Page 85 of Missing Marcus

They stood in line to pay for the items. Patch stayed off to the side and signaled an all-clear as the grocery clerk finished checking them out. Gabby pushed the cart while he walked on her right and Saint covered her left. Intent on the pizza, she never noticed, which bothered him more than he cared to admit. After seeing the damage men inflicted on women, her naïve view of the world bothered on him. Why didn’t she scan the parking lot? If a stranger approached her asking for a dollar, she’d gladly open her purse and fork over the money, unaware of the risk around her.

He helped her inside the truck before loading the groceries and entering the driver’s side.

“Are you and Tiger ready for your cheese-stuffed pizza?” he asked as he drove out of the parking lot.

“Why don’t we pick up the pie and the grab the pizza? I’m a bit more tired than I thought. I’ll stay inside the vehicle while you get it. It’ll take less time,” she suggested quietly.

He turned onto the bakery’s street and parked in the back. Taking out his phone he texted Patch.

Gabby’s tired and wants me to run in and grab the pie and pizza. Did anyone follow us?

Hey Asshole. I’m behind you. Are you sure you were a SEAL?

Knight frowned. His focus strayed as he determined if she felt tired or if something else caused the silence.

Gabby went quiet.

I don’t know what’s wrong.

Gee. Let me think…Did you open your mouth?

Patch responded.

Rubbing his forehead, he replayed their last interactions and nothing popped up as a red flag.

No.

He replied.

I know it’s a stretch. Why don’t you ask her?

Patch texted.

“Do you want to see Bryanna’s bakery? You haven’t seen the inside yet other than the bathroom.” Knight watched as she shook her head. “Why do I feel like something happened and I missed it? You seemed fine in the grocery store, but now you barely speak.”

“You did it again. It’s like you’re here with me, then you’re not. I don’t want to fight. Can we get the food and return to the cabin?”

“Yes. I’m not angry. I want you to tell me if I said or did something.”

She sighed. “Please, I don’t want to start an argument.”

He turned her chin to meet him in the interior’s dim light. “We’re not disagreeing. We’re communicating. Tell me, please.”

Gabby hesitated. “Your jaw clenched and you appeared angry. If I question you about it, you blame me and we fight. I’m not up to a heated discussion.”

Knight did his best to hide his surprise at her observation. “Hey. I’m not mad. I’m working on some things, but I didn’t realize it had become a pattern. I can’t tell you details about my missions. But I want to communicate with you better to avoid misunderstandings like the list. Sometimes, you have such a big, trusting heart. I encountered women like you and people hurt them because they don’t see the bad in people. It’s one of the things I love about you. When I spun up so much and saw innocent women…it worried me about you. Since you’re uncomfortable discussing it right now, maybe we can talk tomorrow.”

“I’m sorry, Marcus. I wish you didn’t see those things. When you left I remembered everything you taught me. I park under lights when I went out at night. I hold the keys in my hand. I take note of my surroundings. When you returned, I didn’t need to do it because you watched over me. I’ve seen the news and with you spinning up often, I’m aware of the evil in this world. I’ve chosen to focus on putting good into it.”

“You do a great job of it and I hope you never change,” Marcus said as he almost high-fived himself for opening up to how he felt instead of feeling enraged. She rewarded by him by giving a different prospective he never considered.

Gabby sighed. “I’m not looking forward to tomorrow. Mr. Wilkinson will be there. Knowing he’s involved sickens me to the core. I don’t know how to manage a straight face when he speaks with me.”

“You won’t be there alone. I’ll stay by your side the entire time and the team will have our backs,” he reassured her.

“Do you trust this one? It didn’t seem like you got along with your last team.”

He didn’t know she noticed. “This group’s different. Bryanna married a good man. He has solid friends. We’re in great hands.” Knight exited the vehicle and watched as Patch parked on the street behind him and Doc’s truck pulled up to the curb. Using the key his sister loaned him, he unlocked the bakery, went to the fridge and pulled out the apple pie he requested. The scent of cinnamon wafted from the box, and he smiled. He thought of the ravenous expression on Gabby’s face when she saw the tacos. Imagining it appearing when he brought out the dessert, he hurried to lock up the store and returned to his truck.

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