The Billionaire's Cousin

e pavement. Her heart pounded, not from fear, but from the overwhelming surge of emotions she couldn't contain. Anthony P

he allow herself to fall into his dangerous world, even for a second? She had told herself she wouldn't-couldn't-fe

. The world around her blurred as her thoughts swirled in chaos. Hadn't she spent years learning to distrust men like him? Wealthy, power

phi

e turned to face him. Anthony stood under the glow of the streetlight, his tuxedo jacket unbuttoned, his tie loosen

ay again," he stat

onight," she whispered,

you

e a mi

hrough his tousled hair. "Tell me

know. Her life had been a whirlwind of suffering, yet for the first time in year

she said, her voice shaking. "I

. "You think this

spoken words. She wanted to push him away, to remind herse

w what to th

phia reached into her purse, her fingers trembling as she pulled out her phone.

d. The illusion of safet

e change in her de

all and stuffed the phone

ightened.

She couldn't let Anthony get too close. Because if he did, he would unco

his grip firm but not painf

head. "You don

" he pressed, his voice g

in just enough to ease the burden she carried, but the weight of her pas

is eyes was unmistakabl

ot abou

what i

akily. "It's a

concern, anger, determination. But she couldn't give him the chance to act on an

ides. He had seen fear before, had witnessed the kind of terror that left people hollow.

ind of man who let