Page 9

TWO MONTHS LATER

DIXON

My breath catches as Madison walks out of the hallway and into the auditorium. Her laugh is infectious. She’s been on the team for two months and her teammates treat her like she’s been here all along. Her quick glance reminds me of my screwup once again. I’ve been careful to keep an appropriate distance. We’ve seen each other at get-togethers with the team and our mutual friends.

“Dixon.” Kyle smirks from the front of the auditorium. “What’s the deal with you two?”

“Nothing. Non-fraternization and all that, remember?”

“Yeah.” His side-eye brings me up short again. Brian’s not talking to me again. As though I had some control over the team offering Madison a contract. It’s taken a while for he and I to build back our friendship and watching Madison I’m angry again that he told her about my marriage the way he did.

Kyle raises his hand to quiet the room as he clears his throat. “We’ve had some security issues, so I’ve asked Mr. Dixon to come and talk about security protocols in and out of the stadium. We’ve set up a system where you can text Dixon’s team if you have a security issue.” He drones on for a few more minutes and asks for questions.

A dark-haired player with a nose ring is leaning back in her seat with her arms outstretched over the adjacent seats. She raises her hands and blurts out. “What’s a security issue?”

Kyle looks at me, and I move forward. “As professional athletes and women, there are instances where you might find yourself in an unsafe situation. Let’s say paparazzi won’t let you leave your residence. You would call us. If someone is giving you unwanted attention in a threatening way, say a stalker or over-touchy fan, you would call our number. There will be security personnel on all team travel excursions, and we have a full staff here in Dallas.”

Heads nod around the room as Kyle clicks his tongue. “This security is not for personal use to get in and out of a location more conveniently. You will not use it to assist in everyday annoyances. This is only for security issues.”

Madison whispers to the two women next to her. The look on her face is one of contempt. Damn. Just give me a chance to work this thing out with her. Giving her space was stupid. Clearing my throat, I raise my voice. “We’re going to need your cell phone and landline numbers, if you use one, for our records, so we know it’s you if you call and can’t speak.” Curious looks with raised eyebrows cause me to clarify. “Let’s say you’re hiding from someone and need help but don’t want to give yourself away. You would call, and we would know it was you.” I rattle off my work email and ask everyone in the room to email me their contact information. This way I have a reason to approach Madison.

Kyle leans over. “You don’t have to stay for the rest of the meeting. Thanks for this.”

I tip my head. “It’s the job. Are you playing poker tonight?”

“Yeah.” Kyle whispers. “I’ll meet you at Destinations at eight.”

I walk out and run through the schedule for the rest of my day. Destinations is a bar owned by a rich Campbell cousin here in Dallas. I work for another one of those cousins and his former SEAL Team member. I get back to the office and the two owners and their partner, Ella Campbell, motion for me to enter the conference room.

Ella glares at me. I haven’t figured out how she became a co-owner after Maxim Petrov and Banner Campbell created CPSP, but she acts like she’s the boss. Her stare lets me know she’s pissed about something. I’ve worked here for six months, and her mood has gotten worse as her pregnancy moves along.

She raises her voice to talk over the employees in the room. “I created an algorithm to collect the data from the Dauntless staff and team members. We’ll be able to run any calls through our system to determine the severity of the security issue.” She cocks her head. “It was a great suggestion you offered to the team, but calling and telling us after you offered it to the team doesn’t work for us.”

I’m surprised. Banner and Maxim, fellow SEALS, nod as the little waif puts me in my place. “I guess I should have run it by you first.”

Her forehead crinkles. “It’s an intriguing suggestion, but not all suggestions are workable. Time, money, and resources are commodities we manage to create the most feasible solutions. Next time run it by the group before you offer it.”

The hair peaks on the back of my neck at the scolding. I speak before I think it all out. “Who’s running this show, anyway?”

Banner and Maxim stare at me like my hair is on fire until amusement creeps across their faces. The dark-haired waif stands and glowers. “We run this show. The resources you offer fall under my purview for the company, therefore I’m the one to let you know you missed the mark.” She crosses her arms as Maxim chuckles to my right. “Anytime you want to remove yourself from CPSP because you can’t handle being told how it is by a woman,” she points at the glass door, “there’s the door.”

The full realization that I have shoved my foot all the way down my own throat and made an enemy of a CPSP owner rings the stupid bell in my head. I bow my head and look back up at Ella. “I apologize. I’m out of line. I’m not used to having to run security ideas up the chain of command. I realize this was my fault, and I’m sorry.”

“Okay.” She blows out her breath and tips her head to her cousins. “I’m heading upstairs to the condo.” She puts her hand on her swollen belly. “This one needs a nap. Graham will be at poker tonight. Please remember we’ve got an early meeting in the morning.” She steps out of the room as Banner leans back in his rolling chair.

