Page 22 of Inescapable Gravity

It made sense.

But sense wasn't really on his mind.

His phone buzzed in his pocket and Marius took it out while he continued to scan the room as he walked up the small flight of stairs to the stage.

"Alex?"

“Ares? How are things going on your end?"

"Going."

"I think you know that I'd like more information than that. How is Miles fitting in?"

"We've come to an understanding."

Alex almost chuckled on his end of the call. "Was there any bloodshed?"

Marius couldn’t help but smile. "No one will find evidence of it."

That earned him a sigh. "Pity."

Smiling now, Marius spoke to their leader with a great sense of candor. "I’m not sure if I should thank you."

"Really now?" Alex drew out the question and let it fade off into the ether.

"This could have gone horribly wrong."

Marius swore he could hear Alex rolling his eyes.

"I would like to say that you were right from the beginning,” Marius told him, "but I can't. At first I wasn't sure what would happen.

"I’ve spent years becoming a soldier, so I knew that I could protect her. I just didn't know if I could separate the man from the soldier.”

“Bodyguard,” Alex reminded him.

“Yeah, bodyguard.” He blew out a breath. "I have more motivation now to do the job, but this assignment is certainly going to change my life."

"There’ll be time to talk about that that means later." Alex's tone was level, even. "I know you’ve got this."

“I do.” A weight fell from Marius' shoulders. "If there's nothing more, I need to finish my inspection of the venue. Will we see you tonight?"

"Physically? No. but I’ll be watching through video feed. I have a keen appreciation for musical talent, and Nix has talent enough to share with the world."

The call ended and Marius found himself behind the red X on the ground and turned to look at the seating of the audience. What did she see when she stood there looking out at hundreds of people?

Did she see individual faces?

Expressions?

Or did she see rows and rows of silent silhouettes until they rose to their feet to applaud her.

Did she like to have friends in the audience when she performed?

That's where he stopped himself.

Friends?

She hadn’t told him much about her life since they’d been separated, but he knew some barebones history of that time.

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