Page 59 of Nico

So why did it feel like I'd just watched something precious slip farther out of reach?

I stood beneath the fading evening sky, wondering if keeping Nico safe would cost me whatever we were becoming.

13

NICO

I'd already gone through the file I'd prepared for Tony for the third time. It was impressive, if I did say so myself. At least, I thought it was.

I was desperate.

The morning after the truck incident, I'd gone over to Logan and Isaac's cabin early enough to see them off. I'd kept my promise to Isaac and stayed behind, figuring that would be enough. He'd told me to stay behind for one day, and I'd assumed that, after he'd had some time to cool down and think things through, he'd change his mind.

The next morning, I showed up at their cabin again, ready to go with them as usual. Isaac took one look at me and firmly told me no, refusing to even meet my eyes. Logan gave me an apologetic look before following his brother to the truck.

I tried again the yesterday morning. This time I got there before dawn. They weren't even there. One of the neighbours told me they'd left about an hour earlier.

I knew Logan's schedule. He wasn't supposed to be on set until after lunch. That was the last straw.

If Isaac was going to keep me away from the set, then fine. I wasn't going to argue with him about it anymore. I threw myself into work instead, going through every video feed I had access to and then going back through them again, checking timestamps, comparing camera angles, and digging through anything that might have slipped past me the first time.

I searched fan forums and social media, followed whatever leads I could find, and contacted people on set who might have seen or remembered something useful.

I didn't risk going there myself. Not only had Isaac made it clear I wasn't welcome, he'd also told the security team to keep an eye out for me if I showed up.

Logan had warned me about that one. He'd also apologised.

Apparently, he'd tried talking to Isaac about me more than once, but every time he brought up the subject, Isaac either shut him down, changed the topic, or became so thoroughly unpleasant that Logan gave up.

Which was incredibly helpful.

I glanced down at the file on my laptop again. All those hours of digging and research had gone into it.

I was making one last adjustment when I heard the basement door open. A moment later, it closed again, followed by the distinctive sound of tired, shuffling footsteps.

I straightened in my chair as Tony appeared in the kitchen. He looked like he'd barely slept.

Without saying anything, he made himself a mug of instant coffee, adding a little too much powder. My gaze drifted to the sleek black espresso machine sitting on the other side of the counter.

We'd gotten it as part of a pack gift exchange more than two years ago. I'd never actually seen anyone use it. We really should have just given it away.

"Morning," Tony said with a tired nod as he stirred his coffee.

"Morning." I gestured toward the espresso machine. "We should really buy some beans for that, huh?"

Tony glanced at it, then at the mug in his hands before looking back at me. I smiled innocently, hoping the suggestion might earn me a few points, but judging by his expression, I wasn't getting any.

"So," I said after a moment, "there's something I wanted to run by you."

Tony sighed and glanced down at his coffee with an expression of mild disgust before taking a long drink. He set the mug down and wrapped both hands around it.

For one horrifying second, I wondered if he was holding it that tightly to stop himself from throwing my laptop across the kitchen. I really hoped not.

Taking a deep breath, I turned my laptop toward him. "I think I found him."

Tony's tired eyes lifted to mine. "Found who?"

"The stalker."