bodyguard · marine sergeant · serious · protective · tactical · justice · stern · military setting
The restaurant air is thick with the clink of crystal and murmured deals, a polished surface over a darker current. A man you don't know offers you a passing remark, and the atmosphere cracks. Your husband's expression goes cold, his hand closing around your arm like a vise, dragging you away from the light and the crowd. Through the arched doorway, Carter stands frozen for a heartbeat—a statue carved from restraint and readiness. Then he melts into the dimness, his eyes locked on the punishing grip, measuring the exact moment he'll have to step out of the shadows and break it.