Amelia wasn't sure why she had come here.
The elevator ride to the Vance Penthouse had been smooth and quiet giving her just enough time to reconsider the decision entirely but somehow her hand still pressed the button for Leo's floor.
And now she was standing at his door.
Her heart hammered painfully beneath her ribs as she raised her hand and knocked.
A long pause.
Then the click of the lock disengaging.
The door opened, and there he was.
Leo Vance stood in the low glow of the penthouse hallway, barefoot and shirtless, dark gray sweats riding low on his hips. His hair was tousled, and there was a faint bruise along his jaw from the fight at the dock.
Amelia's mouth went dry.
"Amelia," Leo said, his voice low and still rough with sleep.
Her breath caught.
She should have left. Should have turned around.
But instead, her gaze slid down over the lean muscle of his chest, the dark ridges of his collarbones, the faint scar along his side.
"I…" Amelia's throat tightened. "We need to talk."
Leo's gaze sharpened. "Come inside."
She hesitated.
Leo's mouth curved. "Or do you prefer to have sensitive business conversations in the hallway?"
Her jaw tightened. "Fine."
She stepped inside.
Leo shut the door behind her, and the click of the lock sounded far too final.
Amelia crossed the room, heels clicking against the dark wood floor as she stopped near the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city.
Leo watched her from across the room, his gaze lazy but alert.
"Couldn't sleep?" he asked.
Amelia's eyes narrowed. "This isn't personal."
Leo smiled faintly. "You keep saying that."
She turned toward him, arms crossed. "The phone call earlier, it was calculated."
"I know."
"Which means someone close to the company is leaking information."
"I know."
Her pulse sharpened. "Then why aren't you worried?"
Leo crossed the room slowly, his steps measured, predatory until he was standing inches from her.
"I'm not worried," Leo said softly, "because I know how this ends."
Amelia's breath quickened. "And how does it end?"
Leo's hand slid toward her waist not touching, but close enough that the heat of him bled through the thin silk of her blouse.
"With me winning."
Her pulse hammered.
Amelia's gaze sharpened. "You don't win unless I win."
Leo's smile darkened. "That's the idea."
Her breath hitched.
She hated this. Hated how easy it was for him to unravel her composure and hated how her body leaned toward his without permission.
Her father's voice echoed in her head: "If you let him get too close, don't expect me to protect you."
She swallowed. "We need to control the narrative."
Leo's gaze didn't waver. "We will."
Her eyes narrowed. "You're sure about that?"
Leo's hand brushed the edge of her waist just a whisper of contact, but enough to make her breath stutter.
"Of course I'm sure." His voice dropped lower. "Because I don't lose."
Her mouth parted.
Leo's gaze flicked to her lips.
Her pulse hammered painfully beneath her skin.
"You're playing with fire," Amelia whispered.
Leo's mouth curved. "So are you."
Amelia's breath quickened. "And what happens when we both burn?"
Leo's hand slid lower resting just above her hip, his thumb pressing lightly against the thin fabric of her blouse.
"Then we burn together."
Her breath hitched.
And then
Leo's phone buzzed on the nearby table.
His hand slid away as he turned toward it. His gaze sharpened when he saw the number.
Amelia's pulse skidded. "Who is it?"
Leo's jaw tightened. "No one important."
He silenced the call.
Amelia's eyes narrowed. "Leo."
Leo's gaze was dark. "It's nothing."
Her stomach twisted. "Don't lie to me."
Leo's mouth tightened. "I'm not lying."
Her pulse hammered. "Then answer it."
Leo's gaze sharpened. "It's not that simple."
Amelia's chest tightened. "Make it simple."
Leo's jaw flexed. "You're not the only one being targeted, Amelia."
Her breath sharpened. "What?"
Leo's eyes darkened. "My company's been bleeding money for weeks. Someone's coming for both of us and whoever it is, they're playing the long game."
Amelia's throat tightened. "And you're just now telling me this?"
Leo's gaze didn't waver. "Because I didn't trust you."
Her breath hitched. "And now?"
Leo's mouth curved faintly. "I'm considering it."
Her pulse hammered. "You don't get to hold this over me."
