Ch. 4: Cracks in the Armor
The morning after the barbecue, Olivia woke up to a wave of nausea hitting her so suddenly that she barely made it to the bathroom in time to empty her stomach. "Ugh," she groaned, sitting on the floor with her head in the toilet. Nick, having heard her rush out of bed, gently knocked on the door. "Olivia, you okay? Can I get you anything?" She whispered to herself, "Shit," before responding, "No thanks, Nick. I think I just ate something last night that didn't agree with me. Go ahead and do your run, I'll cook breakfast." Nick stood there for a moment, looking like he wanted to do more but finally said, "Fine. I'll be back in 30 minutes," before heading out to run. Once the moment passed, Olivia placed a hand on her stomach and murmured, "Kid, you better be cute, because I don't know how much longer I can do this." She slowly stood up, changed into some casual clothes, and made her way downstairs to the kitchen.
Thirty minutes later, she heard Nick return from his run. She set his plate down on the kitchen island as he walked in, smiling at her. "Thanks, Liv. I really appreciate all the cooking you do." She smiled back, her cheeks flushing. "Nick, it's no big deal." He took a forkful of French toast and grinned. "How about I cook you dinner tonight?" She raised an eyebrow. "Really? You cook?"
"Yeah, my mom and abuela taught me," he replied. "They'd be mad if they found out we spent this much time together and I didn't cook you a meal." Olivia laughed. "Well, we wouldn't want Mama Amaro or Abuela mad at us. Okay, sounds good." As they continued eating, Nick's tone shifted. "Uh, Liv," he started uncertainly before continuing gently, "Are you sure you're alright? I know you keep saying it's just the stress of the case, but give me more credit than that. I'm good at my job, and I know you're lying. Please, let me in." His voice softened with concern.
Olivia met his gaze, and for a moment, she saw both desire and compassion in his eyes. She was so close to telling him the truth, but she wasn't ready yet. So she opted for a different approach. "Uh, Nick, it's personal, but since you're so worried, I'll tell you." She paused, pretending to look embarrassed before saying, "It's... uh, my time of the month this week, and with all the stress of the case, everything just feels more heightened emotionally. It's taking a toll on me."
Nick studied her for a moment, trying to assess whether she was being truthful. After a beat, he nodded, and she could tell he bought her story. She tried not to let out a sigh of relief. He bought it, she thought, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders.
As the days passed, Olivia and Nick continued to settle into their roles—playing the perfect couple in front of their neighbors, all while hiding the tension that simmered beneath the surface. Their interactions had become more comfortable, but the unspoken feelings between them were becoming harder to ignore. Their chemistry was undeniable, and the constant closeness, the soft touches, the lingering glances, only made the air around them crackle with energy. They both knew it was just a matter of time before the line between pretending and reality would blur.
One evening, just as Olivia was setting the table for dinner, she heard Nick's footsteps behind her. He leaned over her shoulder, his breath warm against her ear. "You know, we're getting pretty good at this whole 'husband and wife' thing," he murmured, his lips brushing the side of her neck. She fought the shiver that ran down her spine but couldn't help the small smile that tugged at her lips. "I wouldn't go that far," she replied softly, turning her head just enough to meet his eyes. There was a teasing glint in them, but beneath it, she could see the genuine warmth, the same warmth that made her heart race whenever he looked at her like that. She quickly looked away, focusing on the plates in front of her. "We're just doing what we have to do."
"Yeah," he said, drawing out the word with a touch of humor. "But it feels real sometimes, doesn't it?" The question hung in the air between them, and Olivia didn't know how to answer. Part of her wanted to deny it, to remind herself that this was all just a cover for their investigation, but another part of her—one that she tried to push away—was beginning to wonder if there could be something more.
That evening, they were invited to yet another casual backyard barbecue, with all the familiar faces from their block. The warmth of the sun hung in the air, and the sound of laughter and clinking glasses made it feel almost like a normal summer evening. But as Olivia stepped outside with Nick, her eyes scanned the crowd, looking for anything out of the ordinary.
