CROSS MY HEART:A BILLIONAIRE’S BARGAIN

NEAR MISS

The weight of the tension in the penthouse felt suffocating, wrapping around them like a thick fog. Emma’s heartbeat thudded loudly in her chest as she watched Damian—his usually unreadable expression now strained, his jaw clenched so tightly she could see the muscles in his neck flex. The storm inside him was visible, threatening to break.

She wasn’t sure what was stronger—her fear or her frustration.

“Damian,” she began, her voice cutting through the thick silence between them. “I can’t just sit here and wait. I’ve been dragged into this mess for days, watching you carry the weight of this whole war while I’m locked in your golden cage, pretending that I’m safe. But I’m not. And neither are you. Vanessa is still out there.”

Damian’s icy blue eyes flashed dangerously, a storm brewing beneath the surface. “You don’t know what you’re talking about, Emma,” he snapped, his voice low and threatening. “This isn’t a game. You have no idea what Vanessa is capable of, or what it means to face someone like her.”

Emma’s chest tightened, but she didn’t back down. She couldn’t. “Then teach me. Show me how to fight. I’m not helpless. I’m not a prisoner in your world—I’m part of it now, whether you like it or not.”

His gaze softened for just a fraction of a second, and she saw the struggle in his eyes—an internal battle between the man who wanted to protect her and the one who couldn’t allow himself to trust anyone. His voice dropped to a near whisper. “You don’t understand. Vanessa… she’s ruthless. If she believes she can get to me through you, she will stop at nothing. And I won’t let her use you as a pawn. Not again.”

Emma’s heart clenched. She had seen the fear in his eyes before, but this time, it was different. It wasn’t just fear for himself—it was fear of losing her. And that thought, as much as it terrified her, made something shift inside her.

“Damian…” she started, stepping closer, her voice soft but resolute. “You’re not invincible. You can’t do this alone. And I won’t sit back and let you destroy yourself trying to protect me. Let me in. Let me help you. Let me fight with you.”

For a moment, his eyes flickered with something that might have been hope—or maybe it was just exhaustion—but he shook his head, his expression hardening again. “I can’t afford to trust anyone, Emma. Not even you. You think you’re helping, but you’re not. The more you get involved, the more you put yourself in danger. You don’t know what it’s like to live this life.”

Emma felt a sharp pang of frustration, but it quickly melted into a quiet understanding. “No, I don’t know what it’s like. But I know what it’s like to feel powerless. To watch people I care about get hurt while I stand by and do nothing. And I’m not going to let that happen to you. Not again.”

Damian’s breath hitched, and for a moment, Emma saw a flicker of something deep within him—something vulnerable that he tried so hard to keep hidden. But it was gone as quickly as it came, replaced by the cold, impenetrable walls he had spent years building around himself.

He opened his mouth to respond, but just then, his phone buzzed on the counter, slicing through the tension in the room. He glanced down at the screen, his face hardening in an instant.

“It’s her,” Damian said, his voice grim.

“Vanessa?” Emma asked, her throat tightening.

Damian nodded as he picked up the phone with the precision of someone who had been trained to respond to threats. “What do you want?” he growled, his voice steady, but the edge was sharp.

Vanessa’s voice was light, almost mocking, as it filled the space. “Damian, darling, I trust you’re enjoying your little vacation. I do hope you’re resting up, because this is only the beginning. The real game is about to start, and I’m eager to see how you handle it.”

Damian’s hand tightened around the phone, his knuckles white. “You’re delusional if you think you’ve won, Vanessa,” he said, his voice low and controlled. “I’m not afraid of you.”

Vanessa’s laughter came through the line, sweet and cutting all at once. “Oh, Damian, you still don’t understand. This isn’t about winning or losing. This is about survival. And believe me, darling, the game has only just begun. We’ll see who survives in the end.”

The line went dead with a soft click, but the weight of her words hung in the air, thick and oppressive.

“What did she mean by that?” Emma asked, her voice barely above a whisper, her pulse quickening with every passing second.

Damian’s face darkened, his jaw tight as he stared at the phone in his hand. For a long moment, he didn’t answer. He just stood there, his posture rigid, his gaze distant, as if he were lost in his own thoughts.

Finally, with a sharp exhale, he pocketed the phone and turned to face her. “We need to move. Now.”

Emma’s stomach dropped. “What? What do you mean? What’s going on?”

Damian’s eyes were cold, his voice clipped. “Vanessa’s not playing around anymore. This isn’t just about business—it’s personal. And I’m going to finish it. But you’re staying here. I’ll take care of it.”

“No,” Emma said immediately, her voice strong despite the fear coiling in her chest. “I’m not staying here while you go out there alone. You’re not the only one who’s at risk, Damian. I’m not going to sit back and wait while you fight this battle by yourself.”

Damian’s eyes hardened, and for a brief second, Emma saw the storm building inside him. “You don’t get it. I can’t protect you if you’re involved. I can’t lose you. Not like this.”

Emma’s chest tightened, the weight of his words sinking in. “Damian… I’m not asking you to protect me. I’m asking you to let me fight with you. I’m asking you to trust me.”

For a long moment, Damian said nothing. His gaze was intense, locked onto hers, as if he were searching for something—some sign that she understood the danger. But in the end, he just nodded once, his expression unreadable. “Fine,” he said, his voice rough. “But you stay behind me. You follow my lead. Understand?”

Emma’s heart raced, but she didn’t hesitate. “I understand.”

Before they could speak another word, the sound of the door bursting open interrupted them. Marcus entered, his eyes scanning the room quickly, alert, always on edge. “Damian, we need to move. The situation’s escalating.”

Damian didn’t need to be told twice. He grabbed his jacket with a swift motion, his expression hardening into the familiar mask of control. “I’m already on it. Get ready. We leave in ten.”

As they moved to prepare for what was coming, Emma couldn’t shake the feeling that things were about to get much worse. The battle with Vanessa was no longer just a distant threat—it was a war, and she was right in the middle of it.

And this time, there would be no running. No hiding. Only fighting.

As the door closed behind them, Emma took a deep breath. The stakes had never been higher, and the game had only just begun.

But she wasn’t going to let fear dictate her life anymore.

She was in this—no matter what.