ter

ment, and worse, that he had no plans to leave was unsettling. I wasn't use

adding into the kitchen. Nico stood there, pouring coffee into two mugs, his sleeves roll

looking up, his voice cal

pulled out a chair and sat at the small d

holding up the tiny cerami

ack," I

ore sitting across from me. His movements were smooth, prec

, Nico?" I asked, cutti

ping his coffee. "I thoug

wn with a soft thud. "You talke

," he pointed out, his lips

on bubbling in my chest. "

isn't what you signed up for, but the situation is what it is. We're mar

hat your world is, Nico. All I know is that it's d

, I thought he might actually open up, but instead, he reache

I asked, eyeing

" he said, sliding

pulling out a stack of photos. My bre

cart and looking distracted. The next was of me walking to

d been fol

" I demanded, my

co asked, his tone t

the photos back into the envelope. "I

d, his voice sharp. "They're watch

ear swirling in my chest. "W

difference is that they're not interested in you. They'

blanket. I swallowed hard, my hands trembling as I se

me, or destroy me. And if they can't do that di

care about me," I sa

ime, I saw a flicker of vulnerability in

s laptop while I tried to go about my usual routine. But no matter what I did, cleaning, send

me, tracking my every move. And Nico was righ

felt like they were closing in, suffocating me with the weight of everyth

" I announced,

aptop, his expression imm

aving a hand. "For a walk

arrowed. "

ning to face h

nding and crossing his arms.

humor in it. "I'm not a child,

rotection," he said, h

"I'll stay in public places, keep my phone on,

ng pause, he sighed and nodded. "Fine. B

ed, rolling my eyes as

rming small clouds in front of me. For a while, the simple act of walking he

he feeling that I

eets seemed empty. But the sensation of eyes o

ent, my heart was racing, and I was

ession a mix of relief and

rfew," I shot back, tryin

yes narrowing. "Somethin

m about the feeling I couldn't shake. Bu

I admitted, my voice

hands clenching into fis

t it was just a feeling.

t," he muttered, pu

g in low, urgent tones to whoever was on the othe

ing alone again,

ic

voice sharp. "If the Russos are watc

my hands trembling. "Wh

. "They want me. But they