The shipment was set to leave the Roth Shipping Facility at exactly 10:00 PM.
Amelia stood at the edge of the dock, heels planted on weathered concrete, arms crossed over her chest. Her navy silk blouse clung to her skin beneath the sharp breeze rolling off the water, and the soft hum of the nearby cranes filled the air.
Leo stood beside her, close enough that the heat from his body teased the bare skin at her wrist. He was wearing another dark jacket, hands tucked into his pockets, his gaze steady as he watched the workers secure the last of the cargo.
Amelia hated how comfortable he looked.
"Do you always dress like you're going to break into a vault?" she asked coolly.
Leo's mouth curved. "Only when I'm planning to steal something valuable."
Amelia's eyes narrowed. "Good thing you don't have anything worth stealing."
Leo's gaze sharpened. "Oh, I wouldn't be so sure about that."
Her pulse kicked. She hated that he could make her heart stutter with nothing more than a look.
"I assume you've locked down security?" Amelia asked.
Leo's smile was faint. "Reinforced the gates, added extra guards, and installed cameras at all entry points."
"And the ship's manifest?"
"Clean."
Her gaze sharpened. "Then what's the backup plan if something goes wrong?"
Leo's smile widened. "Me."
Amelia's eyes narrowed. "That's not a plan."
"It's worked so far."
"Overconfidence gets people killed."
Leo's gaze darkened. "So does hesitation."
Their eyes locked. The night air buzzed with tension, sharp and electric.
"You have a control problem," Leo said softly.
Amelia's jaw tightened. "And you have a recklessness problem."
Leo's smile curved dangerously. "Funny how that works."
Before Amelia could respond, a voice crackled over Leo's earpiece.
"Approaching vehicle on the west gate."
Leo's eyes sharpened. "Right on time."
Amelia's breath hitched. "You expected this?"
Leo slid his earpiece into place. "Wouldn't be much of a trap if they didn't show up."
Amelia's eyes narrowed. "If this backfires"
"It won't."
Leo's hand brushed her lower back a fleeting touch, but enough to send heat spiraling down her spine.
"You ready?" Leo's voice was low, his mouth close to her ear.
Amelia's breath hitched. "Always."
Leo's smile was slow and dangerous. "Good."
A dark SUV rolled toward the west gate.
Leo's gaze sharpened. "Let's see who bites."
West Gate – 10:02 PM
Amelia and Leo watched from a shadowed corner as the SUV rolled to a stop near the dock.
Two men stepped out. Suits. Dark hair. Their faces were partially obscured by the shadows.
"Recognize them?" Amelia asked.
Leo's gaze narrowed. "No."
The taller man pulled out a phone and dialed.
Amelia's phone buzzed.
Her pulse hammered.
"They have my number," she whispered.
Leo's eyes darkened. "Answer it."
Amelia's throat tightened. She raised the phone to her ear. "This is Roth."
A low, distorted voice echoed down the line. "You're making a mistake."
Amelia's eyes narrowed. "Who is this?"
The voice laughed softly. "Let it go, Amelia. You're playing a dangerous game."
Leo's gaze sharpened. "Put it on speaker."
Amelia tapped the screen. "Say that again."
The voice darkened. "Walk away. While you still can."
Amelia's jaw tightened. "Not happening."
The line went dead.
The man with the phone nodded toward the other man and then they turned toward the gates.
"They're testing security," Leo murmured.
Amelia's gaze sharpened. "Let them."
One of the guards stepped forward. "Gentlemen, you need to leave"
The shorter man raised his hand and the guard stiffened.
Leo's eyes darkened. "Something's wrong."
Amelia's pulse hammered. "What's happening?"
The guard's hands curled into fists and then he collapsed.
Leo's mouth tightened. "Shit."
Before Amelia could react, Leo was already moving. His hand caught her wrist, yanking her behind him as the two men stepped forward.
"Stay here," Leo ordered.
Amelia's mouth flattened. "Like hell."
Leo's gaze darkened. "Amelia"
A loud crack split the air, the sound of glass shattering.
Leo's body tensed. His hand tightened around Amelia's wrist. "Go."
Amelia's pulse spiked. "No."
"Amelia"
"I'm not leaving you."