Leo's gaze sharpened. "Whoever's coming for you they're not working alone."
Her chest rose and fell. "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying this isn't corporate sabotage anymore." Leo's mouth darkened. "This is personal."
Her breath hitched. "How personal?"
Leo's gaze sharpened. "Enough to bury us both."
Amelia's pulse spiked dangerously. "And what's your solution?"
Leo stepped closer. His hand slid beneath her chin, tipping her face toward his. His gaze burned dark beneath the dim city lights.
"We stop holding back."
Amelia's breath hitched. "Meaning?"
Leo's thumb skimmed the line of her jaw. "We play dirtier."
Her pulse hammered painfully.
"And if I'm not willing to?" Amelia whispered.
Leo's smile was slow and lethal. "Then you'll lose."
Her throat tightened. "And if I lose?"
Leo's gaze darkened. "You won't."
Amelia's breath caught.
Leo's mouth lowered toward hers close enough that his breath teased her lips.
"Because I'm not letting you."
Her heart stumbled dangerously.
And then Leo's mouth brushed the corner of her jaw light and dangerous.
"Trust me," Leo murmured.
Amelia's breath hitched.
But before she could respond
A loud crash sounded from the hallway.
Leo's head snapped toward the door.
Amelia's pulse hammered. "What was that?"
Leo's eyes sharpened. "Stay here."
Amelia's hand shot out, catching his wrist. "Leo"
"I've got it."
Leo stepped toward the door but before he could reach it, the door burst open.
Three men in dark suits stormed inside.
Amelia's breath sharpened.
Leo's gaze darkened. "Big mistake."
The first man lunged.
Leo's hand shot out quick and brutal slamming the man's arm aside. He drove his fist into the man's stomach, sending him crashing to the ground.
The second man swung
Leo caught his wrist and twisted, the sound of bone snapping sharp in the air.
Amelia stumbled back as the third man lunged toward her
But Leo was already moving.
He caught the man by the collar, yanked him back, and drove him into the wall with a single lethal strike.
The man crumpled.
Leo stood over him, breathing hard. His gaze sharpened as he wiped blood from his split lip.
"Who sent you?" Leo's voice was cold.
The man spat blood onto the floor. "You already know."
Leo's jaw flexed. "Wrong answer."
He stepped forward
"Leo," Amelia's voice was sharp.
Leo's gaze flicked toward her.
She shook her head.
Leo's eyes darkened. His fist tightened but he stepped back.
The man laughed darkly. "You're already too late."
Leo's gaze sharpened. "We'll see."
The silence that followed was sharp and heavy.
Leo's chest rose and fell with measured control, his jaw tight as the man at his feet spat blood onto the sleek marble floor.
"You're already too late," the man repeated. His lip curled as he dragged the back of his hand across his mouth.
Leo's mouth curved darkly. "I don't believe in 'too late.'"
Amelia stepped closer, heels clicking softly against the floor. Her eyes were sharp, cutting through the tension like glass.
"Who sent you?" she asked coldly.
The man's eyes flicked toward her, assessing. His mouth curved into something that looked almost like a smile. "You already know."
Amelia's pulse hammered. "Try me."
The man's gaze sharpened. "You think you're in control?"
Leo's hand shot out quick and brutal gripping the man by the collar and hauling him upright. "Answer the question."
The man's smile sharpened. "You'll find out soon enough."
Leo's gaze darkened. "Or I could make you tell me."
Amelia's breath sharpened. "Leo"
Leo didn't release him. His eyes were dark and lethal, his grip steady as steel.
The man's smile widened. "Touch me again, Vance and see what happens."
Leo's mouth curved dangerously. "I don't respond well to threats."
Amelia's hand brushed Leo's wrist light and deliberate. "Leo."
His jaw flexed but after a long beat, he released his grip. The man staggered back against the wall, coughing roughly.
"You'll regret this," the man said darkly.
Leo smiled faintly. "Doubt it."
Footsteps echoed down the hallway. Two security guards appeared in the doorway, weapons drawn.
"Mr. Vance"
Leo's gaze sharpened. "Take him."
The man's smile didn't fade as the guards hauled him to his feet. His eyes lingered on Amelia as they dragged him toward the door.
