“Alzheimer’s, right?”
“Yeah, that’s right.” Maddox stretched out his fingers to avoid the fists that always came when talk of his father ensued. Speaking with others who knew the father Maddox had grown up with was hard. To watch a strong, proud man lose himself wasn’t easy. “He has glimpses of his past every so often, but nothing more than that.”
The chief looked troubled by this news, his expression tightening. “He doesn’t remember you?”
“No, sir.”
“Damn shame that is,” the chief said, clucking with his mouth and shaking his head. “I’m sorry to hear that, Maddox. I know that being your father meant a lot to him.”
“Thank you, sir. It is what it is, and truthfully, he’s happy and spending his days surrounded by pretty nurses.” Maddox smiled.
“There’s always an upside to everything, I suppose.”
Maddox agreed with a nod. He’d accepted his father’s diagnosis after receiving it. There wasn’t anything he could do to stop the way the disease ate away at his father’s mind, so he’d made peace with it.
Now, when he went and visited his dad, Maddox played the part of support worker at the nursing home, instead of the son his father had raised. The reminder of everything he’d forgotten usually sent his father into a rage. So Maddox stopped reminding him.
Obviously sensing that Maddox didn’t want to continue, Dalton shifted to a surprising topic. “I actually came by today to ask how Joss O’Neil’s first week was?”
Maddox froze. “I wasn’t aware that you knew O’Neil,” he stated gently, not to overstep. “May I ask how you two are acquainted?”
“Her father used to be my partner. Didn’t you know that?”
Maddox’s heart rate began to slow, a connection forming that he hadn’t expected. “No, I wasn’t aware.”
The chief paused as three rookies chatting loudly amongst themselves passed by Maddox’s office. One look at Dalton and their mouths snapped shut. The chief chuckled, seemingly amused by the power he held over the younger generation of cops, before addressing Maddox again. “It’s old news, I’m sure,” he explained, pulling on the cuffs of his shirt. “We were partners during our thirties and early forties, a few years after I worked beat with your dad. Our families became very close during that time, and her father called me last night since they’re traveling in Paris. He was concerned that maybe some of the staff would give her a bit of a hard time considering the connection I have to her family.”
Maddox’s jaw clenched tightly as he realized everything Joss had stacked against her. She was going to have to fight harder than most to get the respect she deserved because she was so well connected, and that was without having an affair with her superior.
“So, how’s Jossie doing?” Dalton asked.
Jossie?
I’m a dead man. He took a sip of his coffee to gather his thoughts, set the mug down next to his computer’s keyboard, and explained, “She’s a good asset to the team. Clever. Fair. Hardworking.” Beautiful. Intriguing. Strong.
The chief smiled. “She hasn’t received any trouble, has she?”
“Not that I’m aware of,” Maddox replied. “But I’m not sure she’d come to me if she had.”
“What makes you say that?”
Maddox snorted softly. “Because I’m her superior officer, she’s a rookie, and I’m a man.”
“I suppose you’re right,” Dalton continued thoughtfully. “Although, word does spread quickly if anyone feels that someone is being treated differently.” He paused, watching Maddox closely. Obviously, whatever he saw in Maddox’s expression comforted him since he continued. “Regardless that there hasn’t been any trouble yet, Joss means a great deal to my family and me. I can trust that you’ll take care of her while she’s here, Hunt?”
And there was the warning.
Maddox saw the threat in Dalton’s narrowed eyes. Joss was clearly beloved by him. That’s when Maddox knew the complication he’d thought he faced before was nothing compared to what he was up against now.
The thing was, no one dictated Maddox’s life, not even the police chief.
Regardless of the mess he’d landed himself in, and even if a plan to move forward wasn’t solidified, he stared into Dalton’s eyes and made an easy promise, “Of course, sir. She’s safe on my team.”
* * *
At the end of his shift, Maddox had planned to go to the gym and burn off some steam. He’d questioned himself a thousand times when it came to Joss. If things went south with her, the risks were hefty ones. Earlier today with Dalton only reminded him that he walked on dangerous ground. Logic told him to steer clear of her. And yet, there he was. At her front door.