“There’s no point playing what-ifs.”

She wriggled free of my embrace. “You’re right. Have you found anything on Petrov?”

“Not that I’ve heard. I’ll check with Zeke.” I grabbed my phone from my desk and summoned my partner with a brief call.

He strode into the office a few moments later, the tails of a cape-like coat fluttering behind him. I eyed the strange outfit but didn’t comment. Questioning Zeke’s choices generally didn’t lead anywhere useful.

“So?” I asked. “Have you found anything on Petrov?”

He waved a hand in a so-so gesture. “Nothing conclusive, but a few things about his businesses don’t add up.” He perched on the edge of my desk and glanced at the massive array of flowers on the table. “Your buddy Petrov isn’t as legitimate as he first appears.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

Willow

It felt like my whole world had been upended. Tom, who was meant to be protecting Dad’s legacy with me, had decided to back me into a corner in the hopes of saving himself. Meanwhile, our supposed rival was protecting me.

I sank to the floor and crossed my legs. “What evidence do you have that Petrov is shady?”

Zeke assessed me with a single look. He had the most unnerving way of doing that. “Like I said, nothing concrete. Just a few paper trails that don’t add up.”

Ronan nodded. “Dedicate as many resources as you can to finding out what he’s up to.”

“Is there anything I can do?” I asked, hating to feel so useless.

“Not unless you want to go behind enemy lines as a spy,” Zeke said.

My heart stuttered. If it meant ending this nightmare, I could do that. “Okay. What do you need?”

“No,” Ronan snapped. “He was joking. Weren’t you?”

Zeke held his palms up. “Of course. I’d never suggest a civilian put themselves at risk.” He winked at me. “I’m just enjoying the opportunity to make the boss man sweat.”

Ronan grunted. “Get back to work.”

To my surprise, Zeke complied without any smart-ass comments.

Ronan turned back to me. “Bring your laptop in here. You can work from my office for the rest of the day. I don’t want you out of my sight until I know you’re not in danger.”

“If I do that, it will look like something is going on between us,” I argued.

He gave me a look. “Something is going on between us.”

I huffed with frustration. “Do you really want people knowing we’re together? Won’t that be a bad look for you, since you’re technically my boss?”

“Frankly, I don’t care how it looks.” He took my hands, his expression serious. “If the rumor mill decides we’re having a workplace romance, that’s fine by me. I want more of you, and I don’t care who knows it.”

I debated how to respond. I liked that he wanted a relationship and wasn’t afraid to say it, but then, he was the boss. I still had time left on my contract, and I was the one who’d have to deal with muttered comments in passing and the loss of respect from my coworkers. That’s assuming my contract was actually upheld after all of this was done. Who knew what would happen, or if there’d even be a need for the deal Ronan and I had originally struck. That possibility seemed to become less likely each day.