Nicki froze, his heart stumbling in his chest. The glass in his hand suddenly felt heavy. He hadn't expected Jaxon to piece the puzzle together so accurately.
Nicki forced himself to take a breath, trying to keep his voice steady as he looked back at Jaxon. "What did you see?" he asked quietly. "What made you ask that?"
Jaxon didn't answer immediately. Instead, he walked over to the bar, poured himself a glass of wine, and joined Nicki on the sofa. He settled in beside him, the silence stretching tight. "You don't need to ask how I know or what I saw," Jaxon said, his eyes fixed on Nicki. "I'm just curious. I need to know if I'm right. Was he the one?"
Nicki looked at him once, seeing the steady, calm demand in Jaxon's eyes. He realized there was no point in lying. "You're right," Nicki admitted, his shoulders slumping slightly. "He is. I'm sorry... the reason I never mentioned his name was—"
