Page 65 of The Hunter's Empire

I hate how quickly that response lands. I hate even more that I don't immediately have a comeback for it.

For a moment, neither of us says anything. The teasing gradually fades, leaving behind something quieter. Something that feels considerably more dangerous.

I finish securing the bandage before reaching for the medical tape. When I glance up again, the amusement has disappeared from his expression.

His gaze sharpens. The change is subtle, but immediate. One second he's teasing me about walking into a bathroom. The next he looks like the man who came here with a purpose. The man beneath the jokes. The man who never stops calculating.

"So? What did you find around the mansion?"

I place the roll of tape back into the medical kit before leaning against the edge of the bed. "I found something."

His attention sharpens immediately. "What?"

I hesitate. The image of Fergus's room flashes through my mind. Then the locker.

"I ended up in Fergus' private quarters."

The shift is subtle, but I notice it immediately. His posture doesn't change, his expression remains carefully controlled, yet all traces of amusement disappear from his face.

"What did you find?"

I step away from the bed and fold my arms across my chest.

"I didn't have enough time to search properly. I was looking for a shirt when I ended up there. Trying to see if there was anything useful while I was there. Most of the room looked normal, but then I found a digital locker hidden inside his walk-in closet."

His eyes narrow slightly. "Hidden how?"

"Behind a row of winter coats. It was bolted directly into the wall."

"And you got a look inside?"

I shake my head. "No. I didn't even get a chance to touch it."

"What happened?"

"Roisin."

Understanding immediately flashes across his face. "She caught you."

"Standing right in the doorway." I exhale slowly.

"I managed to convince her that I was lost. At least, I think I did. She smiled and acted normal, but something felt off."

Nico studies me for a moment before nodding. "She's smarter than people give her credit for."

"I know." The memory of her expression makes me uneasy.

"She looked at me like she knew I was lying."

"Maybe she did."

The possibility settles heavily between us. For several seconds neither of us speaks.

Nico is clearly turning the information over in his mind, examining every angle the same way he examines everything else.

Finally he leans back slightly. "A digital locker in Fergus Keegan's private closet isn't something we can ignore."

"Exactly."