The sun had dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in deep purples and oranges as the lights of the city flickered on. Theo Montgomery stood on the balcony of his penthouse, nursing another glass of whiskey and staring out over the glittering skyline. The cool breeze did little to settle the unease gnawing at the edges of his thoughts.

Behind him, Marcus Cain was a quiet but constant presence, standing near the balcony doors, his back straight and his eyes scanning the room. The tension between them had simmered all day, but Marcus seemed unfazed by it. If anything, he thrived on the tension, letting it sharpen his focus.

Theo glanced back at him, the dim light catching the sharp lines of Marcus’s face. “Do you ever turn it off?” he asked.

Marcus didn’t look up from his silent inspection of the room. “Turn what off?”

“The constant vigilance,” Theo replied. “You’re making me nervous just standing there like some sort of human watchdog.”

“Good,” Marcus said without missing a beat.

Theo sighed and turned back to the city. “You’re exhausting, you know that?”

Before Marcus could respond, a sudden buzz came from the security panel on the wall. The red light at the top of the panel blinked furiously, and a faint beep-beep-beep filled the air.

Marcus’s demeanor shifted instantly. He was at the panel in two strides, his body taut and ready. Theo stepped inside, his brow furrowed.

“What’s that?” Theo asked.

Marcus didn’t answer immediately, his fingers dancing over the panel as he checked the alert. “Perimeter breach,” he said finally, his voice calm but cold. “One of the ground-level sensors was tripped.”

Theo’s pulse quickened, but he forced a smirk. “Probably just a raccoon. Or someone delivering the wrong pizza.”

“Stay here,” Marcus ordered, already moving toward the penthouse door.

“Stay here?” Theo repeated, his tone incredulous. “This is my home, Cain. If someone’s snooping around, I think I deserve to know—”

Marcus stopped and turned, his expression like stone. “You hired me to keep you alive. That means you do what I say. Stay here.”

Theo opened his mouth to argue, but Marcus was already gone, disappearing down the hallway in near silence.

For a moment, Theo stood frozen, the quiet of the penthouse settling around him like a heavy blanket. He hated the feeling of helplessness creeping in. He wasn’t the type to sit back and wait while someone else dealt with his problems.

Grabbing his phone from the counter, Theo headed to the security cameras displayed on the wall panel. He tapped through the feeds, trying to locate whatever had triggered the alarm.

The main entrance looked clear. The parking garage was empty. The service elevator was…

Theo’s blood ran cold. The service elevator feed showed two figures in black tactical gear, their faces obscured by masks. One carried a large duffel bag, the other held what looked unmistakably like a firearm.

“Marcus,” Theo muttered, dialing the man’s number.

The call connected, and Marcus’s low voice answered immediately. “What?”

“There are two intruders in the service elevator,” Theo said quickly. “Tactical gear, weapons. They’re on their way up.”

Marcus swore under his breath. “Lock the doors. Don’t move.”

“What about you?”

“I’m taking care of it. Just stay put, Montgomery.”

The line went dead, leaving Theo staring at his phone, his heart hammering.

Seconds felt like hours as he watched the security feed. The two figures exited the elevator on a lower floor and headed for the stairwell, moving with practiced efficiency.

Theo forced himself to think. He wasn’t a soldier, but he wasn’t helpless either. He locked the balcony doors and grabbed the heavy lamp from his desk, its weight reassuring in his grip.

The silence was broken by a muffled sound—a thud, followed by another, then a short, sharp crack.

Theo’s grip tightened on the lamp as he moved toward the hallway. He didn’t make it far before Marcus reappeared, his black suit slightly disheveled but his expression calm.

“It’s handled,” Marcus said, brushing something off his sleeve.

Theo blinked. “Handled? That’s it? You’re not even going to explain what just happened?”

“They’re unconscious. I zip-tied them in the stairwell,” Marcus replied. “Your security team can deal with the rest.”

Theo stared at him, equal parts impressed and annoyed. “You took out two armed intruders in five minutes, and you’re acting like it’s just another Tuesday?”

“It’s my job,” Marcus said simply.

Theo set the lamp down, running a hand through his hair. “And who the hell were they? What were they doing here?”

“Professionals,” Marcus said. “Judging by their gear, they were sent to kidnap or kill you. Either way, this wasn’t random.”

“Wonderful,” Theo muttered. “Anything else I should know, Mr. Bodyguard?”

Marcus walked past him, checking the locks on the balcony doors. “You’re a bigger target than you think, Montgomery. Whoever sent those men isn’t going to stop. This is just the beginning.”

Theo didn’t like the sound of that. “And what exactly do you suggest I do about it?”

Marcus turned, his gaze steady. “You let me do my job. And you start taking this seriously.”

For once, Theo didn’t argue. He stood in silence as Marcus resumed his patrol of the penthouse, his mind spinning with the realization that his world was no longer under his control.

The stakes had just been raised, and Theo knew that this game, whatever it was, was going to get a lot more dangerous before it was over.