\[Elise’s POV\]
Remaining silent, I look from Rosco to William, and it is almost as though I’m looking at mirror images, given the expressions on their faces. This was not something new for Rosco, but it was the first time I saw William so serious, and honestly, I almost wanted to reach out and touch him. Who was Rosco to put even more pressure on him than he already had?
“I think,” I say, wanting to end this meeting before things get out of hand. “You two should go your separate ways.”
For a moment, neither man speaks, but when Rosco finally begins to relax, he nods.
“Right,” he says, giving me a tug. “Come with me.”
“Where are we going?” I ask, not fighting him as he begins to lead me back toward the packhouse. “On an adventure?”
“There’s someone I want you to see.” He responds coldly.
“Oh, goodie, is it a new guard? Am I going back to prison? What if the creepy, cloaked freaks show again?”
“You aren’t going back to a cell.” Rosco counters, causing a wave of relief to rush through me. “But you aren’t being given freedom either.”
“Not surprised.” I grumble, trying my best to keep up with his speed. “Then am I to assume you are taking me to my new guard?”
“That’s right.” Rosco confirms. “He arrived earlier, but I couldn’t find you.”
“Whoops.”
“If you roam around on your own like that again, you will go back into a cell.” He warns, tugging me toward his office. “Do you understand?”
“Yeah, yeah, I got it.” I huff, coming to a halt when we reach our destination. “But if I manage to do that, doesn’t that mean your new guard isn’t good at his job?”
“Who isn’t good?” A voice demands as the door to Rosco’s office opens. “I take offense to that.”
Remaining silent, I watch as Marty emerges and gives me a broad grin.
“Hey, beautiful, it’s been a while.” He says, placing his hands on his hips. “It looks like you’re going to be seeing a lot of me.”
Eyes widening, I take in the man in front of me while he smugly watches on.
“Wolf got your tongue?” He chuckles while Rosco lets out a growl of annoyance. “Or are you just that happy to see me?”
“Neither,” I finally say, realizing that having someone watching me at all times would make snooping for William even more difficult. “Just shocked a man like you would be willing to babysit.”
“I don't see any babies.” Marty counters, his eyes flashing with amusement. “Unless you want me to call you my baby.”
For a moment, I don’t speak as I take in the man in front of me. If I said he wasn’t good-looking, I’d be lying. With his shaggy brown hair, which surrounds a chiseled face, and those golden eyes that sparkle with confidence, he was pleasing to the eyes. Not to mention his large body. I wouldn’t mind letting him smother me.
“Marty.” Rosco warns, finally joining the conversation. “If you aren't willing to take this job seriously, then...”
“Yeah, yeah.” Marty chuckles, patting Rosco's shoulder. “Don't worry, I won't mix business with pleasure.”
“That’s too bad,” I purr, unable to stop myself. “We’re going to spend a lot of time together, so I figured we could…”
“Keep it up, and you’ll go back in a cell.” Rosco warns.
“Spoil sport.” I grumble, my good mood faltering.
“He has always been like this.” Marty chuckles. “It is a surprise he was even able to get married. What Denali sees in him is beyond me.”
“I didn’t bring you here to talk shit.” Rosco growls now, causing the mood to fall even more. “I can find someone else to watch Elise if you...”
“No!” Marty says quickly, sobering up. “I’ll behave.”
Frowning, I begin to wonder what exactly it was that Rosco offered him to make Marty want to take on this job so much. If I were to bet, I would say it was probably a pretty large sum of money. After all, I was a criminal awaiting trial who was being given the chance to walk free until the trouble surrounding Emerald Moon was taken care of.
“Then I’ll leave you to it.” Rosco says, finally releasing me. “But if you so much as slip up, I’ll kick your ass to the curve.”
“I got it, boss.” Marty salutes. “Now,” he continues, turning his attention toward me. “You and I are going to get along swimmingly, right?”
“I think so.” I grin.
Letting a smile spread across my face, I look to Rosco, who is still watching us.
“Are you going to show us to our lodgings?” I ask when he raises a brow. “Or are we to just pick whichever room we want?”
“Follow me.” Rosco huffs.
Nodding, I wait until he begins to move, and once he does, I fall into step. Together with the two men, we head down the hall in the opposite direction of Rosco and Denali’s living quarters. When we arrive at a stairwell, we are led up and find ourselves standing in what looks like separate living quarters.
The main portion of the area is a living room with a couch and chairs sitting against a wall with a large window that overlooks the woods behind the packhouse. Across from the chairs is a TV that holds dust, making it clear that it hasn’t been used in a while.
“It isn’t much, but it should work for the time being.” Rosco explains. “There are two bedrooms on either side of this room and a shared bathroom.”
“It looks like we will be shacking up together, beautiful.” Marty chuckles, letting his gaze take in the space. “Hope you don’t mind.”
“Why would I mind?” I ask. “Getting to play house with a handsome man is every woman’s dream.”
“Need I remind you again?” Rosco growls, not bothering to hide his anger. “If you two so much as lay a hand on one another, Marty will be fired, and you, Elise, will go back in a cell.”
“I got it.” I snap, though I had no intention of sticking to what he wanted.
We were two adults who could do whatever the hell we wanted to, and if I wanted to lay a hand on Marty, I would do it.
“We aren’t animals.” Marty says. “We are capable of controlling ourselves.”
“I question that.” Rosco counters. “But Denali insisted that you be the one to take on this task.”
“At least she is a good judge of character.” Marty laughs. “Now, you can go back to her. I’ve got things from this point.”
Growing quiet, Marty waits as Rosco’s gaze shifts from me to him, and when he finally gives a nod, I know the mood damper is finally going to leave.
“I’ll have a servant see to your basic needs, so please make yourselves at home.”