Page 21 of Falling for the Grump Billionaire

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 ontomine, 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, Dominic. 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?”

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