Chapter 5 Locked

Nico sat on the worn-out couch, the dim glow of the TV flashing lights on the apartment. Nico glared at the Tv when a knock came in.

That might be Leo. He had thought.

Before he could react, the door burst open. Police officers rushed in, their guns drawn.

"Hands up!"

Nico's body stiffened. His mind was a blur. He raised his hands slowly, his pulse pounding in his ears. His eyes darted around the room, trying to make sense of what was happening. Was this a mistake?

"What's going on?" Nico's voice was shaky as he tried to make sense of the situation.

"Get against the wall!" an officer barked. One of them grabbed Nico and shoved him roughly against the wall.

His breath caught in his throat, the shock of the sudden violence leaving him dizzy. They were everywhere, moving quickly, searching the apartment. Nico's chest tightened. What were they looking for?

Nico couldn't get a good look at the officers. They were in motion-opening drawers, flipping over furniture, yanking cushions off the couch, tearing through his things. His head spun, trying to keep track of what was happening, but all he could do was stand there, pinned against the wall by the officer's hand on his back.

Then, he saw it.

One of the officers pulled a small plastic bag from behind the fridge. The white powder inside gleamed under the harsh fluorescent light. Nico's stomach twisted into a tight knot as the officer waved it in the air for the others to see.

"Found something here," the officer called out.

Another officer pulled something from under Leo's bed, and there was more. Behind the toilet. In the back of the kitchen cabinet.

Nico's chest tightened. "Wait! That's not mine!" His voice cracked. He was in shock, trying to make sense of the scene, but nothing felt real.

The officer holding him smirked, his eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Then why is it all over your place?"

"I swear, I don't know anything about this!" Nico's voice was rising now, panic creeping into every word. "It's Leo's! He's the one you want! I don't know anything about the drugs!"

"Where is he?" the officer demanded, grabbing Nico by the shirt, his grip so tight it hurt.

"I-I don't know! I hadn't seen him for two days now, but-"

Before he could finish, the officer twisted his arms behind his back. Nico winced in pain, his breath coming in short bursts. Cold metal cuffs snapped around his wrists with a chilling finality.

"You can explain at the station," the officer said, his tone cold and detached.

"No, wait! Please, listen to me!" Nico pleaded, struggling against the cuffs. But his words fell on deaf ears. They ignored him, focused solely on the drugs they had found. His explanation didn't matter.

They dragged him out of the apartment, through the front door, and into the harsh night air. The bright red and blue lights of the squad car flashed in his face as they shoved him into the backseat. The sirens wailed, cutting through the night, but it all felt like a dream, like it wasn't really happening.

---

The drive to the station felt endless, every second stretching on forever. Nico couldn't stop thinking about Leo, about what had happened to him, about how everything had just gone so wrong so quickly.

At the police station, Nico was led down a long corridor, the sound of his footsteps echoing in the empty hallway. His wrists were sore from the cuffs, but that was the least of his worries now. He didn't know what would happen next, but it was hard to imagine it getting any worse.

They shoved him into a small, dimly lit room with a single metal chair in the center. Nico sank into it as the door slammed shut behind him. He could hear the sound of voices in the hallway, muffled by the thick walls.

The seconds ticked by in silence. Nico's mind raced. He needed to think, needed a plan, but his thoughts were scattered, too chaotic.

The door opened again, and a tall detective stepped inside. Nico looked up, his heart hammering in his chest.

The detective was older, his face worn with years of experience. His hair was graying at the temples, and his sharp eyes bore into Nico like he was already guilty. His suit was neatly pressed, but the hard lines around his mouth and the way his posture seemed to stiffen as he stepped forward told Nico everything he needed to know-this was no ordinary cop. This man was used to getting answers.

"Start talking," the detective said, his voice low and serious. "Where's Leo?"

Nico swallowed hard. He could feel the sweat on the back of his neck, his throat dry. "I told you, I don't know where he is."

The detective's eyes narrowed. "You expect me to believe that? You live with the guy, and drugs are all over your apartment, and you aren't involved? Is that a coincidence?."

Nico shook his head, his heart racing. "I swear, I don't know anything about the drugs! They're not mine! I didn't put them there!"

The detective leaned in closer, his gaze cold and unyielding. "Then why did we find them in your place, Nico? Why don't you explain that?"

Nico's chest tightened. His throat felt tight, and he could barely breathe. He had never felt so helpless, so trapped in his life. The detective's voice was like ice, but Nico was too scared to even try to fight back. The situation was moving out of control faster than he could process.

"Tell me where Leo is," the detective demanded again, his voice rising with frustration. "Or this all falls on you. You know what that means, right? Possession with intent to distribute. That's serious. Very serious."

Nico's stomach dropped. He wasn't stupid. He knew how bad this could get. If they pinned the drugs on him, he could be facing years in prison. His mind raced. He needed to get out of here. He needed to find a way to clear his name. But he couldn't do it on his own.

"I don't know where he is," Nico repeated, his voice trembling. "I really don't. Please, you've got to believe me."

The detective stared at him for a long moment, eyes like daggers. Then, with a heavy sigh, he straightened up.

"Fine," he said, his voice hard. "We'll find him. When we do, we'll get the truth. But until then, you're staying put."

The door opened again, and another officer stepped inside, his eyes cold and indifferent. He grabbed Nico's arm roughly, pulling him to his feet.

"Come on," the officer said, dragging him out of the room. "We'll find a nice, quiet cell for you."

Nico was pushed down a dark hallway and shoved into a holding cell. The heavy door slammed shut behind him with a deafening bang.

He collapsed onto the cold metal bench, his body shaking. The chill of the cell seeped into his bones, but it was nothing compared to the fear in him. He didn't know what to do. He didn't know how to fix this.

The silence was crushing. All he could hear was the pounding of his own heart in his ears, the distant sounds of voices echoing in the halls. How had everything gone so wrong?

And then, just as Nico was starting to lose all hope, he heard a familiar voice-deep and smooth, filled with authority.

"I'll take it from here."

Nico's breath caught in his throat. He knew that voice.

Giovanni.

What was he doing here?

His stomach twisted. Of all the people Nico didn't want to see right now, Giovanni was at the top of the list. But as the heavy footsteps drew nearer, Nico realized-he had no choice. Giovanni was the only one who could get him out of this mess.The worst part? He didn't know what Giovanni would want in return.