Leo's gaze sharpened. "Then stay behind me."
The two men stepped into the light, and Amelia's breath caught.
The taller man smiled coldly. "Miss Roth. Mr. Vance."
Leo's mouth curved. "What an unpleasant surprise."
"Step aside."
Leo's smile sharpened. "No."
The man's gaze flicked toward Amelia. "Shame. We were hoping you'd be more… cooperative."
Amelia's eyes narrowed. "Try me."
The man's smile widened. "Don't mind if we do."
He stepped forward
And Leo moved.
Fast.
His hand shot out, knocking the man's arm aside. The man stumbled, and Leo's fist connected with his jaw in a single clean strike.
The second man lunged
Amelia's heel caught his shin, sending him sprawling to the ground.
Leo's eyes flicked toward her. "Nice."
Amelia's breath sharpened. "Shut up and focus."
The taller man staggered to his feet, blood dripping from his mouth. "You're making a mistake."
Leo's smile was lethal. "So I've heard."
The sound of approaching footsteps echoed down the dock. Flashlights. Security guards.
Leo's gaze sharpened. "Looks like you're out of time."
The two men exchanged a sharp glance then turned and disappeared into the darkness.
Amelia's pulse hammered as the guards swarmed the dock. Leo's hand slid to her back.
"Let them go," Leo murmured.
Amelia's gaze cut toward him. "You're letting them walk?"
"For now." Leo's smile sharpened. "They'll be back."
Amelia's chest rose and fell, breathless from adrenaline. Leo's hand stayed on her back warm and steady.
"You okay?" Leo's voice was low.
Amelia's gaze met his. "I'm fine."
Leo's eyes darkened. "Good."
His gaze flicked toward her mouth. "You fight dirty."
Amelia's pulse quickened. "So do you."
Leo smiled faintly. "I guess we're evenly matched."
Amelia's gaze sharpened. "Not yet."
Leo's smile widened. "Careful, sweetheart." His hand brushed the small of her back. "You might like it when I win."
Amelia's breath hitched. "Not happening."
Leo leaned closer, his mouth a breath from hers. "We'll see."
Amelia's pulse hammered.
And as Leo's gaze darkened beneath the soft glow of the dock lights, Amelia had a sinking feeling.
She wasn't just playing a dangerous game anymore.
She was already losing.
Amelia's heart was still hammering in her chest as the last of the security team swept the dock.
Her heels scraped against the concrete as she stalked toward Leo, who stood beneath the harsh glow of the dock lights, his jacket rumpled, his lip split from the fight.
"What the hell was that?" she hissed.
Leo's tongue flicked over the edge of his mouth, tasting blood. His smile was slow and dark. "An opportunity."
Amelia's eyes narrowed. "They knew about the shipment."
Leo's gaze sharpened. "I know."
Her pulse spiked dangerously. "You said the manifest was clean."
"It was."
"Then how did they know?"
Leo stepped toward her, closing the space between them. The salt from the water mixed with the faint scent of his cologne was dark, heady, and too close.
"That's the question, isn't it?" His voice lowered.
Her breath caught. "You think the leak is higher up."
Leo's gaze didn't waver. "No. I know it is."
Amelia's mouth tightened. "Then we have a bigger problem."
Leo's smile sharpened. "Welcome to the game."
Amelia's breath came fast and shallow. Every instinct told her to pull back to regain control but Leo was standing too close, and the heat in his eyes was cutting through her defenses with surgical precision.
"Stop smiling," Amelia snapped.
Leo's mouth curved. "Make me."
Her pulse hammered. "This isn't a joke."
"I'm not laughing."
Leo's gaze dropped to her mouth quick enough that she almost missed it. Almost.
Amelia stepped closer, refusing to back down. "You think you can handle this?"
Leo's smile widened. "Sweetheart, I am handling it."
"Don't call me that."
"Why not?" Leo's gaze darkened. "Does it make you nervous?"
Amelia's breath sharpened. "You don't make me nervous."
Leo's eyes gleamed. "No?"
Her chest rose and fell, heart slamming against her ribs. She hated him. She hated that her body responded to him and hated the way his gaze slid over her like a physical touch.
"Careful, Amelia," Leo murmured. "You're starting to sound like you're lying."