“What the fuck was that, Dix?”

I run my hand through my hair. “I’m sorry. I was pissed about a woman and took it out on Ella. She’s going to tell her husband, huh?” Graham is a tier-one operator like the rest of us, but he has an edge to him that even scares me. His nickname, Ghost, was given to him because everyone that goes against him becomes one. He’ll waste no time in pounding me if his wife’s unhappy.

Maxim chuckles. “She probably won’t share with him. She fights her own battles.”

I watch the woman step into her office and scoff. “If she doesn’t tell her husband to kill me, what can that little woman do to me?”

Banner breaks out into a deep laugh. “She can make your life a living hell. You don’t realize but she’s the best hacker I’ve ever met. She knows everything about everyone, and she’s mean when she’s pissed.”

I shake my head. “I seem to make mistakes that piss off all the women around me.”

Maxim gets up from his chair and sets his hand on my shoulder. “You should figure out how not to do that. And be prepared for scut work until you get out of her doghouse.”

I raise my head up to his smiling eyes. “Really?”

“Oh yeah. You’re new enough she can’t make you re-qualify for everything, but she’ll send you on the crappiest jobs she can find.”

“I deserve it for being stupid.”

Banner motions for us both to leave the room. “If this is the way you handle women in the rest of your life, you might want to consider an attitude adjustment.”

Don’t I know it. “I apologize. I was wrong. I will apologize to her the next time I see her.”

He nods. “You used to be so charming with the women.”

Before Madison. “I was. I’ve let circumstances change the way I look at things. I realized that when I saw Madison today. I’ll do better.”

Five hours later, I’m sitting at the poker game with guys from my office as my phone beeps. I pick it up to see an alert from one of the Dauntless stadium security personnel. Ryan didn’t make it from the stadium. He was bogged down in work. I wonder if he’s dealing with whatever mess is pulling me from the game. I toss my cards and nod to Banner, Maxim and the other five guys at the table. “There’s an issue at the stadium.”

Banner stands. “I’ll come with you. Maxim just dealt me my last crap hand for the night.” We walk out of the entertainment room in the residence section of the Quad where Banner and Maxim, along with tons of their cousins and employees, live. It’s above the CPSP office and was more convenient for everyone tonight rather than going next door to the bar we usually play at. We take the elevator down to the garage and get into Banner’s SUV. “Tell me about this woman.”

I sigh. “Madison Bennett.”

Banner smirks as a light of recognition shines on his face. “She’s hot and one damn fine soccer player.”

I shake my head. “Yeah.”

“What did you do to piss her off?”

“I played a stupid game of ‘let’s not tell the woman I want, that I was married’.”

He laughs his big laugh as we pull out of the parking garage. “That was dumb.”

“Yeah. I know it. Her brother doesn’t want us involved, and he told her about the wife. She’s a good friend, but we haven’t been together in more than a decade. It was a marriage of convenience because she needed health benefits. I should have told Madison, but didn’t. She is still pissed from the betrayal.”

“Well, at least you understand why she’s pissed. Did you explain it to her?”

“Yeah. She finally let me tell her all the gory details.”

Banner blows out his breath. “You’re a good guy, Dix. I know this from personal experience. You need to man up and talk to her again. She’s had time to process whether she can forgive you or not. You need closure. It’ll help your overall attitude, as well.”

“Her brother will not be happy.”

Banner glances at me. “Who’s her brother?”

“Brian Bennett.”

“Whew. He’s a real prick. He’s got so many issues. He doesn’t have any right to judge you.”

“Yeah, maybe.”

We pull into the stadium parking area as Kyle and the head of stadium security hang their heads. Kyle blurts out. “A player has a stalker.”

My eyes ping to the man. “Who?”

“Benny Bennett.”

Damn it. My heart clenches as my inner demon raises his fists. No one is going to hurt Madison. “Let’s go inside, and you can tell us everything.” I flick my eyes to Banner.

“See, this is why we hired you, your great instincts. You’re running this show, I’m just here for logistical support. Thanks to you, we’ve got everyone’s info, and we’re ahead of the game.” We walk inside the building and into the large conference room where other staff members congregate. I nod at Kyle. “What do we know?”

The security chief tosses a file onto the table. “A month ago, we got the first weird letter. It wasn’t unlike typical overly-interested-fan letters. But it seemed different. Then we got three letters, two large envelopes, and now, a package.” His gloved hands set the box in front of me and Banner. “It’s a…” He opens the box. A stuffed animal with red paint dripped over it with its head removed. The security chief hands me a blue nitrile glove. “Pick it up.”

I slip on the glove and pick up the body of the blue bunny. Underneath, words written in the same red to look like blood. “Die Benny.”

Banner grits his teeth. “Any idea why there’s a bunny?”

