Dominic
16
__________
The whistleblower’s files glow on my screen, each line of text driving the knife deeper. Kane Enterprises was supposed to be untouchable—a fortress. Yet here it is: proof of my blind spots. Conrad, the man I trusted with the keys to my kingdom, built the backdoor that made us vulnerable.
My jaw tightens, fists curling at my sides. “Conrad, you bastard,” I mutter.
“?” Eva’s voice cuts through the storm in my head. She’s standing in the doorway, hesitant yet unwavering. Her expression demands answers.
I motion for her to approach. She steps in without hesitation. “What is it?” she asks.
I turn the laptop toward her. “Take a look.”
Her eyes widen as she reads, her face shifting from disbelief to fury. “This backdoor,” she begins, her voice taut, “isn’t just a vulnerability. It gives Mercer—or anyone with access—control over Kane Enterprises. Your accounts, your trade secrets, even your infrastructure. They could dismantle everything.”
Her words strike harder than I expect, but I force myself to remain composed. “And Conrad built it.”
Her gaze sharpens. “When?”
“Years ago,” I bite out. “When he was CTO. This isn’t something you throw together overnight. He must’ve started the moment I trusted him to lead the tech division.”
Her brow furrows as she crosses her arms, processing. “And you didn’t notice?”
The implication stings. “If I had, do you think we’d be in this mess now?”
Her lips press into a thin line, but she doesn’t relent. “I’m not blaming you, . I’m trying to understand how someone so close to you pulled this off. Didn’t you have safeguards?”
Her question grates, though I know she’s not wrong. “Conrad was brilliant,” I say tightly. “Brilliant enough to make himself indispensable. He earned my trust. He earned everyone’s trust.”
Her frustration flickers to the surface. “Maybe that’s the problem. Your loyalty blinds you, . That’s how they screwed you over.”
Her words cut deeper than I want to admit. My voice drops, low and cold. “Be careful, Eva. You’re walking a fine line.”
She steps closer, her chin tilting defiantly. “What line is that? The one where I tell you the truth you don’t want to hear? Someone you trusted betrayed you, and your refusal to question them made it possible.”
The air between us crackles, the tension sharp enough to shatter. I want to lash out, to defend myself, but the truth stares back at me from the screen.
I rake a hand through my hair and turn toward the window, the glittering city below suddenly hollow. “What do you want me to say?”
Her tone softens. “I want you to stop shutting me out. You don’t have to fix this alone. If we’re going to stop Mercer—and whoever else is behind this—we need to do it together.”
Her words hit like a jolt. Together. It’s foreign, but the conviction in her eyes leaves no room for argument.
“Together,” I echo, the word strange in my mouth.
She nods, a small smile breaking through the tension. “Together.”
The space between us shifts, the sharp edges softening. Her hand brushes mine, a fleeting touch that sends heat sparking through me. I hold her gaze, unable to move, unable to break the spell.
Then my phone buzzes, shattering the moment like glass.
I step back, grabbing the device. “What?”
“It’s Adrian,” comes the clipped response. “We’ve traced the backdoor’s activity. It was accessed within the last forty-eight hours. We might still be able to track the user.”
“Do it,” I say, my voice sharp. “And pull Conrad’s travel history for the last year. I want everything, down to his coffee runs.”
“On it,” Adrian replies before the line disconnects.
I set the phone down and turn to Eva. Her eyes are steady, her resolve matching my own.
“We’re closing in,” I tell her.
She nods, determination flickering. “Then let’s finish this.”
Later That Night
The penthouse feels suffocating, the air charged with tension. Eva paces the living room, her frustration barely contained. For the third time, she asks to review the files.
“No,” I say firmly.
“Why not?” she snaps, hands on her hips.
“Because it’s not safe,” I reply, my tone like steel. “You’ve seen enough. The more you know, the bigger the target on your back.”
She scoffs, shaking her head. “, the target’s already there. If you haven’t noticed, they’re not exactly pulling punches.”
Her words hit harder than I’d like. Mercer’s veiled threats replay in my mind. Just make sure she stays out of it.
“They’ll have to go through me first,” I say darkly.
Her expression softens. “You can’t protect me from everything.”
