Page 57 of Falling for the Grump Billionaire

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.

“Dominic,” 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.”

“Dominic,” 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 Dominic?”

“What?”

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