Eva

29

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I sit on the edge of the bed in Dominic’s penthouse, knees drawn to my chest, staring at the muted city lights glowing beyond the window. My body feels like a frayed wire—tense, brittle, ready to snap at the slightest pressure. The events of the last twenty-four hours replay over and over in my mind: the high-speed chase, the masked man’s gun aimed at us, Conrad slipping through our fingers.

But the worst part? The gnawing realization that I’ve been a pawn in this game from the start.

I trusted Dominic—trusted that he had my back, that he’d tell me everything. Now, the cracks are starting to show, and I don’t know how much of what we had was real.

The sound of Dominic’s footsteps pulls me from my spiral. His presence is impossible to ignore—every step deliberate, the weight he carries into a room palpable. He enters slowly, his usually impeccable suit rumpled, shirt collar undone, and tie missing. Even Dominic, the man who always seems untouchable, is fraying at the edges.

“,” he says softly, his voice gravelly with exhaustion. “Talk to me.”

I glance at him briefly before turning away. My pulse pounds in my ears, drowning out his words. Anger bubbles inside me, mixing with something I can’t quite name—something that feels a lot like heartbreak.

“You knew,” I whisper, the words escaping before I can stop them.

Dominic freezes, his posture taut. “What?”

I stand, clutching the printouts I’ve been poring over for hours. Emails, leaked files—proof that Conrad had been using me all along. And worse, proof that Dominic might have known about the backdoor in his system long before I stumbled into this mess.

I shove the papers at him, my hands shaking. “This. You knew about Conrad’s access. Maybe not everything, but enough to know something was wrong.”

Dominic takes the papers, his blue eyes scanning the pages. With every line he reads, his jaw tightens. When he finally looks up, his expression is unreadable, his eyes stormy.

“It’s not what you think,” he says, his voice low and careful.

“Then tell me what it is,” I snap, my voice cracking. “Because right now, it looks like I’ve been nothing more than leverage. Did you ever plan on telling me?”

His face hardens, frustration flaring in his gaze. “You think I’ve been manipulating you?”

A bitter laugh escapes me, sharp and hollow. “It’s not just what I think—it’s what Conrad said. He’s been pulling strings, using me to get to you. And I don’t even know where you stand in all of this anymore.”

Dominic steps closer, his movements deliberate, like he’s approaching a wounded animal. “, I didn’t know about Conrad’s backdoor. Not like this. I knew something was off—I’ve felt it for months—but I couldn’t prove anything. Not until you found the files.”

“You’re the one who built your company on control,” I say, stepping back as he approaches. “On knowing everything. You expect me to believe that something this big slipped right under your nose?”

“You’re right,” he admits, his tone raw. “I should have seen it sooner. I should have stopped it before it got this far. But I didn’t. And that’s on me.”

His honesty throws me off balance, but I don’t let it show. “And what about me?” I ask, my voice trembling. “Were you ever going to tell me about the risks I was walking into?”

He exhales sharply, dragging a hand through his hair. “You weren’t supposed to get dragged into this. I never wanted you to be part of this chaos, . I was trying to protect you.”

“Protect me?” I echo, my voice rising. “By keeping me in the dark? By letting me walk straight into Conrad’s trap?”

“I didn’t let you walk into anything,” he snaps, his control slipping. “You made the choice to chase this story. To dig into my life, my company. You put yourself in the crosshairs before I could stop you.”

His words hit like a slap, and I recoil, my chest tightening. “Is that what you think?” I whisper, my voice barely audible. “That this is my fault?”

Dominic’s face softens, regret flickering in his eyes. “No. , that’s not what I meant.”

I press my palms to my temples, trying to steady my breathing. “I don’t know what to believe anymore.”

Dominic closes the distance between us, his hands hovering near my arms, hesitant. “Look at me,” he says softly.

I force myself to meet his gaze, and what I see there nearly undoes me. There’s no cold, calculating billionaire standing in front of me now. There’s just a man—raw, vulnerable, and desperate for me to understand.

“I need you to believe me when I say this,” he murmurs. “I didn’t manipulate you. I didn’t use you. I care about you, . More than I should. And I would burn this whole damn world down before I let Conrad or anyone else hurt you again.”

His words pierce through the fog of my emotions, but doubt lingers. “Then why does it still feel like you’re keeping something from me?”

Dominic’s jaw tightens, his gaze unwavering. “Because I don’t want you caught in the crossfire. You’ve already been dragged through hell because of me. I won’t let it get worse.”

“It’s not your choice to make,” I say firmly. “I’m in this whether you like it or not. And if you want me to trust you, you have to trust me too.”