Amelia's jaw clenched. "You're insufferable."
Leo's smile softened, dangerous and inviting all at once. "And yet you can't seem to walk away."
Her breath hitched. "I hate you."
Leo's gaze sharpened. His hand brushed her wrist light as silk but Amelia's pulse spiked painfully beneath the touch.
"No, you don't," Leo whispered.
Her breath caught. "Don't"
"Don't what?"
Her pulse hammered.
"Don't get too close?" Leo's thumb skimmed the inside of her wrist. "Don't you feel something?"
Her lips parted. "Let go."
Leo's gaze slipped to her mouth. "Make me."
She hated how easy it would be to close the distance between them. Hated that her body was already leaning toward him, heat coiling low in her stomach.
She hated him.
And God help her, she was starting to want him.
"Amelia."
Her head jerked toward the sound of her father's voice.
William Roth stood at the edge of the dock, expression carved from stone. His gaze flicked toward Leo, the split lip, the dark bruise forming at his jaw before his eyes settled on Amelia.
"You handled it?" William asked.
Amelia's chin lifted. "Yes."
William's gaze narrowed. "And you're certain they didn't get anything?"
Leo's hand slid away from her wrist, his expression cool as steel. "They walked away with nothing but bruises."
William's gaze darkened. "Convenient."
Leo smiled faintly. "I thought so."
Amelia's pulse steadied as her father's gaze sharpened.
"You're playing a dangerous game," William said.
"Life's more interesting that way," Leo replied easily.
William's mouth tightened. His gaze flicked toward Amelia. "We'll talk tomorrow."
Amelia didn't respond.
Her father walked away, leaving the scent of smoke and salt lingering in the cold night air.
Leo's gaze slid toward her.
"Think he's proud of you?" Leo's tone was casual.
Amelia's chest tightened. "My father isn't in the business of being proud."
Leo's gaze sharpened. "That explains a lot."
Her eyes narrowed. "Don't pretend you know anything about me."
Leo smiled faintly. "Oh, I know enough."
Her breath sharpened. "This isn't a game, Leo."
Leo's gaze darkened. "Then why does it feel like one?"
Her pulse kicked. His hand brushed her elbow light and deliberate before he turned and walked away, his silhouette disappearing into the shadows.
Amelia's breath came fast and shallow. Her heartbeat hammered painfully beneath her ribs.
She stood there alone beneath the harsh glow of the dock lights as the waves lapped against the pier.
She should have stopped this. She should have controlled it.
But the problem was Leo wasn't playing by her rules.
And worse?
She wasn't sure she wanted him to.
Vance Enterprises – Midnight
Leo's lip was still bleeding when he stepped into his penthouse.
He shrugged out of his jacket and tossed it over the back of the leather couch. A half-empty glass of whiskey sat on the marble table near the window. He downed it in one swallow, the burn slicing down his throat.
His phone buzzed.
He pulled it out of his pocket and smiled faintly when he saw the message.
Amelia: Did you know they would show up?
Leo's smile sharpened.
Leo: Of course.
The typing bubble flickered for a long moment.
Amelia: Do you have a death wish?
Leo's mouth curved.
Leo: Not yet.
Another pause.
Amelia: I'm going to kill you if this backfires.
Leo's smile widened.
Leo: I look forward to it.
He set the phone down on the table and ran his tongue over the edge of his split lip.
It wasn't over.
It was just beginning.
Roth Tower – 3:00 AM
Amelia sat in her office, legs crossed beneath her desk, the glow from the city skyline casting long shadows across the floor.
Her phone vibrated beside her.
Leo.
She ignored it.
The phone buzzed again.
Her hand hovered over it before she snatched it up. "What?"
Leo's voice slid through the line dark and smooth. "Couldn't sleep?"
Her jaw tightened. "You're calling to gloat?"
"No," Leo said. "I'm calling to remind you."
Her eyes narrowed. "Of what?"
Leo's voice dropped. "We're not done."
Amelia's pulse hammered.
"Goodnight, sweetheart," Leo murmured.
The line went dead.
Amelia set the phone down with a sharp click. Her chest rose and fell, pulse still racing.
She hated him.
She hated that he was already under her skin.
But most of all she hated the way part of her wanted to answer the next time he called.