The aftermath of the break-in left Theo pacing the living room, his mind racing. Despite Marcus’s assurance that the situation was “handled,” Theo couldn’t shake the image of the masked intruders from his mind. His home, his sanctuary, had been violated, and Marcus’s calm demeanor only made it worse.

Marcus stood by the windows, scanning the city below like he expected another attack any second. His dark suit was still slightly rumpled from his earlier fight, but he didn’t seem to care.

“How can you just stand there?” Theo demanded, breaking the tense silence.

Marcus glanced at him, unbothered. “Standing’s part of the job.”

Theo groaned, running a hand through his hair. “You know what I mean. Two armed guys broke into my building tonight. They could’ve killed me. And you’re acting like it’s a minor inconvenience.”

“I’m not acting,” Marcus replied evenly. “This is what I do. And it’s why I’m here—to stop this before it gets worse.”

Theo crossed his arms, glaring at Marcus. “Oh, great. So you’re saying it’s going to get worse?”

Marcus met Theo’s gaze, his voice calm but firm. “Yes. Whoever sent those men knows where you live. That means they’ll try again. And they’ll come better prepared next time.”

Theo hated the way Marcus’s blunt honesty made his stomach churn. He poured himself another drink, the sharp burn of the whiskey doing little to steady his nerves.

“So what’s your big plan, Mr. Bodyguard?” Theo asked, his tone laced with sarcasm. “Seal me in a bunker? Throw me in a panic room and toss me protein bars through a slot?”

Marcus didn’t rise to the bait. “You’re staying in this penthouse for now. I’ve already locked it down. Nobody’s getting in or out without my permission.”

Theo set his glass down with more force than necessary. “You expect me to just sit here and wait for these people to come after me again? I have a company to run, Marcus. A life.”

“And you’ll still have a life if you listen to me,” Marcus shot back. His calm façade cracked for just a moment, his frustration showing. “I get it, Montgomery—you don’t like feeling powerless. But if you don’t take this seriously, you’re going to get yourself killed. And that’s not an option for me.”

Theo blinked, caught off guard by Marcus’s intensity. He wasn’t used to people talking to him like that—like his life wasn’t just another variable in a calculated risk.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The tension in the air was thick enough to cut.

Finally, Theo exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “Fine. Lock me in, Captain America. But I’m not canceling everything. I’ve got a board meeting tomorrow, and I’m not missing it.”

Marcus’s jaw tightened. “I’ll allow it—on one condition.”

“Condition?” Theo arched an eyebrow. “What am I, a teenager negotiating a curfew?”

Marcus stepped closer, his voice low and commanding. “I go with you. No arguments, no exceptions.”

Theo studied him for a moment, his lips quirking into a faint smirk. “I think you just like spending time with me.”

Marcus didn’t bite. “Do we have a deal?”

“Deal,” Theo said, holding out his hand.

Marcus didn’t shake it. Instead, he turned away, heading for the hallway. “Get some sleep, Montgomery. Tomorrow’s going to be a long day.”

Theo watched him disappear into the shadows, his smirk fading.

This is what it’s come to? Babysitters and lockdowns?

He picked up his glass and stared into the amber liquid. As much as he hated to admit it, Marcus was right. The intruders tonight weren’t amateurs. They’d been professionals, sent by someone with resources and intent.

And they weren’t going to stop.

The penthouse was quiet, but Marcus couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. He’d done a full sweep of the property, checked the security systems twice, and reinforced every potential entry point.

But his instincts—the ones honed over a decade in Special Forces—were on high alert.

He stood in the darkened living room, his eyes scanning the city skyline through the windows. The glow of the skyscrapers offered no answers, just an endless horizon of lights and shadows.

Behind him, he heard soft footsteps. He turned to see Theo, still dressed, holding his now-empty glass.

“Can’t sleep?” Marcus asked.

Theo shrugged, setting the glass on the counter. “Can’t stop thinking.”

Marcus stepped closer, his movements quiet and deliberate. “Thinking about what?”

Theo leaned against the counter, his usual bravado replaced by something softer. “About how quickly everything changes. One day, I’m unveiling the biggest project of my career. The next, I’m hiring a bodyguard to keep me from getting killed in my own home.”

Marcus crossed his arms, his expression neutral. “That’s how it works. You get too close to something people want, and they’ll do whatever it takes to take it from you.”

Theo looked up at him, his eyes searching. “You sound like you’re speaking from experience.”

Marcus didn’t answer right away. When he did, his voice was quieter than usual. “I’ve seen it happen. More than once.”

Theo tilted his head, curiosity flickering in his gaze. “And yet, here you are. Protecting someone you barely know. Why?”

Marcus’s eyes met Theo’s, steady and unflinching. “Because it’s what I do. And because you’re not as untouchable as you think you are.”

The room fell silent, the weight of Marcus’s words settling between them.

For once, Theo didn’t have a clever retort. He simply nodded, pushed off the counter, and walked toward the hallway.

“Goodnight, Cain,” he said over his shoulder, his voice softer than usual.

Marcus watched him go, his sharp gaze lingering on the empty hallway long after Theo had disappeared.

Tomorrow’s going to be a long day, Marcus thought.

And somewhere in the shadows of the city, someone was already planning their next move.