Chapter Nine
Cody
Cody almost didn’t answer when Diane called.
After the past few days, every ring of his phone felt like bad news waiting to happen. Reid had been checking the perimeter every few hours, and each time he’d been triple checking that all the doors and windows were locked before heading out. The stalker had not been back.
Cody sighed then swiped his finger across the screen to answer the call. “Hey,” he greeted cautiously.
“Hey Cody, I haven’t got any news for you, I’m afraid, but we need to talk about Nashville.”
His stomach tightened. “What about it?”
“The CMAs are in three weeks,” she said. “You know you’ve been nominated.”
Cody glanced at Reid, who had already gone still, listening.
“I know,” Cody said. “But—”
“You have to be there.”
Cody let out a short breath. “Diane—”
“No,” she cut in, sharper now. “This isn’t optional. You don’t disappear after a nomination like this. Not at your level. You know how important your safety is to me, but this is important.”
Cody dragged a hand through his hair. “There’s a stalker who just found me in the middle of nowhere.”
“I know that Cody, but honestly, what does it matter now? He knows where you are anyway. At least in Nashville you’ll be surrounded by people. Surely he won’t try anything stupid there. And you’ve spent years building your career, I know what these awards mean to you.”
Cody nodded, even though she couldn’t see it. She was right, of course. These awards did mean a lot to him. He used to watch them before he got his big break and dream about being on that stage and winning an award of his own.
Reid stepped closer, close enough that Cody could feel the tension radiating off him.
“How public is his attendance?” Reid asked quietly.
Cody put the call on speaker.
“Very,” Diane said. “Press, red carpet, live broadcast. All of it.”
Reid’s jaw tightened. “It’s a security nightmare.”
“I’m aware,” Diane said. “Which is why I’m calling now. We have three weeks to lock this down properly. You’re the best at what you do. I trust that you can keep him safe.”
Silence stretched between them for a moment.
Reid’s hand found the back of Cody’s neck, steady and grounding. “Do you want to go?” he asked.
Cody closed his eyes for a second. By the time he opened them again, his decision was made.
“I’m going,” he said.
Reid went very still, his face stoic. “Then I’ll be there every second to protect you.
* * *
The next three weeks were a whirlwind of preparation. Diane arranged a custom suit fitting, a styling session, and a media schedule that Cody negotiated down to two pre-approved interviews and a photo call. No ambush press.
Cody threw himself into the preparations because it gave him something to focus on besides the fear that crept in at night, when the ranch was dark and every sound outside the windows made his pulse spike.
Reid noticed. Of course he noticed.
“You’re not sleeping,” Reid said one night, finding Cody on the sofa at two in the morning, guitar in his lap, but not playing.
“I’m fine.”
“You’re a terrible liar.” Reid sat beside him. “Talk to me.”
Cody heaved a sigh. “What if he’s in Nashville? What if the CMAs are exactly the kind of event where he’d try something? Everyone knows I’ve been nominated and that I’ll be attending so what if he uses the opportunity to get to me.”
“That’s why we’re bringing a full team,” Reid said patiently.
“I know. But what if it’s not enough? What if he gets close and—”
“Hey.” Reid turned Cody’s face toward him. “I won’t let anyone hurt you. That’s not a promise I make lightly. Do you trust me?”
“Of course I do. I’d trust you with my life.”
“Then trust me with this. If he shows up there, we’ll be ready for him.”
“Why do you think he hasn’t come back here?”
Reid shrugged. “Probably because he knows he can’t get to you here.” The house is surrounded on all sides with open fields and the tree line is too far away. He knows you’re protected here so he’s not going to take the chance of getting caught.”
Cody leaned into him feeling marginally reassured, and Reid wrapped an arm around his shoulders.
They sat on the couch until and Cody finally started to fall asleep against Reid’s chest then Reid carried him up to the bedroom they now shared and Cody drifted off into a deep, contented sleep in Reid’s arms.
* * *
Diane called again a week before the ceremony. This time her voice was tight.
“Another letter arrived at the office,” she said. “It’s the same handwriting.”
Cody’s stomach dropped. “What did it say?”
“More of the same possessive language. But this one mentioned Nashville specifically.”
Cody sighed. “I suppose it was too much to hope that his obsession had waned.”
“Detective Morrison is taking it seriously now. He’s coordinating with Nashville PD for additional security at the venue.” Diane exhaled. “Cody, I know I said you had to attend this event, but if it’s too much for you, if you think it will be too dangerous…”
Cody looked across the living room at Reid, who was on the phone with Garrett, spreading venue blueprints across the dining table. Maps, sight lines, entry and exit points. He was treating this like a military operation.
“No,” Cody said. “I’ll be fine. I’ll have the best bodyguard in the country standing next to me.”
“That’s what I figured you’d say. Just stay close to Reid. And for the love of God, don’t wander off anywhere alone.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Cody said, his mouth stretching into a grin.
After he hung up, Cody walked over to where Reid was working. The dining table was covered in papers. As well as the floor plans of the venue, and a schedule of events, there were headshots of the security personnel who’d been vetted for the detail.
“Wow, this is all so detailed,” Cody said, picking up a floor plan.
Reid nodded. “Garrett’s already in Nashville. He’s walked the venue three times and identified twelve potential vulnerabilities, all of which will be covered by our team or Nashville PD.” Reid looked up at him and frowned. “So, another letter?”
“Yeah, same trash as before. He mentioned the awards.”
Reid’s expression didn’t change, but his eyes went hard. The predator in him, the part that Cody sometimes glimpsed when danger was close, rose and held steady.
“Good,” Reid said firmly.
Cody frowned. “Good?”
“I want him to come. If he comes to Nashville, I’ll be ready for him. We can capture him and then this ends.”
Cody studied Reid’s face, the hard set of his jaw, the controlled intensity in his eyes. For the first time, the idea of going to Nashville didn’t just feel frightening. It felt like a step toward something. Not just an award, but the possibility of a resolution. Of finally being free.
“Okay,” Cody said. “Let’s do this.”