Chapter 8

The sun shone brightly over the outdoor stadium, the crowd a sea of caps and gowns. Ethan sat among his classmates, listening to the speeches, barely paying attention. His mind was elsewhere, running through the past four years. High school had been an incredible journey, filled with victories and heartbreaks, training and growth. And now, it was ending. The principal called his name, and he walked up to the stage, shaking hands as he received his diploma. The applause was loud, but he barely heard it.

After the ceremony, Ethan found Nicole in the crowd, wrapping her in a tight hug. Ryan and Sarah, his summer fling, soon joined them. The four celebrated for a while before heading home to pack for their trip.

The next morning, they caught their flight to Miami, Florida, ready for a week of sun, relaxation, and fun. Their hotel, a luxurious beachfront resort, had a stunning ocean view. Days were spent lounging on the beach, swimming, and exploring the city, while nights were filled with music, dancing, and drinks.

On their fourth night, Ethan and Nicole were leaving the hotel, dressed up for a night of dancing. The streets were alive with energy, music from nearby clubs echoing through the air. As they walked past an alley, a scream pierced the night.

Ethan’s instincts flared. He and Nicole exchanged a glance before rushing toward the sound. Turning the corner, they found three men dragging a much smaller Asian girl deeper into the alley. She struggled, kicking and screaming, but the men were much larger.

“Let her go!” Ethan shouted.

One of the men turned, his expression darkening. He stepped toward Ethan and Nicole, pulling a knife from his pocket. “Walk away,” he sneered. “This ain’t your business.”

Ethan stepped in front of Nicole. “Yeah, it is.”

The man lunged, swinging the knife at Ethan’s chest. Before Nicole could scream, Ethan had already moved. He sidestepped smoothly, grabbed the man’s wrist, and twisted. There was a sickening pop as the knife clattered to the ground. In one fluid motion, Ethan elbowed him in the jaw, breaking it instantly. The man collapsed, groaning in pain.

Ethan quickly searched the downed attacker, finding a gun tucked in his waistband, a roll of duct tape, and zip ties. His stomach turned. He wasn’t just dealing with drunk frat boys; these men had a plan.

Handing the gun to Nicole for safekeeping, Ethan sprinted after the other two men, who were still trying to drag the girl away. She continued to struggle, but they were too strong. Ethan gritted his teeth and took the knife from the first attacker. He aimed and threw it, the blade spinning through the air before sinking deep into the shoulder of the second man.

The man howled in pain, stumbling and letting go of the girl. The last attacker turned, his face twisting in anger. He let go of the girl and charged at Ethan. Bad move. Ethan ducked under the wild punch, grabbed the man’s arm, and flipped him onto the pavement. A sharp kick to the ribs ensured he wouldn’t be getting up anytime soon.

Nicole ran to the girl, wrapping her arms around her. “You’re safe now,” she whispered, stroking her hair soothingly. The girl was shaking but managed a weak nod.

Ethan pulled out his phone and called the police. Within minutes, sirens filled the air. Officers arrived, guns drawn, but quickly lowered them after assessing the situation. They took statements from Ethan, Nicole, and the terrified girl, who was finally able to speak.

“My name’s Mei,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “Thank you.”

Ethan nodded. “You’re safe now.”

As the police arrested the attackers and took Mei to safety, Ethan wrapped an arm around Nicole, who was still shaking. “Let’s get out of here,” he murmured.

Nicole nodded, and together they walked back toward the hotel, the night far different from what they had planned. But as Ethan glanced at the frightened girl being escorted into a police car, he knew they had done the right thing. And he would do it again without hesitation.

Ethan and Nicole remained in Florida for an additional week, as the police continued their investigation into the attack on Mei. Though Ethan had given a full statement, the authorities wanted to ensure they had every detail before letting them leave. The weight of the incident hung over their time there, transforming what should have been a week of fun into a tense waiting game.

Nicole, however, had her own questions, ones that the police weren’t asking. She waited until they were alone in their hotel room before confronting him.

“How did you do that?” she asked, her arms crossed over her chest. “The way you took down those guys—Ethan, normal people don’t just do that.”

Ethan sat on the edge of the bed, running a hand through his hair. “I’ve trained for a long time,” he admitted. “My dad started teaching me self-defense when I was a kid. It just ... stuck.”

Nicole wasn’t satisfied. “Bullshit,” she snapped. “That wasn’t just some self-defense class. You disarmed a guy with a knife, threw a blade into another guy’s shoulder with perfect aim, and took down the last one like it was nothing. That’s not normal, Ethan. What else aren’t you telling me?”

He sighed, looking down at his hands. He had always been careful about keeping the details of his training private, but Nicole had seen too much. “I’ve been trained in more than just self-defense. My dad, my mom ... they made sure I could take care of myself. Surveillance, counter-surveillance, hand-to-hand combat, firearms. I’ve learned a lot over the years.”

Nicole’s expression was a mixture of shock and betrayal. “So, what, you’re some kind of secret agent?” she asked sarcastically.

“No,” Ethan said, shaking his head. “I’m not a spy, Nicole. I’m just ... prepared.”

“Prepared for what?” she demanded.

Ethan hesitated, trying to find the right words. “To protect the people I care about. To stop bad things from happening if I can.”

Nicole stared at him for a long moment before sighing and sitting down beside him. “I don’t know what to do with this,” she admitted. “I thought I knew you.”

“You do,” he assured her. “This doesn’t change who I am.”

She shook her head. “It kind of does. You’ve been hiding a huge part of yourself from me. How am I supposed to trust you after this?”

Ethan didn’t have an answer. Instead, he reached for her hand, but she pulled away. “I just need some time to think,” she said softly.

Over the next few weeks, they continued to go on dates, but Ethan could feel the distance growing between them. Nicole wasn’t the same around him, there was an unspoken tension, a hesitation in her touch, a distance in her eyes. By the time the end of June, he knew what was coming.

They sat on a park bench overlooking the lake, the warm summer air buzzing with the sounds of cicadas. Nicole looked at him with sad determination.