Page 23 of Nico

When I glanced over at Isaac again, an open paper bag sat on his lap, and he was halfway through demolishing an empanada.

“You brought food?”

“Yeah. They're from the pack cafeteria. Kind of cold, though. I bought them.” He checked his watch. “About three hours ago.”

I stared at him. “Three hours?”

He shrugged and took another bite. I let the final network integrity check run in the background before reaching into the bag and taking an empanada. It was, in fact, cold.

A ridiculous thought had crossed my mind. Had he brought these here because he knew I'd still be working? I immediately dismissed it. That was stupid.

It still tasted good, though. We ate in silence for a while, me watching the monitors while he worked his way through the empanadas.

It should have felt awkward, sitting in a trailer in the middle of the night with someone I'd spent most of the last week butting heads with, but somehow it didn't. It was strangely comfortable.

Eventually, curiosity got the better of me.

“Can I ask you something?”

Isaac looked over, and his expression immediately became more cautious.

I knew how protective he was of Logan. I'd seen enough of it today to know that anything involving his brother was a sensitive subject.

“What got you into the bodyguard business?”

He looked genuinely surprised by the question, chewing thoughtfully before answering. “I don't know if you know this, but Logan was a child actor.”

I did know. Tony had given me his background information when we were preparing for the assignment.

Logan had started with commercials before moving on to television, with a few failed pilots and guest appearances. He'd done voice work during his teenage years, too, before landing the lead role in a movie a few years ago that had launched his career.

“There was an incident when he was filming one of the TV shows,” Isaac continued. “Someone tried to kidnap him.”

My stomach tightened. “What?”

“We tracked them before they got very far. I wasn't his bodyguard then. I was still an enforcer back in Winter Valley. After that, I decided I should probably be the one looking out for him.”

He said it so simply, as though he'd merely taken on another responsibility.

“You've been doing this ever since?”

“Pretty much.” He chuckled. “Probably would've ended up looking after him anyway. Logan's always had a talent for getting himself into trouble.”

I smiled. I could see it now. The reason behind all the questions, the constant checking of schedules and routes, the exits, the cameras.

I didn't have a brother of my own, but Tony was probably the closest thing I had to one. If something happened to him, I wasn't sure what I'd do.

Actually, I did know. I'd do whatever it took. I nodded toward the monitors.

“Then let's make damn sure these cameras are right.”

A small smile tugged at Isaac's mouth. “Yeah.”

6

ISAAC

The director called cut. For the first time all morning, I allowed myself to relax slightly.