"Tick tock, Miss Roth," the man murmured as he passed her. "Time's almost up."
Amelia's pulse hammered painfully beneath her skin.
The guards hauled him out of the penthouse, and the door clicked shut behind them.
Silence.
Amelia's heart was still racing. Her pulse thrummed dangerously beneath the surface of her skin.
Leo stood near the window, his body still tense with adrenaline. His hands curled at his sides, his jaw tight beneath the dim glow of the city lights.
"You're bleeding," Amelia said softly.
Leo's hand drifted toward his lip. His fingers brushed the split skin beneath the sharp edge of his mouth. A smear of red stained his fingertips.
Leo smiled faintly. "It's not the first time."
Amelia's breath hitched. "That's not comforting."
Leo's gaze flicked toward her. His mouth curved darkly. "I wasn't trying to be comforting."
Her eyes sharpened. "You're reckless."
"And you're cold," Leo said softly. "Maybe that's why this works."
Her pulse hammered. "This isn't working."
Leo stepped closer. His gaze slid over her face, dark and slow. "No?"
Her breath quickened. "No."
Leo's hand brushed the edge of her jaw light and deliberate his thumb skimming the curve of her cheek.
"Then why," Leo murmured, "are you still here?"
Her chest rose and fell.
She should leave. She should walk away.
But instead
Amelia stepped closer.
Her hand slid beneath the lapel of his jacket, her fingertips brushing over the silk lining. Her pulse hammered dangerously beneath her skin as Leo's breath hitched, his mouth curving faintly.
"I hate you," Amelia whispered.
Leo's mouth hovered just above hers. "I know."
Her breath quickened.
"And that's why this works," Leo said darkly.
Her hand tightened against his jacket.
Leo's mouth brushed the curve of her jaw. Light. Testing. His breath was warm against her skin.
Her pulse kicked dangerously.
She hated him. She hated how easy it would be to lean in, how easy it would be to let him win.
Her hand curled against his chest.
"Stop," Amelia whispered.
Leo's mouth hovered over hers. "Tell me you don't want this."
Her breath hitched. "I don't"
"Liar."
Leo's hand slid to her hip light, dangerous his thumb brushing over the thin silk of her blouse.
Her pulse hammered. Her breath stuttered.
"Leo"
The phone on the marble table buzzed.
Leo's gaze sharpened.
Amelia stepped back, her breath sharp as her pulse screamed beneath the surface of her skin.
Leo's mouth tightened. He crossed the room and picked up the phone.
His jaw flexed as he read the message.
Amelia's gaze sharpened. "What is it?"
Leo's mouth darkened. "We have a problem."
Her pulse quickened. "What kind of problem?"
Leo's gaze flicked toward her. "Your shipment's gone."
Amelia's breath sharpened. "What?"
Leo's eyes darkened. "Someone took it."
Her chest tightened. "You said security was locked down."
"It was."
Her pulse hammered. "Then how"
Leo's mouth pressed into a thin line. "Someone gave them access."
Her stomach twisted. "Who?"
Leo's gaze sharpened. "That's what we're going to find out."
Amelia's heart hammered.
Leo's phone buzzed again. His gaze darkened as he read the message.
His mouth curved faintly.
"What?" Amelia demanded.
Leo turned toward her, his smile slow and dangerous.
"They just raised the stakes."
Her pulse hammered. "What does that mean?"
Leo's gaze sharpened. "It means the game just changed."
Amelia's breath sharpened.
Leo's eyes darkened. "And now? We stop playing nice."
Amelia's chest tightened. "And if we can't win?"
Leo's smile widened. "Then we burn the whole thing down."
Amelia's pulse hammered painfully beneath her skin.
"Are you ready for that?" Leo's voice was soft and dangerous.
Her chin lifted. "Yes."
Leo's eyes glinted darkly.
"Good," he murmured.
Leo's hand brushed her wrist light and deliberate. "Because we're not walking away from this."
Amelia's breath caught.
She hated him.
She hated how easy it was for him to unravel her defenses.
She hated that some dark part of her already knew
If she was going down…
It was going to be with him.