He’s silent for a long moment, his eyes searching mine. Finally, he nods. “You’re right. I need to do better. I need to let you in.”

I swallow hard, my chest aching as I process his words. “Then start now. What happens next?”

Before he can answer, his phone buzzes, slicing through the tension. He answers it quickly, his expression hardening as he listens.

“What is it?” I ask, my heart pounding.

Dominic ends the call and looks at me, his blue eyes blazing. “Adrian found something. A hidden offshore account—one that’s been funding Conrad’s entire operation.”

My breath catches. “Where?”

“Switzerland,” he says grimly. “And it’s not just a name on a screen. There’s a paper trail connecting it back to Reyes and his network.”

For the first time in hours, I feel hope stir in my chest. “So what now?”

Dominic’s jaw sets, his voice steady and resolute. “Now we follow the money. And when we find Conrad, we finish this once and for all.”

Dominic’s words hang in the air, heavy with intent.

Now we follow the money. And when we find Conrad, we finish this once and for all.

The determination in his voice pulls me out of my swirling thoughts. For the first time in what feels like days, I sense the pieces shifting in our favor. But that fleeting glimmer of hope is tempered by the weight of everything we’ve lost—and everything still at stake.

Dominic moves to the window, his silhouette cutting a sharp line against the city lights. The man standing there isn’t just the powerful CEO I first chased down for a story. He’s someone unraveling at the edges yet fighting to hold it all together.

I step toward him, drawn to the tension radiating from his rigid frame. “You said we follow the money,” I say, keeping my voice steady. “But what happens when we find it? Reyes and Conrad aren’t just going to hand over the keys to their empire.”

“They won’t get the chance,” he replies without turning.

The sharpness in his tone sends a shiver down my spine. Dominic isn’t just focused—he’s dangerous. And for a fleeting moment, I wonder if that danger extends to himself.

“I need you to trust me,” he says, finally looking over his shoulder. His blue eyes pierce through the space between us, blazing with conviction.

“I do,” I whisper, the words spilling out before I can stop them. And the truth is, I do trust him—more than I should. But that doesn’t stop the gnawing doubt coiled in my chest.

He steps closer, his voice softening. “You’re the one thing in this mess that’s real, . I can’t let anything happen to you.”

The vulnerability in his words tugs at something deep inside me, but I refuse to let it cloud my resolve. “Then don’t shut me out,” I say, my voice firm. “You keep trying to protect me by keeping me in the dark, but that’s not how this works. Not anymore.”

Dominic hesitates, and I see the conflict flicker across his face. Finally, he nods. “No more secrets,” he says, his voice low but steady.

Before either of us can say more, Adrian bursts through the door, his phone in hand. “We’ve got movement,” he announces, his tone clipped.

Dominic’s posture shifts instantly, his focus narrowing like a predator zeroing in on its prey. “What kind of movement?”

Adrian holds up his phone, a map displayed on the screen. “Our team flagged a large transfer out of the Cayman Islands account. It’s moving through a series of shell companies, but we managed to trace it back to a secure holding in Dubai.”

My stomach twists at the mention of Dubai. “That’s halfway across the world,” I say, the words heavy with frustration. “If they’re moving the money there, they’re planning to disappear.”

“Exactly,” Adrian says. “But here’s the catch—they’re not as invisible as they think. One of the shell companies managing the transfer has a known associate of Reyes listed as its director. We’ve got a name, a location, and—if we move quickly—a chance to intercept.”

Dominic’s eyes narrow. “Who’s the associate?”

Adrian’s expression hardens. “Dario Vega. A mid-level operative in Reyes’s network. He’s been flagged in multiple financial crimes but always manages to slip through the cracks. If we take him down, he could lead us straight to Reyes.”

Dominic doesn’t hesitate. “We go after him.”

“Wait,” I cut in, my voice sharp. “If Vega is involved, you know Reyes is watching him. This could be a trap.”

“Maybe,” Dominic says, his tone icy. “But it’s the best lead we’ve had since this started. I’m not wasting it.”

I step closer, my heart pounding. “Then we do this smart. No charging in blind, no unnecessary risks. You said no more secrets—so let me help.”

Dominic studies me, his expression unreadable. For a moment, I think he’s going to argue, but then he nods. “You’re right. We plan this together.”

The next hour is a blur of strategy, maps, and data. Adrian’s team works efficiently, outlining every detail of the operation. Vega is set to meet with an unidentified party at a private villa on the outskirts of Dubai. The location is heavily secured, but there’s a narrow window to intercept him before the meeting begins.

