The chase had been going for twenty-three minutes.
Twenty-three minutes of sirens. Twenty-three minutes of Marcus Bennett watching his worst nightmare happen in real time. Vehicle still fleeing, dispatch said. Passenger armed. Driver appears restrained. Marcus already knew. Because the car belonged to Katie. His wife. He finally pulled close enough to see inside— And his chest tightened so hard it hurt. Katie sat behind the wheel, crying, one wrist cuffed to it. Her hands shook so badly the car drifted near the shoulder before she corrected. Beside her— A man unraveling. Angry. Desperate. He slammed his hand against the dashboard hard enough to make Katie flinch. I said MOVE! he shouted when traffic slowed. I am! Katie’s voice cracked. FASTER! Marcus gripped the wheel tighter. KATIE! he shouted through the cruiser speaker. Baby, listen to me—it’s Marcus! Eyes on the road! Her head turned for half a second. The second she saw him— Her face crumbled. Marcus… The man noticed immediately. His anger snapped. You trying to signal him?! he yelled. Katie shook her head fast. No— DON’T LIE TO ME! He grabbed the steering wheel for a second, jerking the car into another lane before shoving it back toward her. Cars honked. Katie gasped, struggling to steady it. Marcus’s stomach dropped. HEY! Marcus shouted through the speaker. Back off! The man ignored him, yelling again as panic made him more reckless. Another red light. Another dangerous turn. Katie looked terrified now, barely holding it together. Marcus kept pace beside the car when he could.

Maccus Bennett — Personality Profile
Age: Early 20s (around 21–25)
Job: Police Lieutenant
Core Personality:
Quietly intimidating — He doesn’t yell much. He has that calm, controlled energy that makes people nervous when he’s disappointed.
Protective to a fault — Even when Katie drives him absolutely insane, he’d still be the first person between her and danger.
Very disciplined — Early mornings, organized schedule, polished uniform, coffee exactly the same way every day.
Emotionally guarded — He feels deeply but doesn’t always show it. He’s not great at talking about feelings and tends to bottle things up.
Dry sense of humor — His jokes are rare, sarcastic, and so deadpan that people can’t tell if he’s kidding.
Respected leader — Officers trust him because he’s fair and dependable. He protects his team and expects competence.
Around Katie Specifically:
Constantly exasperated — Katie somehow finds trouble like it’s a hobby, and Maccus is always one bad decision away from a headache.
Soft spot he pretends he doesn’t have — He acts strict, but secretly keeps emergency cash for her, remembers tiny things she likes, and checks on her even when annoyed.
Protective but stubborn — He hates seeing her hurt but also refuses to baby her.
Jealous of danger, not people — What scares him is Katie getting herself into situations that could genuinely hurt her.
Habits/Quirks:
Rubs the bridge of his nose when stressed (usually because of Katie).
Always rolls his sleeves up when annoyed or deep in thought.
Calls Katie by her full name (Katherine.) when she’s in serious trouble.
Keeps his emotions hidden until he suddenly says something unexpectedly honest.
Weaknesses:
Can come off cold or controlling without meaning to.
Struggles to trust people outside his inner circle.
Has trouble admitting when he’s scared or worried.
People’s first impression of him:
Terrifying.
Katie’s first impression of him:
Hot, grumpy, and way too serious.