My heart pounds in my chest, blood rushes into my brain and the sound pulses in my ears. “Her brother wanted to nickname her ‘bunny,’ but it became ‘benny’.” I blow out the breath I’ve held. “Only someone close to her would know that.” I turn to look at Banner. “Who’s on Madison?”

“Maxim left the poker game right after us and headed to her apartment building. We’re going to encourage her to move into the apartments in the Quad.”

“Good luck. She’s not easily convinced of things.”

Banner smirks. “Maxim is very convincing. The women adore him.”

“Of course they do. It’s that Russian accent he turns on and off.”

Banner chuckles. “Da.”

We drive back to the Quad, and my hands itch to get my hands on Madison. Maxim texts Banner that she’s agreed to move into one of the open apartments. I should relax, but my heart is pounding out of my chest. “We need to handle her day-to-day protection, and the team goes on travel next week.”

Banner blows out his breath. “It makes sense for you to travel with the team and oversee Madison’s security.” He turns his head. “Can you get her to agree?”

“She’ll agree or I’ll call Lily. She’s her agent.”

Banner laughs. “Are you sure that’s the card you want to play?”

“Sure. I showed you tonight, I never play the right card, why would this be any difference?” Banner’s laugh only heightens my anxiety. “I’d like to stop by Graham and Ella’s condo to apologize.”

Banner’s forehead wrinkles. “Pfft. Why?”

“I’d like to talk to her about Madison’s online security.”

“That’s a good idea. Good luck.” Yeah. I’ll need it.

I knock on Ella’s condo door, knowing full well she saw my every move into the building. She was gracious enough to agree to let me visit. The door opens, and her husband, a fellow CPSP employee, glares down at me.

“Dixon.”

“Ghost.” Graham spent years in Army Intelligence with a reputation of what he did and how quietly he executed people. His growl makes me smile. “I come in peace.”

Little feet run toward the door with Ella close on the young boy’s tail. He looks up at me and stops, tucking himself behind his massive father’s legs. “Who’s that?”

Graham leans down and pulls up his son with one arm. “A friend. You’ve been running your mom ragged again, young man.”

The boy giggles as Ella saunters up, seeing me standing at the door. “Come for round two?”

I blow out my breath and cock my head. “No. Ma’am. I came to apologize.”

Graham’s brow lifts. “Apologize for what?”

I hold up my hand. “I was rude earlier.” I focus on Ella. “I shouldn’t have acted that way to you. That’s not me. I respect women. Hell, I love women. You’re awesome at your job. I apologize for having my head up my ass.”

Graham spins his son down to the ground and mock-growls. “Get ready for bed.”

The little boy who matches his father in hair and eyes seems to want to disobey but the look his mother gives him, stops it. “Yes, Daddy.” He moves to hug his mother and places his hand on her belly. “Good night, little brother.”

The couple smile as Graham puts his hand on his wife’s shoulder. “Give me a heads up if I need to hide the body.”

Her smile sends the big man off with a skip in his step heading for the back of the condo. Ella motions for me to step inside. “Come in.” She leads us to the kitchen. “Whatcha want?”

“Benny Bennett from the Dauntless has a stalker.”

She nods. “I pulled up what I have on her. You’ve spent time with her and her family.”

“Yeah. Her brother and I go way back.”

Ella opens up her laptop and turns the screen to face me. “Someone has been in her emails and her social media. She needs to change all of her passwords to sets that are obscure enough to not have any meaning for her. Her passwords are the same on quite a few things, and I’ve found them on the dark web.”

“Shit.” The dark web is a haven for criminals. Ella rubs her belly. “When’s the baby due?”

She beams. “A few months.” She pauses, and the silence deafens my senses. “Can you get Ms. Bennett to let you protect her?”

I shrug before I realize I’m flaying my soul for her to judge. “I think so. She’s pissed at me for good reason, but she’s smart enough to know that I won’t let anything physically hurt her.”

“Okay. I’m running the algorithm through all the security data. We’ll know what her vulnerabilities are when I’m done.”

“Thanks, Ella. I appreciate you. Again, I’m sorry for my attitude. You didn’t deserve it, and it won’t happen again.”

I startle to see her husband lean against the kitchen wall. “I’ll walk you out.” I know he’s going to warn me. I deserve it. He intimidates the fuck out of me, but I hold my head up as we walk. I extend my hand to the man as his lip raises in a slow smile. “My wife seems content with your visit.”

“I’m glad. I was out of line. It won’t happen again.”

Graham nods. “I know.” He shakes my hand, and I exit the condo.

“Congratulations on the new baby.” I mumble as he nods as the condo door closes. Well, that went better than I thought it would. I race to the elevator needing to get to the other side of the Quad to the apartments that will house the woman I love.