clark? The Clark? William's enemy?"
"Yes, the one who tried to destroy William and his family. That Clark," Tina said.
Kate gasped. "You're not serious."
"I am," Tina said. "Liam just told me. He saw the picture. He recognized him. He said William's been looking for him for years."
Kate took a deep breath. "So all this time, he was using you?"
Tina's eyes watered. "Looks like it. The late calls. The disappearances. Everything makes sense now."
Kate's voice hardened. "I swear, Tina, if I ever see that bastard face to face, I'll smack his stupid head. I swear I will."
Tina let out a half-laugh. "You and me both."
"I can't believe this," Kate said. "He's using you to get to us. To get to William."
"Yeah. Liam said the same thing. That I'm the weak point."
"You're not weak," Kate said. "He's just evil."
Tina nodded slowly. "We're planning something. Me and Liam. But I just needed to tell you first."
"I'm glad you did," Kate said. "I love you, Tina."
"I love you too," Tina whispered, wiping her tears.
"Just promise me you'll be careful," Kate added.
"I will. I promise."
---
Later that night, William sat on the couch near the fireplace in the cabin. Kate walked in slowly, holding a cup of tea.
"You've been quiet," she said.
"I've been thinking," William replied.
"About Clark?" she asked.
He nodded. "He's closer than I thought."
Kate sat down across from him. "You think Tina's in danger?"
"Maybe," William said. "But she's smart. She's not alone."
"Liam will protect her," Kate said.
William looked at her. "And I'll protect you."
Kate smiled faintly. "You already are."
"I brought you here to keep you away from all this," he said.
Kate leaned forward. "But you also brought me here so you could finally stop running."
William looked into her eyes. "I'm tired of pretending. I feel something when I'm with you. Something I've never felt before."
Kate's breath caught. "Then stop hiding from it."
He reached for her hand. "I want to keep you safe, Kate. Not just from Clark. From everything."
"I'm not made of glass," she said. "You don't need to put me in a cage to protect me."
"I know," he whispered.
"I can fight beside you," she added. "But I need you to trust me."
William nodded slowly. "Then let's fight this together."
---
Back in Greensville, Liam sat in his car, parked outside the dark building. He was watching. Waiting. He had tracked Clark's car to the alley behind Carlos's restaurant. He pulled out his phone and dialed William.
William answered fast. "Liam?"
"He's here. With Carlos again," Liam said.
"Don't confront him," William warned. "We do this right. No mistakes."
"I won't. Just watching."
"Tina's in?" William asked.
"Yes. She's ready."
"Good," William said. "We bring him down, Liam. For good."
"Yes, we will," Liam said. "He messed with the wrong people."
---
Kate sat by the window, staring at the moonlight. William walked over, holding a blanket.
"You cold?" he asked.
She nodded. He wrapped the blanket around her shoulders.
"I talked to Tina," she said.
"I figured," he replied.
"She's scared. But strong," Kate said.
"I know. And she's not alone."
Kate looked at him. "I still want to smack that Clark guy if I ever see him."
William laughed softly. "You'll have to wait in line."
"First Tina. Then me. Then you," she said.
"I'll make sure he answers for everything," William said. "He's done enough."
Kate rested her head on his shoulder. "Let's finish this. Together."
William kissed her forehead gently. "Together."