He didn’t speak again for the rest of the flight. But he never stopped watching me.
Every time I looked up, his gaze was there—steady, unreadable. I started scanning the passengers around us. Was there something—or someone—I should be afraid of?
When we landed, I waited for him to make a move, say something, explain—but he simply tipped his hat, gave me one last nod, and vanished into the crowd like smoke.
I never learned who Maddox really was. A marshal? A bodyguard? A ghost from my past?
All I know is this: there was something protective in his stare… but also something warning me.
Lesson: Sometimes, life gives you silent guardians—strangers whose presence feels like a shield. Trust your instincts, stay alert, and remember: not all dangers look like villains… and not all protectors wear badges.
