"Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor is it experienced by the human community generally. Life is full of risks, and the only way to deal with it is to accept this fact and act accordingly." - W. Edwards Deming

Saint

Watching Veronica drift off to sleep, her head resting against my shoulder, was a strangely intimate moment. Her breathing was soft, and even her long lashes cast delicate shadows on her cheeks. For a moment, the weight of the situation, the fear that had clung to us all evening, seemed to lift. I felt a surge of protectiveness towards her, a fierce desire to keep her safe from the darkness that threatened to engulf her.

Carefully, I shifted her, easing her down onto the bed. She didn't stir, her sleep deep and untroubled. I tucked the covers around her, a small smile touching my lips as I watched her sleep. Then, with a last lingering glance, I left, closing the door softly behind me.

Back in my own suite, I poured myself a stiff drink and settled down at the small desk by the window. The city lights twinkled below, a vast, impersonal expanse that suddenly felt very far away. I opened my laptop, the familiar glow of the screen a welcome distraction. I had work to do, reports to file, leads to follow up on. But my thoughts kept drifting back to Veronica, to the fear in her eyes, the vulnerability she tried so hard to conceal.

I thought about the roses, the deliberate violation of her space, and the chilling message they conveyed. Whoever was behind this was playing a dangerous game, and Veronica was caught in the crosshairs. I had to find out who it was, had to stop them before they could hurt her.

The hours slipped by, the silence of the night punctuated only by the rhythmic tapping of my fingers on the keyboard. Finally, as dawn approached, I closed the laptop, the case files swirling in my head. I was exhausted, but sleep seemed a distant possibility. I went to the small bar in the corner of the room and poured myself another drink, the amber liquid sloshing in the glass. I needed to unwind, to clear my head before I could even think about trying to sleep.

As I sat back down, Daisy padded into the room, tail held high. She jumped gracefully onto my lap, circling once before settling down with a soft purr. I stroked her soft fur, the rhythmic purring a strangely comforting sound.

As I turned away from the bar, a sound pierced the quiet of the suite. A scream, raw and terrified, echoing from the room next door. Veronica.

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I didn't hesitate. I was through the adjoining door in an instant, my heart pounding, my mind racing. I found her thrashing in the bed, her face contorted in fear, her cries echoing in the dimly lit room. Daisy, hot on my heels as I rushed through the door, was hissing and spitting from the foot of the bed, her fur on end, clearly agitated by Veronica's distress.

"Veronica!" I shouted, rushing to her side. "Wake up! It's just a dream."

My voice seemed to cut through the fog of her terror. Her eyes flew open, wide and panicked, but as she focused on me, recognition dawned, and the fear in her eyes began to recede. She was drenched in sweat, her breathing ragged and shallow. She just stared at me, her eyes still filled with a lingering fear.

I sat beside her, taking her hand in mine. It was cold and trembling. "It's okay," I reassured her, my voice gentle but firm. "You were dreaming. You're safe now." I pulled her up into a sitting position, offering her a glass of water from the nightstand. "Here, drink this."

Daisy, sensing the shift in her distress, jumped onto the bed, rubbing against Veronica's leg and purring softly. Veronica reached out and stroked her fur, a small, shaky smile gracing her lips. "Thank you, Saint," she whispered, her voice still trembling slightly. "I'm sorry, it sure am a handful, huh?" she said wryly.

"Don't worry about it," I said, squeezing her hand reassuringly. "I'm here. I won't let anything happen to you." The words were out before I could stop them, a promise born of the fierce protectiveness that had taken root within me. I hesitated for a moment, then added, "Do you want to talk about it?" Sometimes, sharing the nightmare could help lessen its hold.

She shook her head, her gaze drifting to the window. The first rays of dawn were beginning to paint the sky with hues of grey and pink. "No," she murmured, "I… I just want to forget it."

"Okay," I replied, respecting her wishes. I stayed with her for a while longer, just holding her hand, offering silent comfort. The tension in her body slowly began to ease, and her breathing became more regular. Finally, she leaned back against the pillows, her eyes closing. "Thank you, Saint," she whispered again, her voice laced with exhaustion. "You're a lifesaver."

I watched her for a moment, making sure she was truly asleep before quietly slipping out of the room. Back in my own suite, I knew sleep was still a long way off. The image of her terror-stricken face haunted me. I needed to find out who was behind the roses, and I needed to do it fast. Veronica's safety depended on it. As I closed the door to my room, I noticed Daisy lingering by the doorway between our suites, looking back at Veronica's closed door with a soft meow before turning to follow me. Even the cat seemed to understand the shift in the atmosphere. I picked Daisy up, holding her close as I went back to my desk. I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep, not yet. I had to start somewhere. I pulled up the file on the roses, rereading every detail, searching for any clue, any connection that might have been missed. I had a feeling this was just the beginning. I also needed to talk to Marcus. I needed to know if there had been any other incidents like this, any other threats or stalkers Veronica had dealt with in the past. Anything that could give me a lead, anything that could help me protect her. I made a mental note to call him first thing in the morning. This wasn't just some random act; it felt targeted, personal. And that meant whoever was behind it knew Veronica, at least to some extent. The thought sent a chill down my spine. I scrolled through the case file again, pausing at the photos of the roses. They were beautiful, undeniably, but their beauty was tainted, poisoned by the fear they instilled. There had to be something there, something I was missing. I just had to find it. My gaze drifted to Daisy, curled up on the corner of my desk, fast asleep. Even she seemed to have succumbed to exhaustion. I envied her. I knew it would be a long night.