“Watch me.”
She shakes her head but allows a faint smile to tug at her lips. “Stubborn.”
“You have no idea.”
The penthouse alarm blares, a piercing wail slicing through the silence. My pulse surges as I grab the gun from my desk.
“Stay here,” I bark.
Eva’s already on her feet, her face pale but defiant. “—”
“Stay. Here.” My tone brooks no argument.
I move swiftly, scanning the security feeds. A hooded figure prowls the lower levels, their movements deliberate. They’re not hiding. They want us to know they’re here.
A chill races down my spine. They’re not here for me. They’re here for Eva.
I sprint into the living room, my grip tightening on the gun. “Eva!”
A crash from the kitchen sends my pulse into overdrive. Rounding the corner, I freeze at the sight.
Eva is pressed against the wall, a masked man gripping her arm.
“Let her go!” I bark, aiming the gun at the intruder.
The man freezes, his head snapping toward me. His face is covered, his body coiled like a spring.
“!” Eva’s voice trembles, her fear slicing through my haze of rage.
My finger hovers on the trigger. “I said let her go,” I repeat, my tone lethal.
The man hesitates, then shoves Eva toward me before bolting for the balcony. I catch her as she stumbles, her body trembling in my arms.
“It’s okay,” I murmur, holding her close. “You’re safe now.”
But as I watch the intruder vanish into the night, one thought sears my mind: This is just the beginning.
The apartment feels unnaturally quiet in the aftermath of the alarm. Eva’s trembling form is still pressed against my chest, her breaths shallow and uneven. I hold her for a second longer than necessary, the protective instinct roaring louder than the rational voice in my head telling me to stay focused.
“,” she whispers, her voice barely audible against my pounding heartbeat. “He—he knew my name.”
Her words send a chill down my spine. Whoever this masked intruder was, they weren’t some random threat. They came with a purpose—and with information that was far too personal.
“I’ll handle it,” I say firmly, releasing her just enough to scan her face. Her wide green eyes are filled with fear she’s desperately trying to suppress. “Are you hurt?”
She shakes her head, her gaze darting toward the shattered glass scattered across the kitchen floor. “No, but—”
“Good.” My voice is sharper than I intend, but I can’t afford to let emotions cloud my judgment. Not now. “Stay here. Don’t move until I come back.”
“,” she snaps, grabbing my arm as I start to pull away. “You can’t just—”
“Eva.” I cut her off, my tone hard but not unkind. “Please. Trust me.”
Her hand lingers on my forearm, her fingers tightening for a fraction of a second before she lets go. The vulnerability in her eyes threatens to undo me, but I force myself to turn away and head toward the balcony.
The cool night air hits me as I step outside. The city sprawls below, glittering and oblivious to the chaos unfolding here. My grip tightens on the gun as I scan the shadows, every muscle in my body coiled for a fight.
But the intruder is gone.
A gust of wind rattles the nearby railing, the only sound in the otherwise deafening silence. My jaw tightens as I step further onto the balcony, searching for any trace of the man who dared to threaten Eva under my roof. A rope dangles over the edge, swaying slightly—a quick escape route. Whoever he was, he came prepared.
I curse under my breath, turning back toward the penthouse. My mind races with questions: How did he get past my security? Who sent him? And why was Eva his target?
By the time I step back into the living room, Eva has moved from her spot near the kitchen. She’s perched on the edge of the couch now, her arms wrapped tightly around herself, but her chin is lifted in defiance. She’s terrified, but she’s not letting it control her.
“What did you find?” she asks, her voice steadier than I expect.
“He’s gone,” I admit, my frustration evident. “Used the balcony to make his escape.”
Her lips press into a thin line. “Then we call the police.”
“No.” The word comes out harsher than I mean it to, and her eyes narrow. “This isn’t something the police can handle, Eva. Whoever sent him is part of a much bigger game, and if we involve law enforcement, we’ll lose the upper hand.”
“So what?” she snaps. “We just wait for them to come back and try again?”
“No.” My voice drops, cold and resolute. “We make sure they don’t get the chance.”
I pull my phone from my pocket, dialing Adrian. He picks up on the first ring.
