Reid was standing at the edge of the aisle, waiting. He pulled Cody into a brief, fierce embrace. “I’m so proud of you,” he said against Cody’s ear.
“Let’s get through the rest of the night,” Cody whispered back. “Then you can take me home and show me how proud you are.”
Reid chuckled at Cody’s joke. “You can count on it.”
* * *
The backstage area was a labyrinth of corridors, green rooms, and loading docks. After the ceremony ended, Diane herded Cody toward a press room for winner’s photographs and a couple of approved interviews.
Reid stayed at his side through all of it. Garrett’s voice crackled periodically through the earpiece Reid wore, relaying updates to Cody from the team. Everything was quiet. No incidents, no threats detected.
Cody began to breathe easier.
“Almost done,” Diane said, checking her phone. “One more photo call, then we can head back to the hotel.”
“I need a minute,” Cody said, rubbing his face. The adrenaline crash was setting in, exhaustion replacing the electric high. “Is there somewhere quiet?”
“Hang on, I’ll check.” Diane pointed down a corridor. “Green room three is empty. I’ll come get you in ten minutes.”
Reid started to follow, but his earpiece buzzed. He pressed a finger to it, listening.
“Garrett needs me for two minutes,” Reid said, his expression tight. “Perimeter issue on the west side.”
“Go,” Cody said. “It’s just a few minutes. I’ll be fine in the green room. I’ll sit on a couch and stare at my award in awe.”
Cody had meant to make him smile, but Reid only frowned harder.
“Honestly, I’ll be fine,” Cody said. “Go.”
Reid hesitated, every line of his body resisting. Then he leaned in, kissed Cody’s temple, and disappeared down the hall.
Cody pushed open the green room door and stepped inside. The room was small, with a couch, a mirror, and a table with a few small bottles of water sitting on it. Cody set his award on the table and sank onto the couch, letting his head fall back. He closed his eyes and breathed in deeply. The crash after an adrenaline rush always made him tired. He could feel himself begin to drift off to sleep and didn’t even think of fighting it.
Then the door opened and closed with a soft click.
Cody blinked his eyes open, expecting Diane.
The man standing in the doorway was tall, and thin, and somewhere in his mid-thirties. He had dark hair and pale eyes that shone with a feverish intensity. He wore a staff lanyard around his neck, the kind that backstage workers carried, but Cody would have recognized that face anywhere. In his right hand, half-hidden against his thigh, the man was holding a knife.
Cody’s blood turned to ice.
“You know who I am,” the man said. His voice was quiet, almost gentle.
Cody couldn’t speak. Couldn’t move.
“I’m Daniel. I’ve been writing to you. A lot of letters. I know you got them.” He took a step closer. “I’ve been waiting a long time to meet you in person, Cody.”
“How did you get in here?” Cody’s voice came out thin and reedy, nothing like the voice that had just accepted an award in front of millions.
“I’ve been here for months. Working the venue. Cleaning, setting up, tearing down. Nobody notices the maintenance staff.” Daniel smiled, and it was the most terrifying thing Cody had ever seen—a smile of absolute conviction. “I needed a way to be close to you. I needed you to see me.”
“Daniel, listen to me—”
“No,youlisten.” The gentleness evaporated. Daniel’s voice went hard, his grip tightening on the knife. “I saw the photograph you posted. With that man. He had his arm around you like he owned you.”
Cody’s stomach churned. The Instagram photo. Reid’s arm around his shoulders. Home. He hadn’t been referring to the ranch, he’d been talking about Reid.Hewas Cody’s home.
It had only been a few weeks ago, but it felt like a distant memory now. As he glanced at the knife, he wondered if he would ever see Reid again.
