Dominic

6

_________

The first rays of dawn creep over the skyline, but I haven’t slept. Not for a second. Instead, I’ve spent the last several hours combing through every scrap of information I can find on Eva Stone. If she wants to dig into my life, it’s only fair I do the same.

Her file lies open on my laptop, the cold glow of the screen illuminating the polished surface of my desk. Divorcee. Freelance journalist. A reputation for taking on the kinds of stories that make people in power uncomfortable. She’s clever, resourceful, and undeniably persistent—the kind who doesn’t stop digging until every ugly truth has been unearthed.

It should irritate me. Hell, it does. But there’s a part of me that can’t help but admire her. She’s relentless. Fearless, even. Traits that have undoubtedly gotten her into trouble before. Traits that could get her killed if she’s not careful now.

Her recent history paints a clearer picture. Two years ago, she was at the top of her game—a respected name in investigative journalism. Then came the divorce: a messy, public fallout that left her career in tatters. Since then, she’s been clawing her way back, freelancing for smaller outlets, chasing stories no one else will touch. She’s hungry, determined to rebuild her reputation.

And now, she’s turned her sights on me.

I lean back in my chair, exhaling slowly. What’s her angle? Is she looking for a career-defining story, or is there something more personal driving her? She had to know the risks when she started digging into Kane Enterprises, yet she kept pushing—even after the threats.

My thoughts drift to the photos she showed me—the ones her stalker sent. Calculated. Precise. Intimidating. Whoever sent them knew exactly what they were doing, and that worries me more than I care to admit. This isn’t just about protecting my company anymore. It’s about protecting her, whether she likes it or not.

The thought is reckless. Dangerous. I barely know this woman, and yet her image lingers in my mind, sharp and clear like a splinter under my skin. I should walk away—let her fend for herself. But I know I won’t. There’s something about her fire, her refusal to back down, that makes walking away impossible.

A sharp knock at the door pulls me from my thoughts.

“Come in,” I bark, sharper than I intended.

Adrian steps inside, his expression grim. He’s holding a tablet, and I already know the news isn’t good. It never is.

“We’ve got a lead on the hacker,” he says, setting the tablet on my desk. “Or at least, part of one.”

I glance at the screen, scanning the details. The IP address leads back to a private server routed through multiple proxies, but one familiar name stands out: James Heller.

“Where did this come from?” I ask, my tone icy.

Adrian doesn’t hesitate. “Eva Stone. She met with Heller two nights ago. We’ve confirmed it.”

A curse slips from my lips as I stand abruptly, the legs of my chair scraping against the floor. “You’re telling me the hacker’s trail leads back to one of my former employees, and Eva Stone just happened to meet with him?”

“It’s more than coincidence, sir,” Adrian replies evenly. “Heller was flagged in connection to sabotage during his time with Kane Enterprises. He had access to sensitive projects, and when he left, there were rumors he took proprietary data with him.”

“And we didn’t pursue it?” My anger simmers, barely contained.

“We didn’t have proof,” Adrian says carefully. “But now, with the leaks and the hacker’s trail—Heller is our most viable suspect.”

I pace the room, my thoughts racing. Heller is a liability, and if Eva’s been talking to him, that makes her a liability too. But she’s not the type to work with someone like Heller. She’s chasing a story, and he’s just another source in her pursuit of the truth.

Unless there’s something she’s not telling me.

I stop pacing, turning to Adrian. “Where is Heller now?”

“Off the grid,” he replies. “We’ve got a team tracking him, but he’s been careful. As for Eva…” He trails off, waiting for me to fill in the blanks.

“I’ll handle Eva,” I say firmly. “Keep me updated on Heller. I want to know the moment you find him.”

Adrian nods, taking the tablet and leaving without another word. The door closes behind him, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

The drive to Eva’s apartment is quiet, the hum of the engine the only sound. My thoughts churn as I navigate the city streets, each turn bringing me closer to her. Part of me wonders if this is a mistake, if involving her any further will only complicate things.

But the other part—the part that built Kane Enterprises from the ground up—knows this is necessary.

