Chapter 34 · Listen

"You want to explain why you're standing in my hallway at one in the morning," Nico said, "or you want me to guess."

I didn't move. My back was against the wall outside his study, phone still in my hand, and the door behind him was open just enough that I'd heard every word he said into that call. Enough to know it wasn't business. Enough to know it was about me.

"I was getting water," I said.

"From my study."

"From the kitchen. I got turned around."

He stepped closer, and I made myself hold still, because backing up now would just prove I had something to hide. His hand came up slow, not fast, not rough, and he took the phone right out of my fingers before I could stop him.

"Lock's still on," he said. "You didn't even try to record it. That's either stupid or honest. Pick one."

"I wasn't recording anything."

"I know. I watched you the whole time." He tipped his head toward the study door. "Camera in the hall light. You've walked under it four times a day for three months and never once looked up."

My stomach dropped.