Games 024

Games 024
Maddie POV

“A security firm, my ass. More like a dead wish playground.”

God. Why must my life be this hectic? Ever since Eva introduced me to Maddox, everything’s been spiraling out of control. I was supposed to work at a desk, not in a war zone. At least she gave me a house to live in, so I guess homelessness is off the table. Yay me.

I tried smiling at one of the guards as I trailed behind Maddox. He looked at me like smiling was illegal here.
Jesus Christ, did they all attend the same ‘scare civilians 101’ training?

Every single one of them had that same blank, I-could-kill-you-and-not-blink look. Even the women! Gorgeous, deadly, terrifying. I suddenly felt like the weakest species of female to ever exist.

Someone actually nodded at me. I nodded back too quickly like some nervous pigeon.
Smooth, Maddie. Real smooth.

Meanwhile Maddox walked like the devil owned the floor under his shoes—hands in his pockets, eyes straight ahead, not even checking if I was keeping up. I had to half jog behind him just to match his “I own the world” pace.

He stopped near an open field where men were punching each other like their lives depended on it.
Oh perfect. A literal fight club.

The air smelled like gunpowder and sweat, two scents that screamed, You don’t belong here, princess.

“Do they do this every day?” I asked, stepping back as one guy got slammed face first into the dirt.

Maddox didn’t even flinch. “That’s light training.”

Light? LIGHT?!
Someone just flew across the air like a ragdoll and he called it light!

I blinked at him. “And what’s heavy training then? Death?”

He gave me a side glance— that lazy, unreadable one that said, Keep talking, I dare you.
I immediately shut up. My survival instincts finally decided to show up for work.

He started walking again and I followed, trying not to trip over my own feet. The guards we passed kept giving these stiff salutes. Maddox nodded once every few steps, all serious and mafia boss-y, while I awkwardly tried to copy him because… what else was I supposed to do?

So there I was, saluting random people I didn’t even know, pretending like I totally belonged here.

We entered a huge building next, a dark hallways, security cameras, and enough tension to make my soul leave my body. A tall guy with a scar across his jaw walked out of a room and nodded.

“Boss,” he said.

“Ken,” Maddox replied curtly. “Briefing room ready?”

“Yes, sir.”

Great. A briefing room, that sounded safe right? Totally safe. Definitely not where people plan crimes or assassinations right? I hope so.

Maddox turned to me, finally acknowledging my existence again. “You’ll be sitting in on the assessment today.”

“Assessment?”

“You’re observing new recruits. Learn how we select people.”

“Select… for what exactly?”

He looked at me. “Protection.”

Right. Protection. Because clearly, everything here screamed security and not underworld blood oath society.

We walked into the briefing room and my jaw nearly dropped. It was massive with sleek screens, weapon displays, tactical maps on the walls, and men standing in neat lines like an army.

And then, as if to make my anxiety worse, Ryan walked in, looking way too cheerful for a man surrounded by guns.

“Morning, sunshine,” he said to me with that grin. “Glad you survived your first five minutes.”

“I’m still processing the trauma,” I muttered.

Maddox shot him a look that shut him up instantly. Then he motioned to the line of recruits. “Watch and listen.”

So I did, mostly because I had no choice.

The first guy stepped forward, built like a tank, face set like stone. He spoke about his experience, his skill, blah blah… my brain zoned out halfway through because I was too busy counting the number of visible weapons in the room. And my answer is —too many.

Then Maddox’s voice cut through the air, commanding. “What’s your weakness?”

The guy hesitated. “None, sir.”

Wrong answer. Even I could tell that was a mistake.

Maddox’s jaw flexed slightly. “Everyone has one. Find it before someone else does.”

The silence that followed was thick enough to choke on. The man nodded quickly, stepping back like he’d just been handed a death sentence.

I blinked. Okay, yeah. So Maddox was scary. Like, Batman without the suit scary.

Ryan leaned closer to me and whispered, “Now you see why we don’t talk back?”

“Yeah,” I whispered back. “I’m starting to think HR doesn’t exist here.”

He snorted quietly. “HR would need body armor.”

I almost laughed but then Maddox’s gaze flicked to me for half a second, and my soul instantly jumped out of my body.

He turned back to the recruits, voice sharp again. “Next.”

I exhaled quietly, clutching my notepad like it could save me from the mafia boss standing two feet away.

One thing was for sure — if I didn’t die today, I deserved a raise.

By the fifth recruit, my attention span was hanging by a thread.
They all looked the same— tall, muscled, serious, with that intense killing aura. I scribbled random notes just so I didn’t look like an idiot. Things like:
“Scary eyes.”
“Angry shoulders.”
“Possibly allergic to smiling.”

Maddox was in full command mode— calm, cold and terrifyingly composed.
Every time he spoke, the entire room held its breath.
I swear even the lights dimmed out of respect.

Then came this one recruit — younger, cocky smile, chewing gum like he owned the place.
The moment he opened his mouth, I knew it was over.
He said, “Sir, with all due respect, I don’t really do ‘taking orders.’ I’m more of a leader.”

Oh. My. God.

You could feel the temperature drop.

Maddox didn’t move at first. He just looked at the guy with one of those silent, emotionless stares that could peel paint. Then, slow and low, he said, “Then you’re in the wrong room.”

The recruit blinked. “Sir?”

“Leaders know when to follow,” Maddox said, stepping closer. “Get out.”

The guy hesitated like maybe he thought Maddox was joking. Jesus, I had never seen him this dead serious in my entire existence of knowing him.

Was I going to really die from talking to him badly all this days?

Ryan coughed softly beside me. “Aaand he’s done.”

The poor idiot got escorted out by two guards. I swallowed hard, trying not to look too horrified. My pen trembled in my hand like it was scared too.

Before I could stop myself, I muttered under my breath, “Damn, he's so scary.”

Unfortunately, Maddox heard because of course he did.

His eyes flicked to me like a sniper’s aim. “Something to add, Miss Maddie?” miss Maddie? Really? He hadn't called me that before.

My entire soul froze, every single neuron in my brain screamed, Abort mission. Do not make eye contact.

I forced a nervous laugh. “Oh, no! Nope. Just… observing the brutality. I mean, honestly. I mean—professionally.”

Ryan covered a laugh with a fake cough. The room stayed silent even the air looked uncomfortable.

Maddox didn’t say a word, just stared at me for a solid three seconds, long enough for my stomach to stage a full riot. Then he turned back to the line of recruits like I didn’t exist.

I exhaled slowly, whispering under my breath, “Okay, mental note— never talk again.”

Ryan leaned close. “Welcome to the club.”

The rest of the selection went on painfully long. I swear time slowed down just to watch me suffer. When Maddox finally dismissed everyone, I nearly cheered.

But of course, the day wasn’t done humiliating me yet.

He turned to me on the way out, his voice low. “You talk too much.”

I blinked, caught off guard. “I wasn’t even talking that much—”

“Enough to distract a room,” he cut in, smooth and sharp like a knife. “Next time, stay quiet unless I ask.”

I wanted to argue, I really did. But one look at him — that cold stare, unreadable as always and my inner rebel decided to take the day off.

I clenched my notepad tighter. “Got it, boss.”

“Good.” He started walking again, leaving me scrambling behind him.

I mouthed silently, “Satan in a suit,” before realizing Ryan was watching with a grin.

He mouthed back, “He heard that.”

I froze. “No, he didn’t.”

Ryan smirked. “He always does.”

Oh, perfect. Just perfect.
If this was day one, I wasn’t sure I’d survive a week.