When I reach her building, I park a block away, my eyes scanning the street. It’s quiet, unassuming, just like her. I climb the stairs to her floor, the faint sound of my footsteps swallowed by the creaky wood beneath me. Her door is slightly ajar again, the chain dangling limply.

My pulse quickens, a cold knot forming in my stomach.

“Eva?” I call, my voice low but firm.

There’s no response, but the sound of rustling papers carries through the apartment. I step inside, my eyes sweeping the room.

She’s at the dining table, surrounded by notebooks and loose sheets of paper, her laptop open but dark.

She looks up, startled, her green eyes narrowing as she recognizes me. “,” she says sharply. “What are you doing here?”

“I could ask you the same thing,” I reply, stepping closer. “What are you doing with Heller?”

Her face hardens, and I see the spark of defiance in her expression. “I’m doing my job. What are you doing? Spying on me?”

“You’re making it easy,” I say coldly. “Meeting with a known suspect in a corporate sabotage case isn’t exactly subtle, Eva.”

Her lips press into a thin line, but she doesn’t back down. “Heller was a source. That’s all.”

“And what did he tell you?” I ask, my tone sharp. “Because whatever it was, it’s gotten you involved in something far more dangerous than a story.”

Her shoulders square, and she leans forward, her hands flat on the table. “Why do you care, ? Is it because you think I’m a threat to your company, or is it something else? Something you’re not telling me?”

The question hangs in the air, and for a moment, I don’t respond. She’s not wrong—I do see her as a threat. But it’s more than that.

“You’re out of your depth,” I say finally, my voice softer but no less firm. “And if you don’t stop, you’re going to get hurt.”

She laughs, the sound bitter. “Is that a warning? Or a threat?”

“It’s the truth,” I reply, my gaze locking onto hers. “You think you’re chasing a story, but you’re caught in the middle of a war you don’t understand.”

Her chin tilts higher, defiance burning bright in her eyes. “Then maybe you should enlighten me. Because from where I’m standing, you look just as lost as I am.”

Her words cut deeper than they should. I take a step closer, my voice low and firm.

“Stay away from Heller, Eva. Stay out of my way.”

She doesn’t flinch. If anything, she steps closer, the heat between us crackling like a live wire.

“And if I don’t?”

“Then you’d better hope I find whoever’s behind this before they find you.”

The tension in the room is suffocating, the kind of pressure that makes you forget how to breathe. Eva’s green eyes lock onto mine, her chin tilted in defiance, and for a moment, I forget why I’m even here. She’s not backing down, and that fire in her gaze—the one that’s been challenging me since the moment we met—burns brighter than ever.

But this isn’t the time to lose focus.

“You don’t seem to understand how dangerous this is,” I say, my voice a low growl. “These people won’t hesitate to hurt you. You’ve seen what they’re capable of.”

Her laugh is sharp, cutting through the tension like a blade. “And you think I don’t know that? Do you think I haven’t been looking over my shoulder for days, wondering who’s watching me or if the next message will come with something worse than a threat?”

Her voice cracks slightly, and I catch the flicker of vulnerability beneath her bravado. It’s gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced by the same unyielding determination that’s starting to feel dangerously familiar.

“I’m not afraid of them,” she adds, her tone steady now.

“You should be,” I snap, taking a step closer. “Because this isn’t some exposé you can wrap up and move on from. You’re not just chasing a story anymore, Eva—you’re caught in a game where the stakes are life and death.”

She folds her arms, refusing to look away. “Then maybe you should stop talking in riddles and tell me what’s really going on. Because from where I’m standing, you know a hell of a lot more than you’re letting on.”

She’s not wrong. I do know more. But how much can I tell her without putting her in even more danger? Without making her an even bigger target?

I run a hand through my hair, frustrated. “What I know doesn’t matter,” I say finally. “What matters is keeping you out of harm’s way. And that means no more meetings with Heller. No more following leads that could get you killed.”

Eva smirks, the expression daring. “You seem to think you can tell me what to do.”

I step closer, the heat between us crackling like static electricity. “I can. And I will. Because whether you like it or not, you’ve put yourself in the middle of something far bigger than you. And now, I’m the one who has to clean up the mess.”

