Scarlett P.O.V

The wind whips through the trees overhanging the park path as I jog through. A touch of the cool breeze brushes across my body, chilling my sweat-dampened skin while continuing along the winding pathway. The soulful tune flowing from my ear pods drowns out the steady beat of my sneaker-clad feet hitting the pavement but doesn't deafens me to my surroundings.

Rococo runs ahead of me, his long leash giving him a bit of free reign.

It is mid-afternoon, my preferred running time. Given that there are only a few people out and about. And the fewer people I had to worry about, the better. I was just here to exercise, not to interact with others.

As we round the bend, a call comes through on my phone. I stop and tug on Rococo's leash, signaling him to do the same.

"Hello?" I answer without checking the caller's i.d.

"Hey, girl! How's the run?" Ebony's voice came through over the line.

"Why don't you join us and find out?" I pant out in between breaths.

"Uh-uh, girl. You know anything that involves exercise I avoid like the plague."

I chuckle and lightly shake my head. "You're cra-"

Rococo starts wildly barking at a cluster of bushes a few feet away. The couple lying on a blanket roughly a foot in front of it sits up, looking around for the cause of commotion.

Tightening my grip on Rococo's leash, I drop to his side, slowly rubbing his back. "What is it, baby?"

He continues to bark, canines on full display as he moves closer and closer toward the edge of the pathway. But I stop him before he can step off. Squinting through the sunlight, I peer around the bush, not seeing anything.

"What's the matter, baby?" I ask again, running my fingers through his fur.

He barks once more before softly whining, then completely quiets down. Rising to my feet, I led him away to try and calm him further down.

"Is Rococo alright?" Ebony's voice sounds in my ear, making me slightly jump. I'd momentarily forgotten I'd been on the phone with her.

"Ye-yeah, he's calming down now. But I can't even tell what set him off."

She hums. "Maybe another animal."

"Yeah, maybe," I mutter, not entirely convinced.

For a moment, we fall silent before I ask, "How's Chance doing?"

Since learning of the Sienna Davenport case, I'd started to see it everywhere- on various social media posts, magazine covers, and several news outlets. It's like, I'd been blind to it all, locked away in my own bubble. But now I couldn't escape it.

Throughout the halls of The Rook, her name was on everyone's lips and even those of passing strangers in the street. It seemed everyone had their eyes on this case. And that meant a lot of added pressure for the investigating officer, and unfortunately, Ebony's husband had drawn the short stick.

She groans, and I don't have to see her face to know an eye roll accompanies it. "Oh, you know him. Being a typical male. He insists he's fine, but I can see he's anything but."

"Have you tried talking to him? You're his wife. If he can't talk to you, then who can he?"

"Yeah, but..." She lets out a long and deep sigh. "If I try to force him to talk before he's ready, he'll only clam up. Trust me. It's better to wait and let him come to me."

Just as I'm about to reply, my phone beeps, alerting me of another call. "Can you hold on for a minute, Ebony? Someone's on the other line."

"Yeah, yeah."

"Hello?" I say after switching to the other line.

"Hey, Scarlett. It's me, Luciano."

"Luciano?" I check the caller's I.d.

Yep. It was him.

After talking with him at Zara's, I returned with his and his assistant's food only to find them both gone. No explanation, no nothing, unless you count the hefty tip. And I don't. So I am a little surprised he's calling now.

"Yes. And I want to apologize for leaving so abruptly a few nights ago."

Unsure of how to respond but wanting to see where this would go, I simply say, "Oh?"

"Yeah, It's just... Sienna and I dated for a while, and hearing the news about her missing caught me completely off guard."

How long were you together?

Why did you break up?

Those questions and more immediately spring forth in my mind, but I refrain from voicing them aloud. Even though they were fitting to ask when considering dating someone, now wasn't the time. And I didn't know if there ever would be a "good" time. They didn't exist in situations like these.

Every aspect of Sienna's life - her career, family life, relationships, and everything in between- is probably being scrutinized and dissected down to the most minute detail by the cops at this very moment, and me prying for answers wouldn't help.

"It's okay. Anyone would have reacted that way after receiving that kind of news."

"Thank you for understanding. But if it's alright with you, can I have a redo? And this time, I promise I won't run away."

I laugh. "Yeah...okay. But I need to check my schedule to see if I'm free, so can I call you back later?"

"Alright, I'll talk to you later."

After we say our goodbyes and end the call, I let out a squeal that makes Rococo look over at me from the bush he's sniffing around. After a few seconds, he turns away, more than used to my antics after all these years.

"What are you so happy about?" A familiar voice came from behind me.

I whip around to face Maddox. "Luciano just asked me out again."

"And you said yes?" He asks incredulously.

"Of course, I said yes. Why wouldn't I?"

"Because every time you're around this guy, something bad seems to happen!"

"That's not true."

He raises one eyebrow. "Not true?! You had a flat tire, and he shows up to fix it, then someone breaks into your office, and he's conveniently there. Need I say more?"

"Aside from those two little incidents, nothing else has happened."

Thankfully I hadn't told him the full details of what happened at Oscar's party, or else he'd probably use that as an excuse, too.

"They weren't little to me." He slips his phone from his pocket. "What's this guy's name again?"

"Luciano Steele. Why?"

"I'm going to look into him."

"What?! Maddox Anthony Cross, you will do no such thing. I can look into my own men."

His head shoots up. "Your own men?!"

Heat breaks out across the back of my neck before spreading to my face. "You know what I mean. Now..."

I try to swipe his phone, but his reflexes are much faster than mine. He holds it over his head far out of reach. I go to jump for it but stop as two women dressed in neon pink and green jogging suits with matching headbands around their short white curls pass by. Smiling boyishly, Maddox nods a quick hello to them that deepens the flush on their cheeks and makes them giggle behind their hands.

"Do you want me to be single for the rest of my life?" I step closer and stage whisper.

He doesn't answer me, and I could've sworn I saw his eyes drop to my lips before returning to meet mine. But it happens too fast, to be sure.

"Do you?!" I press with my hands on my hips.

"No!" He finally replies. "But I'm also not going to watch you date the wrong guy."

"The wrong guy? You don't even know him."

"I will once I run a background check on him."

"Oh, my god. I can't talk to you." I walk off toward the parking lot, leaving him standing alone.

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