The moment they walked into the backyard, she noticed the teenage girls again. A few of them were standing near the grill, talking and laughing with some of the older men. Olivia's gut tightened as she recognized them—their faces were far too familiar. She had seen these girls before, in the missing persons reports at the precinct. The same girls whose faces had been plastered on posters around the city. She didn't say anything to Nick right away, but the sickening feeling in her stomach returned. It wasn't just the heat or the food; it was the realization that they were surrounded by people who might know more than they were letting on. Nick leaned in close, his voice low. "You okay?" he asked, sensing the shift in her demeanor. Olivia nodded, though it didn't feel right. "I think we should mingle," she said, her voice tight, "but keep our eyes and ears open. These girls… they're connected to the case." Nick studied her for a moment before nodding. "Got it. Let's find out what we can."
The two of them made their way through the crowd, exchanging pleasantries with the neighbors and trying to stay close to the girls without drawing attention. It wasn't long before they overheard snippets of conversation that made Olivia's heart race. The girls seemed nervous, their laughter forced, glancing around as if someone was watching them. While they were talking to one of the neighbors near the grill, one of the girls, a brunette with a striking resemblance to the girl on the missing persons flyer, caught Olivia's gaze. There was something in her eyes—fear, perhaps—but Olivia couldn't be sure. Before she could approach, the girl quickly turned away, disappearing into the crowd.
As the night wore on, Olivia felt the weight of the situation settling in. She couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right in the neighborhood. The families were friendly, but their smiles felt hollow. There were too many secrets being kept, too many things left unsaid.
At some point, she and Nick found themselves alone near the edge of the yard, out of earshot from the others. The tension between them was palpable, and Olivia couldn't ignore it anymore. She turned to him, her voice quieter than usual. "Nick, we need to be careful. I think we're closer to something bigger here. These girls… They've been missing for weeks, but now I'm seeing them right in front of me. Someone here knows something." Nick nodded, his expression hardening. "I agree. We can't let our guard down. Whatever's going on, it's connected to all of this."
Olivia's hand unconsciously moved to her stomach, her fingers lightly brushing against the fabric of her shirt. She quickly pulled it away, hoping Nick hadn't noticed, but he caught the movement. "You okay?" he asked, his voice gentle, a hint of concern in his eyes. "I'm fine," she said quickly, her voice too sharp. "Just… just tired, that's all." Nick didn't push, but Olivia could see the doubt in his eyes. He was used to reading people, and he knew something wasn't right. But he didn't press further. Instead, he reached out, his hand briefly resting on her lower back in a gesture that was both protective and comforting. It sent a shiver through her, and for a brief moment, she forgot about everything—the case, the neighborhood, even the life growing inside her. But then the moment passed, and the reality of what she was hiding came rushing back. Her pregnancy was becoming harder to ignore. The nausea, the exhaustion, the emotional rollercoaster—it was all getting too much to handle. And as much as she wanted to tell Nick, she couldn't bring herself to do it yet. Not when everything was so complicated, not when the case was hanging over their heads like a shadow.
But she knew, deep down, that this wasn't just nerves anymore. This was something that would change everything. And it could be the one thing that would connect her and Nick forever.
The next morning, as Olivia and Nick sat in their kitchen over coffee, an unexpected knock at the door interrupted their quiet moment. Nick stood up first, his usual protective instinct kicking in, and walked over to the door. Olivia felt a tightening in her chest, an unease she couldn't quite place, as Nick opened it to find a plain envelope sitting on the doorstep. It wasn't sealed with any official stamps or markings, just an unmarked envelope with their names scrawled across the front. Nick picked it up, glanced at it briefly, then looked back at Olivia with a raised eyebrow. "It's for us," he said, holding it out. Olivia took it from him slowly, her fingers brushing against the paper as a chill ran down her spine. She could already tell something wasn't right. She turned it over, but there was no return address, nothing to indicate who had sent it. Her heart began to race, but she managed to stay calm as she opened it.
