Page 41 of His Son's Ex

I nod. “That’s one way to put it. For instance, we can embed spyware into bogus files—like decoy financial records. Hackers think they’re stealing valuable data, but in reality, we’re collecting their IP addresses, infiltration paths, and domain credentials. In other words, we’re tracking them.”

He listens intently, brow furrowing. “So basically we’re laying a trap.”

“Exactly. It’s not unusual to deploy honeypots, but I’m taking it one step further by seeding real-looking data across the network. The second they grab it, we have them.”

Dante’s expression is thoughtful. “That’s more than a typical defense posture. That’s espionage.”

“Not illegal,” I point out. “As long as we’re not violating privacy laws or entrapment regulations. We’d simply be providing false files for unauthorized actors.”

“And once we pinpoint them?”

I pause for a moment before responding. “That’s up to you. But if we do this, any retaliation must be on the right side of the law.” My eyes narrow. “If you start launching destructive attacks or doxing them, that puts the company at risk. I won’t be a part of that.”

Silence falls between us. Dante’s jaw twitches as the fading sunlight paints him in stark gold, making him appear like the statue of a dark god.

Finally, he exhales. “You’re telling me to keep it legal.”

“I am.”

A slow smile curves his mouth, dangerous and admiring all at once. “The more I learn about you, Eva Smith, the more I despise the fact that we agreed on a one-time-only arrangement.”

My throat dries. “I don’t recall that arrangement being exactly mutual.”

His smile widens, a flicker of amusement in his eyes. “You didn’t protest; you said you didn’t want to get in too deep.”

Too late.

Heat coils in my gut as my body remembers how it felt to be pinned beneath him, how my heart thundered at the authority in his voice.

The tension in the room crackles like static electricity.

“You’re my boss now,” I point out.

He steps around the desk, moving closer with predatory grace. My pulse leaps. “Yes, I am. And right now, I’m very impressed with your plan. I’m also very conflicted.”

“Conflicted how?”

He stops just in front of me, his gaze dipping briefly to my parted lips. “Conflicted between praising your brilliance or punishing you for driving me insane.”

A tremor runs through me. “Punishing me?”

He leans in, and I catch the faint scent of his cologne—spiced wood, dark and potent. “Mmm-hmm,” he murmurs. “You knew exactly what you were doing when you walked in here, didn’t you? With your ideas of embedding spyware, your no-nonsense approach. You’re baiting me.”

I swallow hard. “I’m not sure how.”

“You’re brilliant, Eva, but you’ve given me boundaries. No one gives Dante Bellacino boundaries.”

“There’s a first time for everything, I suppose.”

He chuckles softly, then lifts his hand to cup my chin. The contact sets off sparks. “Does this bother you?”

It should. He’s my boss. He’s also the most dangerous man I’ve ever met. And yet, I’m leaning into his touch, my breath catching. “I…”

He silences me with his mouth, pressing a slow, devastating kiss to my lips. My mind short-circuits, a rush of desire obliterating all rational thought.

He slides his free hand around my waist, pulling me to my feet so I’m flush against him. My heart thunders, a moan escaping as his tongue slips past my lips, coaxing and demanding.

The last rays of the sun blaze through the windows, painting us in molten light. I cling to his shoulders, remembering how good it felt last time. My body hums, desperate for more.