She narrows her eyes, her voice laced with challenge. “Then enlighten me, . What’s the big, dangerous secret that’s worth all of this?”

I’m silent for a moment, weighing my options. She’s not going to let this go, and part of me knows I can’t keep her in the dark forever. But trusting her? That’s another matter entirely.

Finally, I take a step back, putting distance between us. “You want answers? Fine. But they come with a price.”

Her brow furrows, suspicion flickering across her face. “What kind of price?”

“You follow my lead,” I say firmly. “No more going rogue, no more chasing leads on your own. You want the truth? Then you play by my rules.”

She hesitates, the conflict evident in her expression. Eva Stone isn’t the kind of woman who follows orders—not from anyone. But after a moment, she nods, albeit reluctantly.

“Fine,” she says. “But if you think I’m going to sit on the sidelines while you handle this, you’re delusional.”

I almost smile. Almost.

“Deal,” I say, holding out a hand.

She looks at it for a moment before shaking it, her grip firm.

The drive back to Kane Enterprises is quiet, the tension from earlier still simmering between us. Eva sits in the passenger seat, her arms crossed, her gaze fixed on the cityscape rushing past the window.

“So,” she says finally, breaking the silence. “What’s the plan?”

I keep my eyes on the road. “First, we figure out what Heller told you. Then we use that information to track down whoever’s behind these leaks.”

“And by ‘we,’ you mean…?”

I glance at her, my expression serious. “You’ll be involved. But only as much as I say. I’m not putting you in more danger than you’re already in.”

She rolls her eyes. “Good luck with that.”

I grit my teeth, resisting the urge to argue. Eva’s stubbornness is going to get her killed if she’s not careful.

When we arrive at the tower, the building is eerily quiet, the late hour leaving the normally bustling offices deserted. The soft hum of fluorescent lights is the only sound as we step into my office, the city lights casting long shadows across the polished floor.

Eva lingers near the windows, her arms wrapped around herself as she gazes out at the skyline. For a moment, she looks almost vulnerable, her tough exterior cracked just enough to reveal the woman beneath.

“,” she says, her voice softer now. “Why are you helping me?”

The question catches me off guard. I meet her gaze, searching for the right words. “Because you’re in over your head. And whether you believe it or not, I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

She studies me for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Then she nods, just barely.

“Okay,” she says.

It’s not much, but it’s a start.

Adrian arrives a few minutes later, his usual calm demeanor tinged with urgency. He places a folder on my desk, his gaze flickering to Eva before returning to me.

“We found something,” he says.

I open the folder, scanning the documents inside. My stomach tightens as I take in the information.

“Heller,” I murmur, my jaw clenching.

Adrian nods. “He’s not working alone. The data suggests he’s part of a larger operation—one that’s been targeting high-profile companies for years. Kane Enterprises is just their latest target.”

Eva steps closer, her curiosity evident. “Who’s behind it?”

Adrian hesitates, glancing at me for approval. I nod, and he continues.

“We’re still piecing it together, but it looks like a group of rogue contractors. Ex-intelligence, cybersecurity experts, and a few disgruntled employees from various corporations. They’ve been operating under the radar, using people like Heller as pawns to gain access to sensitive information.”

“And their goal?” Eva asks.

“To dismantle the companies they target,” Adrian says. “Whether it’s for profit, revenge, or ideology, we don’t know yet.”

My grip tightens on the folder. “We need to find Heller. Now.”

Adrian nods. “We’re working on it. But there’s something else.”

He places another sheet of paper on the desk. It’s a photograph, grainy but clear enough to make my blood run cold.

Eva leans in, her eyes widening as she takes in the image.

“That’s…” she begins, her voice trailing off.

“Your stalker,” Adrian finishes.

The photo shows a man in a dark hoodie, his face obscured but his posture unmistakable. He’s standing outside Eva’s apartment building, his gaze fixed on her window.

The room falls silent, the weight of the discovery settling over us like a shroud.

“We need to move fast,” I say, my voice low and resolute.

Eva meets my gaze, her expression a mix of fear and determination. “What do we do now?”

I take a deep breath, my mind racing. “Now, we make them come to us.”