Inside was a photograph—one that took her a moment to comprehend. It was a picture of Nick and her, taken from behind the privacy of their house, standing close to each other. The photo was a candid shot, one that she had no idea had been taken. It looked like it was snapped through a window from a distance, capturing the two of them in a rare, unguarded moment. She was leaning into him, and Nick had his arm around her waist, a gesture that could easily be mistaken for something more intimate.
As Olivia's eyes moved from the photo to the letter inside, her breath caught in her throat. The letter was short, but the words hit her like a punch.
"I see you two. You can't hide what's real. I know what you are. I'm watching."
Nick's face darkened as he read the letter over her shoulder. "What the hell is this?" he muttered, the calm demeanor slipping from his voice. Olivia's mind raced. The stalker, whoever they were, clearly believed the façade they were maintaining was more than just an act. They thought they were truly a couple. Worse yet, they seemed to be watching them, tracking their every move. It sent a wave of panic through Olivia's chest, but she fought to keep her composure. They couldn't let anyone know how rattled they were—not yet, at least.
"What do we do now?" she whispered, barely above a breath. Nick took the letter from her and folded it back into the envelope. "We will report it. We can't let this slide. Whoever this is, they're dangerous." He stepped closer to her, his voice low. "Liv, we need to be careful. Whoever's watching us might know more than we realize. This could be connected to the case."
She nodded, trying to steady her breathing. The weight of the situation was heavier than before. It wasn't just about their fake marriage anymore. It wasn't just a cover for their undercover operation. They had become a target, and it was getting personal.
As the morning unfolded, they agreed to keep things under wraps for now. They'd report it to the precinct, but they didn't want to alarm anyone yet. Not until they had more information. Olivia could feel the tension mounting between them, a sense of impending danger hanging in the air. "I don't know if I can keep pretending like this," Olivia admitted, her voice softer than usual. "What if they come for us? What if they know about the case, about everything we've been doing?"
Nick placed his hand on her shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "We're in this together, Liv. I've got your back. Whatever comes next, we face it as a team." Olivia looked at him, and for a moment, it felt like their charade was slipping away. The concern in his eyes, the way his hand lingered on her, felt real. Almost too real. She wanted to believe him, to trust him with everything she was feeling, but there was too much uncertainty, too many risks involved.
"I'm not so sure anymore," she murmured. "Everything's starting to get tangled up. This whole thing... it's bigger than I thought." Nick's gaze softened. "You're not alone in this, Liv. You never have been. We'll figure this out."
His words lingered in the air between them, and Olivia felt a rush of emotions she hadn't anticipated—fear, hope, desire. She was starting to feel like the lines between the investigation and her growing feelings for Nick were blurring. She didn't know how to navigate this anymore.
As the day wore on, Olivia couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched, that the stalker was somewhere, close by, waiting for the right moment to make their move. The weight of the photo in her hands felt like a constant reminder that they were no longer just pretending. They were in too deep.
That night, as they lay in bed, Olivia found it harder to ignore the sense of dread in her chest. The case was becoming more dangerous than they'd anticipated, and she was caught in the middle of it, trying to play a role she wasn't sure she could keep up for much longer.
Nick, sensing her tension, reached over and took her hand, threading his fingers through hers. "Liv," he whispered, his voice barely audible in the dark room, "we're going to get through this. We'll figure it out. Together."
For a moment, she felt a sense of comfort in his words. But deep down, she knew this wasn't just about the case anymore. They were in this together—whether they liked it or not. And somewhere in the depths of her heart, she realized she wasn't just pretending to be married to him anymore. It was becoming something more.
The photo and letter had shaken Olivia to her core. She hadn't realized just how much it would affect her until she was alone in their bedroom, staring at the envelope, her hands trembling as she replayed the moment over and over in her head. It wasn't just the danger that sent a wave of fear through her; it was everything else—the fear that she was in too deep, the constant pressure of pretending to be something she wasn't, and the overwhelming weight of her secret. The one she hadn't been able to share with anyone, not even Nick.