Adrian taps the screen of his tablet, bringing up a satellite image of the villa. “There’s a single access road leading to the property,” he says. “We’ll need to split into two teams. One will handle surveillance and perimeter control while the other moves in on Vega.”

“I’ll lead the extraction,” Dominic says, his tone leaving no room for debate.

I bristle at his words. “And I’m coming with you.”

“No,” he says immediately, his gaze snapping to mine.

“Dominic—”

“You’re staying with Adrian’s team,” he interrupts, his voice sharp. “This isn’t negotiable, . Vega is dangerous, and if Reyes is backing him, it’s only going to get worse.”

Anger flares in my chest. “You can’t keep sidelining me every time things get dangerous. I’m not some liability you need to lock away.”

“You’re not a liability,” he snaps, his frustration boiling over. “But I can’t focus if I’m worried about keeping you safe.”

“And you think I can just sit back and watch you risk your life without doing anything?” I fire back, my voice rising.

The room falls into a tense silence, the weight of our words hanging heavy between us.

Finally, Dominic exhales, his shoulders sagging slightly. “, this isn’t just about me or you. It’s about stopping Reyes before he destroys everything. I need you to trust me to do that.”

I search his face, my chest tightening. The vulnerability I see there is enough to make me relent—just slightly. “Fine,” I say, my voice soft but firm. “But you promise me you’ll be careful.”

He steps closer, his hand brushing against mine. “Always.”

The flight to Dubai is tense and silent, the weight of what lies ahead pressing down on all of us. Adrian’s team briefs Dominic on the final details as we approach the city, the golden glow of the desert stretching out beneath us.

The villa looms ahead, a sprawling estate surrounded by high walls and armed guards. From our vantage point in the surveillance van, I watch as Adrian’s team moves into position, their movements precise and calculated.

“Team One in position,” Adrian’s voice crackles through the comms.

“Copy,” Dominic replies, his tone calm and focused.

I sit beside Adrian, my heart pounding as I watch the scene unfold on the monitors. Dominic’s team moves toward the villa’s entrance, their silhouettes blending into the shadows.

“This is it,” Adrian says, his eyes fixed on the screens. “If Vega’s here, we’ll know soon enough.”

The next few minutes stretch into an eternity. My pulse thrums in my ears as I watch Dominic breach the villa’s perimeter, his every movement deliberate and controlled.

“Target sighted,” one of the operatives reports. “Vega’s on the second floor, east wing. He’s not alone.”

“Move in,” Dominic orders.

The cameras show a blur of movement as the team advances, their weapons trained on the guards stationed near the entrance. A muffled scuffle follows, and then the sound of Dominic’s voice cuts through the comms.

“Vega’s down,” he says. “We’ve got him.”

Relief floods through me, but it’s short-lived.

“Dominic,” Adrian says, his tone sharp. “We’ve got incoming. Multiple vehicles heading your way—likely Reyes’s men.”

Dominic’s response is immediate. “Secure Vega and fall back. We’re not losing him.”

The monitors flicker as chaos erupts on the screen. Shots ring out, and I grip the edge of the table, my nails digging into the wood.

“Dominic, get out of there!” I shout, my voice trembling.

“We’re not leaving without Vega,” he replies, his voice steady despite the gunfire in the background.

The feed cuts out suddenly, leaving us in silence. My heart seizes, panic clawing at my chest.

“Adrian,” I say, my voice shaking. “What happened?”

He curses under his breath, his fingers flying over the keyboard. “They’re jamming the signal.”

Terror grips me as I stare at the darkened screen. Dominic is out there, in the middle of a firefight, and I have no way of knowing if he’s okay.

“,” Adrian says, his voice firm. “Stay here. I’ll get a team to the villa.”

“No,” I say, my voice trembling but resolute. “I’m going after him.”

“, don’t—”

But I’m already out the door, determination driving me forward. Dominic promised me no more secrets, no more shutting me out. And I won’t lose him now—not when we’re so close to the truth.

The villa looms ahead as I approach, the sound of gunfire echoing through the night. I force myself to push down the fear threatening to consume me, focusing on one thought: finding Dominic.

As I slip through the shadows, the chaos of the scene unfolds around me. Guards are down, the air thick with smoke and tension.

And then I see him.

Dominic stands in the middle of the chaos, his gun trained on a figure in the distance. Vega.

But before I can call out to him, a figure steps out of the shadows behind him, a weapon raised.

“Dominic!” I scream, my voice breaking through the chaos.

He turns, just as the shot rings out.