Page 114 of The Penalty

Seriously. Marcus embodied the strong but silent type.

We walked toward the dog park without saying a word. The silence didn’t bother me much when he drove me to and from work but it did now. I slowed my stride a little.

“Everything okay, Ms. Chase?” His deep voice sounded behind me.

“Yep. I just figured since you’re walking with me we could, you know, chat. If that’s okay with you.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He fell into step next to me.

“First thing, please don’t call me ma’am. Ms. Chase is alright, I suppose. But it’s not against the law to call me Victoria.”

A beat passed before he responded. “Yes, ma’am.”

Christ on a stick.

“So what’s your story, Marcus?” I asked, opening the gate. Not many people were in the park. “Did you dream of working for a private security firm when you were a kid?”

Winston stopped to sniff around. I took the opportunity to study my brooding, tall escort. No smile, no hint of amusement, nothing.

“I’ll take your lack of response as a yes.” I peeked at Winston. He rolled around in the dirt. Killian will love that.

“I’m a former Navy SEAL, ma’am.”

My eye twitched. “How’d you make the leap from special ops to personal security?”

Was that a shrug?

“Training athletes has always been a bit of a side hobby. Most of my clients after I left the SEALs were football players. When this detail opened up years ago with the Caldwell family, I jumped at it.”

Interesting.

“Have you ever considered working on the strength and conditioning staff? I know a few teams in the league are hiring.”

“Thought about it.”

“The idea of shadowing a media relations director seemed more exciting?” I joked.

Another bout of stern silence.

“I do what the Caldwell family asks.”

Winston tugged at his leash when a squirrel ran by. I double wrapped it around my wrist. He might be little but he’s feisty.

I wasn’t going to pull any additional information out of Marcus. I could tell by the way he stared at the tree.

Fine.

Winston happily followed me when I sat down on a nearby bench to text Xavier.

Xavier

“Thanks for agreeing to see me.” Adam strolled through my flat, pausing at the display case filled with awards and medals. “At least nobody will ever mistake you for being humble.”

“This is how you’re starting? You’re welcome to leave.”

“Relax, Xavier. I’m only teasing you.” He waved a hand at the shelves. “It’s impressive.” Adam’s drawl reminded me of my father’s; smooth and casual. He’d picked up a few of the Maddox family traits over the years. Hard not to.

A debonair charmer, Adam always made everyone feel at ease.

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