She felt like she was drowning under the weight of it all. And she couldn't hold it in any longer.
Nick had gone into the living room to make some calls, trying to handle the situation calmly, but Olivia couldn't shake the feeling that she was losing control. The tension in the air had grown thick, and she couldn't suppress the tears that started to well up. She didn't want to break down in front of him. Not yet. She didn't want to admit to herself that she was scared—not just of the stalker or the case, but of what was happening between them, of what she was feeling, of everything she couldn't control. But as the weight of her secret grew unbearable, she couldn't stop herself. She collapsed onto the bed, the tears falling freely now, her chest tight and aching with the strain of holding it all inside. A few moments later, Nick was at the door, his face soft with concern. "Liv?" His voice was tentative, worried. "Are you okay?" Olivia couldn't answer right away, the tears spilling from her eyes as she wiped them away furiously. She hated herself for crying. She hated feeling so weak, but she couldn't hide it any longer. She could feel him standing there, watching her, unsure of what to do. "Nick," she said, her voice breaking as she finally looked up at him. "I... I'm not okay. I don't know what to do. I've been keeping something from you... from everyone." She took a shaky breath. "I'm pregnant, Nick."
The room fell silent. For a moment, Nick didn't say anything, his expression unreadable. Olivia could feel the air between them crackling with uncertainty. She braced herself for the disappointment, for the worry, for the judgment she was sure was coming. But instead, Nick stepped forward, his eyes softening with something else—something warm, something unexpected. He reached for her, gently pulling her into his arms, his grip firm and reassuring. Olivia tensed for a moment, surprised by the immediate contact, but then relaxed, allowing herself to sink into the comfort he offered. She rested her head against his chest, her tears slowing as she felt the warmth of his embrace. "You're pregnant?" he whispered, his voice filled with disbelief, but underneath it, there was something else—something deeper. "Liv, you're... you're really pregnant?"
She nodded, her hands clutching onto the fabric of his shirt as she let out a long breath. "I didn't know how to tell you. It's... it's just so much. And I don't know if I'm ready. I don't know if we're ready." Nick pulled back just enough to look her in the eye, his hands cupping her face gently, as if to reassure her that he wasn't going anywhere. There was a spark of something in his eyes now—something that hadn't been there before. Something raw and genuine. "Liv," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "You don't have to be ready right now. But I'm here. And I'm not going anywhere. We're in this together. All of it."
The sincerity in his words hit Olivia like a tidal wave. She had never expected this, had never imagined that he could be this supportive. She had thought he would pull away, that this would be too much for him, especially with everything they were already dealing with. But as she looked at him, she saw nothing but understanding, nothing but a deep, unwavering support. "I don't know what to do," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I've been pretending for so long, Nick. I don't know if I can keep doing this. It's all getting too real." Nick didn't hesitate. He moved his hand to the small of her back, guiding her closer to him, his lips brushing the top of her head. "We'll figure it out, Liv. One step at a time. I don't care about all the secrets and lies. What I care about is you—and this baby. We'll face whatever comes next. Together."
His words, his touch, filled her with a sense of peace she hadn't expected. She felt his heart beating steadily against her, and for the first time in what felt like forever, she allowed herself to believe that maybe, just maybe, everything would be okay. "I'm scared, Nick," she admitted softly, her voice small in the quiet room. "What if I'm not ready? What if I mess everything up?" Nick tilted her chin up so their eyes met. His gaze was steady, unwavering. "You don't have to have it all figured out right now. You just need to know that I'm here, no matter what. I want to be with you. I want to be there for you—and for our baby." Olivia felt the weight of his words sink in, and something shifted inside her. She wasn't alone in this. She never had been. And for the first time since she had found out she was pregnant, a glimmer of hope sparked inside her—a hope that maybe, just maybe, everything would work out after all.