Is that a threat?

Isla’s POV “Is that a threat?” The words slipped out before I could stop them. Rico’s head snapped toward me, eyes widening, then he laughed—too loud, too fast, like he needed to erase the tone he’d just used seconds earlier. “No—no,” he said quickly, waving one hand as if swatting the moment away. “Jesus, Isla. I didn’t mean to scare you. It’s just—” He sighed, scrubbing a hand over his jaw. “This crazy reflex of mine. Occupational hazard, I guess. I’m sorry.” His smile came back, easy and charming, like it always did. But the coldness lingered. I nodded slowly, telling myself not to overthink it, even as my mind betrayed me and jumped backward in time—back to that night stuck at the checkpoint, Rico leaning out of his car window, calmly speaking to two armed policemen like he owne