“Boss,” he says, his tone clipped. “I saw the alert. What happened?”
“An intruder made it into the penthouse,” I reply, my eyes flicking toward Eva. “He was after her.”
A sharp intake of breath on the other end of the line. “Do you have a description?”
“Masked. Hooded. Professional.” I pace the room, the adrenaline still coursing through me. “Check the building’s exterior cameras. I want to know how he got in and where he went.”
“On it,” Adrian says. “And ?”
“What?”
“Be careful. If they’re escalating like this, it means they’re desperate.”
I hang up without responding, shoving the phone back into my pocket. When I turn back to Eva, her arms are crossed, her gaze unyielding.
“You can’t keep me in the dark, ,” she says, her voice low but firm. “If they’re after me, I have a right to know why.”
“You do know why,” I snap, the tension spilling over. “Because of me. Because of the files. Because someone out there sees you as a way to get to me.”
“That’s not good enough,” she fires back, rising to her feet. “I’m not just some pawn in your game. If I’m a target, I need to be prepared.”
Her defiance sparks something in me—frustration, admiration, and something deeper I can’t afford to name. “Being prepared won’t mean a damn thing if they catch you off guard,” I say, stepping closer. “That’s why I’m here. To make sure that doesn’t happen.”
She doesn’t flinch, holding her ground even as I invade her space. “You can’t protect me from everything, . And you shouldn’t have to. I can handle myself.”
The fire in her eyes is both maddening and intoxicating. I don’t know whether to yell at her or kiss her. “You don’t understand how far they’ll go,” I say, my voice dropping. “If something happens to you—”
“Then it happens,” she interrupts, her voice softer now. “But I won’t live my life in fear, . And neither should you.”
Her words hit me harder than they should, cutting through the storm raging in my head. I take a step back, running a hand through my hair. “You’re impossible.”
“So are you,” she counters, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
The tension between us shifts, softening just enough for me to take a breath. “Fine,” I say grudgingly. “But from now on, you don’t go anywhere without me. Got it?”
Her smile fades, replaced by a seriousness that matches my own. “Got it.”
Hours Later
The penthouse is quiet again, but the sense of unease lingers. Adrian called back an hour ago to confirm the intruder’s escape route—a service elevator accessible from the building’s maintenance wing. It’s a weak point I’ll have to fix, but for now, it’s another question on an ever-growing list.
Eva is asleep on the couch, her head resting against the armrest. Her hair falls in loose waves around her face, her features relaxed in a way I rarely see. The sight stirs something in me—something dangerous. I can’t afford to get distracted by her, not when everything is on the line.
I turn back to my laptop, the files still open on the screen. Each decrypted line feels like another piece of a puzzle I can’t quite solve. The transactions lead back to Conrad’s shell company in Geneva, but the deeper I dig, the more I’m convinced he’s just a middleman. Falcon is the real threat, and whoever they are, they’ve stayed two steps ahead at every turn.
My phone buzzes, pulling me from my thoughts. It’s Adrian again.
“What now?” I ask, my voice clipped.
“I traced the intruder’s movements,” he says. “He didn’t leave alone. There was a car waiting for him two blocks away.”
“License plate?”
“Stolen,” Adrian replies. “But the driver—he looked familiar. I’m running facial recognition now, but I think it’s one of Mercer’s men.”
The news tightens something in my chest. Mercer is making his move, and he’s not bothering to hide it. “Keep me updated,” I say before ending the call.
As I set the phone down, my gaze drifts back to Eva. She stirs slightly, her brow furrowing as if caught in a dream. Whatever storm she’s facing in her mind, I know it’s nothing compared to what’s coming.
This isn’t just about me anymore. It’s about her. And I’ll be damned if I let anyone take her away from me.
The penthouse alarm blares again, jolting me to my feet. My heart slams into my ribs as I grab the gun from the desk.
Not again.
“!” Eva’s voice echoes from the living room, sharper this time, laced with fear.
I rush toward her, every nerve in my body on high alert. The cameras flash on the monitor as I pass, showing the figure moving through the building’s lower levels again. This time, they’re not alone.
Whoever they are, they’re not stopping until they get what they want.