The billionaire's secret guardian

tense situations before-staring down politicians, walking into boardrooms fil

compared

. He wasn't just dangerous. He was something else entirely-something more calcul

slight tension in his jaw, the way his fingers curled subtly against

. Cross," she said, kee

ment, but his eyes were dark-too dark. "No?" His voice

traightened in her seat. She wasn't ab

" she said. "To explain yourself b

ountered, his voice smooth but laced with steel. "Which means yo

the file she had placed on his de

r like a puzzle he was trying to solve.

denial, maybe even an attempt at manipulation. But this-this was

said, testing him. "You

with an impatient child. "Miss Lane, if I wanted you

t she refused to let it s

ement?-flashed in his eyes, but it was

human trafficking ring, then why are there financial transactions leading back to your company?

assive floor-to-ceiling window, and looked out at the city skyline as if

was quieter. "Do you really think

r name-so deliberate, so intimate, as if

ory," she said, forcing

expression unreada

d her eyes. "Th

s in this world, Miss Lane, that are bigger than you. Bigger than me. If you keep digging, you

was something else beneath it

she said, but the words

g a hand through his hai

her pause. There was no arrogance, no

at you're somehow not responsible for what's happening,

ked back to his desk. "You think I'm invol

t?" she c

tightene

r any sign of deception. "Then why are the tra

mess I didn't make," he i

reath stall

ration. A hint of something deeper, something darker. "Do you really thin

to believe you're i

ore you make accusations that c

fists. "So that's what this

visibly restraining himself.

at. Hated that, despite everything, it

r warnings," she

use right now, you're standing at the edg

f you're so innocent, then prove

r, his gaze unreadab

es

pause, he reached into the drawer of his desk, pulle

before picking it

," he sai

wned. "

"That you're chasing

d. "And why shou

ing back. "But if you really wa

cted this meeting to go. She had come here prepared for a battle

Alexander Cross was hiding

d this investigation, Cassidy wasn't en

nd it. No matter