Chapter 9 Lines that shouldn't be crossed

Cassidy paced the length of the safe house's sleek living room, her fingers digging into her arms as she tried to make sense of everything.

She had walked into Vaughn's world believing she could control the situation. That she could play the game on her terms.

But Vaughn had been one step ahead.

And Alexander Cross had been right behind her, pulling her out before she could fully grasp how close she had come to disaster.

Cassidy hated it. Hated that he had saved her. Hated that she needed him.

She turned sharply, her glare finding him across the room. He stood near the security monitors, his suit jacket discarded, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, exposing the corded muscle of his forearms.

Calm. Controlled. Calculating.

Like this was just another day in his world.

She hated that, too.

"I'm not going to hide," she announced, voice sharp. "I'm going to finish what I started."

Alexander didn't look up. "No one said you were hiding."

Cassidy exhaled through her nose. "Then why the hell am I here? You think keeping me locked up in one of your fancy safe houses is going to stop Vaughn?"

Now he did look at her. Slowly. Like she was the one missing something obvious.

"Vaughn isn't your only problem," he said. "The moment you stepped into that gala, you made yourself a target. Not just for him-but for the people he works for."

Cassidy crossed her arms. "And who, exactly, are these people?"

Alexander exhaled, running a hand through his hair before walking over to a sleek glass cabinet. He retrieved a tablet, tapping the screen before handing it to her.

Cassidy frowned, scanning the image in front of her.

A list of names. Companies. Some she recognized-powerful corporate entities with their hands in politics, finance, global markets.

And then, further down, something else.

Black Sun Trading.

Cassidy's blood ran cold.

She knew that name.

A private organization, one that had been whispered about in investigative circles for years. They operated in the darkest corners of global business, funding conflicts, laundering money, and-if the rumors were true-trafficking people.

"You're telling me Vaughn is connected to this?" she asked, voice lower now, more measured.

Alexander's expression didn't change. "I'm telling you he works for them."

Cassidy swallowed, gripping the tablet a little tighter.

This was bigger than she had realized.

She had thought she was exposing corporate corruption. Thought she was following the money to a businessman who had gotten in too deep.

But Vaughn wasn't just another corrupt billionaire.

He was a pawn in something much larger.

She looked back at Alexander. "And where do you fit into all this?"

His jaw tightened, but his voice remained steady. "I used to work with some of the same people Vaughn does. Before I knew who they really were."

Cassidy narrowed her eyes. "Define work with."

Alexander's lips curled into something humorless. "Let's just say when you build an empire, sometimes you shake hands with devils before you realize what they are."

A beat of silence.

Cassidy wasn't sure if she believed him.

And that was dangerous.

Because a part of her wanted to.

She set the tablet down. "So, what? You're suddenly on a redemption tour? Decided you want to take down Vaughn and Black Sun because you grew a conscience?"

Alexander tilted his head. "Do you want me to say yes?"

Cassidy scoffed. "I want you to tell me the truth."

His eyes darkened. "The truth is, Vaughn has something on me. Something that, if revealed, could destroy everything I've built."

Cassidy blinked. She hadn't expected that level of honesty.

She wasn't sure how to respond.

"So what?" she said, keeping her voice steady. "This is about self-preservation?"

Alexander's gaze sharpened. "It started that way."

Cassidy's breath hitched.

He wasn't just playing defense anymore.

He was going after Vaughn for more than just business.

And she needed to know why.

She took a step closer. "What exactly does Vaughn have on you?"

Alexander didn't answer right away. His silence was thick, charged.

Then, finally, he said, "A name."

Cassidy frowned. "Whose name?"

His expression was unreadable. "Someone I swore to protect."

Cassidy's heart stuttered. "Who?"

Alexander exhaled, stepping back slightly, as if he'd revealed too much already. "You don't need to know that."

Cassidy clenched her fists. "Like hell I don't. If I'm working with you, I need to know everything."

A slow smirk pulled at the corner of his lips. "So you are working with me now?"

Cassidy scowled. "That's not the point."

Alexander studied her, then let out a quiet chuckle. "You really can't help yourself, can you?"

She frowned. "Excuse me?"

He took a step forward, erasing the space between them. "You hate that you're starting to trust me."

Cassidy's breath hitched.

Because he was right.

She did hate it.

She hated that, despite everything, a part of her was drawn to him. To his controlled intensity. To the sharp intelligence in his eyes. To the way he watched her-like he saw through all the walls she had built.

She swallowed, forcing herself to hold his gaze. "Trust is a strong word."

His lips curved. "Then what would you call it?"

She didn't answer.

Because she didn't know.

And that scared her more than anything.

Cassidy exhaled sharply, stepping back. "You still haven't answered my question."

Alexander's expression shuttered. "And I won't."

Frustration burned through her. "Then how am I supposed to help you?"

His voice was quiet. "By helping yourself first."

Cassidy clenched her jaw. "What does that mean?"

Alexander's eyes locked onto hers, intense. "It means Vaughn isn't just coming after me anymore. He's coming after you."

A cold dread settled in her stomach.

Alexander continued, "You think he was just making a power play at the gala? No. He was testing you. Seeing if you were a loose end he needed to cut."

Cassidy swallowed hard.

She had known Vaughn was dangerous. Had known she was stepping into something dark.

But now, it was personal.

And if she didn't move fast, she wouldn't just lose her story.

She'd lose everything.

Cassidy straightened. "Then I guess I better make my next move first."

Alexander's lips curled. "Now you're thinking like me."

Cassidy glared. "Don't get used to it."

He chuckled. "I wouldn't dream of it."

But there was something in his eyes-something knowing.

Something that told her they had already crossed a line.

One they wouldn't be able to uncross.