Chapter 312: I Didn’t Order Anything

Eve’s expression didn’t change, but he saw her hands clench slightly.

"Okay," she said carefully. "So what do we do about it?"

"We prepare," Dimitri said. "We strengthen security. We change protocols. We position defensive assets. And we wait for him to make a move."

"And if he does?" Eve asked.

"Then he walks into a trap I’ve already set," Dimitri said with absolute confidence. "He thinks he’s going to catch us off guard. He thinks he’s going to exploit the element of surprise. But we’re going to be ready. We’re going to be waiting for him."

Eve moved closer and took his face in her hands.

"I trust you," she said. "I trust that you’re not going to let anything happen to me. But Dimitri, I need you to promise me something."

"What?" he asked.

"Promise me that when Dante makes his move, you’re not going to do something reckless trying to protect me. Promise me you’re going to be strategic. Promise me you’re going to think about your safety as much as mine."

Dimitri wanted to promise. Wanted to give her the reassurance she was asking for.

But he also knew that if it came down to a choice between his safety and hers, there was only one choice he’d make.

"I’ll be as strategic as I can be," he said finally. "But Eve, if it comes down to it, if the choice is between protecting you and protecting myself, I’m choosing you. Every single time."

Eve’s eyes filled with tears, but she didn’t argue.

Instead, she kissed him.

"Then we better make sure Dante doesn’t force that choice," she said against his mouth.

"He won’t," Dimitri said, pulling her closer. "I promise you that, piccola. He won’t get the chance."

***

LATER THAT NIGHT

Dimitri stood on the penthouse balcony, looking out at New York City spread below him.

Marco appeared on the balcony beside him.

"Security upgrades are complete," Marco reported. "The penthouse is locked down. We have additional personnel positioned at every access point. The surveillance system is fully redundant with continuous monitoring. If Dante tries anything, we’ll see it coming."

"Good," Dimitri said. "How long before he makes a move, do you think?"

"Based on the intelligence, I’d estimate 24 to 48 hours," Marco said. "He brought Isabella here to consolidate his forces. He’s finalizing his plan. And then he’s going to strike."

"And we’ll be ready," Dimitri said.

"We will," Marco confirmed.

Dimitri looked out at the city and felt something settle into place.

Dante thought he was coming for Eve.

Thought he was going to use her as leverage.

Thought he was going to break him through the people he loved.

He had no idea that he had already seen it coming.

Had already prepared.

Had already turned the playing field to his advantage.

Tomorrow, Dante would learn what it meant to go to war against a man who always thinks three steps ahead.

And by the time Dante understood that he’d made a catastrophic miscalculation, it would be far too late to do anything about it.

***

POV: EVE

8:47 AM

The morning was beautiful.

That was the first thing Eve noticed as the town car pulled up to the Phoenix Talent Agency building, the sun was shining through the Manhattan skyline, painting the streets in shades of gold. It was the kind of morning that made the city feel alive, made you forget about the darkness that lived underneath the glittering surface.

She was thinking about the client meeting scheduled for 10 AM. A new actress, fresh out of Juilliard, looking for representation. Eve loved these meetings. Loved discovering new talent, nurturing potential, building careers.

That was what she did. That was who she was.

The Phoenix Talent Agency was her life’s work. Built from nothing into something real and profitable and meaningful. The office occupied three full floors of the building, executive level on the top, administrative in the middle, and the main office space on the floor below.

And the basement. The basement was storage, delivery, the infrastructure that kept everything functioning.

She got out of the town car, grabbed her bag, and headed into the building. Her security detail...two men, always present, always alert, followed behind her.

"Morning, Ms. Thorne," one of them said. His name was Daniel. He’d been with her for six months.

"Morning," she replied, heading toward the elevator. "Quiet night?"

"Very quiet," Daniel confirmed. "Building’s been secure. No incidents."

Eve nodded, pressed the button for the executive level.

The elevator climbed smoothly, and Eve mentally ran through her schedule. Client meeting at 10. Conference call with the New York talent union at 11:30. Lunch with her business partner at 1 PM. More meetings scattered throughout the afternoon.

A normal day.

A regular Tuesday.

****

9:15 AM

Eve was in her office reviewing client files when her assistant, Maria, knocked on the door.

"Eve? The delivery team is here. They’re saying they need to access the basement for the new furniture shipment. Should I send them down with security?"

Eve looked up from her computer.

"What furniture shipment?" she asked, confused. "I didn’t order anything."

"I’m not sure," Maria said, checking her notes. "It came through yesterday, but I thought you’d approved it?"

Eve hadn’t approved it.

Something flickered in her awareness. A small wrongness. A detail out of place.

But it could be a legitimate mistake. Could be a mix-up with orders. Could be nothing.

"Tell them to wait," Eve said. "I’ll check the purchase orders and confirm."

"Okay," Maria said, leaving the office.

Eve pulled up her purchase order system and searched for recent furniture orders.

Nothing.

She searched her emails for any communications about furniture delivery.

Nothing.

A small alarm bell started ringing in the back of her mind.

She called security.

"Daniel, can you go check the basement? Verify that the delivery team is legitimate?"

"Already on it," Daniel said. Eve could hear him moving, heading toward the service elevator.

She waited, trying not to think about how paranoid she was being. How Dimitri’s constant vigilance had made her see threats everywhere.

The call came back within five minutes.

"Ms. Thorne, there’s no delivery team in the basement."