Maya's POV
I couldn't stop thinking about him.
Stupid. Ridiculous. My father was barely in the ground, and I was obsessing over a man with dangerous eyes who'd appeared and disappeared like a ghost.
Damien Cross.
Even his name sounded like trouble.
Twenty-four hours after the funeral, I sat in Sinclair Global's conference room surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows and the six strangers from the cemetery.
Including him.
Damien sat directly across from me, and I could feel his eyes on my face even when I wasn't looking at him. Studying me. Watching me breathe.
It was unnerving. And something else I didn't want to name.
Thank you all for coming, the attorney said. Harold Chen. My father's lawyer for twenty years. We're here for the reading of Richard Sinclair's last will and testament.
Reyna squeezed my hand under the table.
My Aunt Elise sat to my left, already glaring at the six strangers like they'd committed a crime just by existing.
To my daughter, Maya Sinclair, Harold read, I leave a trust fund of fifty million dollars and all of Elena's personal effects, to be given to her with my deepest love.
Fifty million dollars. More money than I could spend in a lifetime.
So why did my chest feel hollow?
And Richard Sinclair's controlling shares in Sinclair Global Industries, valued at approximately eight billion dollars, are to be divided equally among— Harold's voice faltered. —Victoria Chen, Marcus Webb, Sophia Laurent, James Park, Natasha Volkov, and Damien Cross.
The room tilted.
What? The word ripped from my throat.
Damien's expression didn't change, but his hands curled into fists on the table.
Each heir receives an equal share with equal voting rights, Harold continued. They must maintain collective ownership for one year before any decisions regarding sale or transfer can be made.
This is insane! Aunt Elise shot to her feet. Richard would never—
The will is legal and binding, Harold said firmly.
I couldn't breathe. Couldn't think. My father gave his empire to six strangers?
I looked at Damien, and for the first time since the funeral, his mask cracked. He looked... stricken. Like the will had gutted him too.
I don't want this, he said, his voice rough. He was looking at me. Only me. I didn't ask for any of this.
None of us did, the elegant woman, Victoria Chen said quietly.
Then refuse it! I stood up, my chair scraping back. If you don't want it, refuse it!
If any heir refuses, the company goes to charity, Harold explained. All six must accept, or none of you get anything.
A trap. My father had built a perfect trap.
Maya Damien started to stand.
Don't. I held up a hand, hating how it shook. Just... don't.
I ran from the room before anyone could see me cry.
I made it to the bathroom before the sobs came.
My father had given everything to strangers. Why? What had I done wrong? Why wasn't I good enough?
The bathroom door opened.
I looked up from where I'd collapsed against the wall, expecting Reyna.
It was Damien.
This is the women's bathroom, I said through tears.
I don't care. He locked the door behind him and crossed the space between us in three long strides. You shouldn't be alone right now.
I'm fine.
You're crying on a bathroom floor. He crouched in front of me, and his eyes were softer than I'd ever seen them. That's not fine.
Being this close to him made my heart race for reasons that had nothing to do with fear. I could see the flecks of gold in his dark eyes. Could smell something clean and masculine that made me want to lean closer.
Stop it. He just stole your inheritance.
Your father— Damien's voice cracked. He was the closest thing to family I had. And I don't understand this any more than you do.
Then why did he give you everything?
I don't know. Raw honesty in those two words. But Maya, I swear to you—I didn't know about this. None of us did.
I wanted to believe him. God, I wanted to believe him so badly it scared me.
Where were you? The question came out broken. The day he died. Where were you?
Pain flashed across Damien's face. I was supposed to be in the car with him. I'm always in the car. But I got called away on a security emergency that turned out to be nothing. His jaw clenched. By the time I realized it was a false alarm, he was already dead.
Someone set you up.
I know. His hands curled into fists. Someone wanted me away from him. And I can't— His voice broke. I can't stop seeing it. If I'd been there, if I'd just stayed—
He'd still be dead, I whispered. And maybe you would be too.
Damien looked at me like I'd slapped him. Then, slowly, he reached out and wiped a tear from my cheek with his thumb.
The touch sent electricity through my entire body.
I made a promise to your father, he said softly, his thumb still on my skin. Whatever it takes, I keep you safe. Even from the inheritance he left behind. Even from the other heirs. Even from myself if I have to.
Why? I breathed.
His eyes dropped to my mouth, just for a second. Because losing him broke something in me. And losing you would finish the job.
The air between us crackled with something dangerous and electric.
My phone buzzed, shattering the moment.
Damien pulled back like he'd been burned.
I looked at the screen with shaking hands.
Unknown number: Your father didn't die in an accident. One of them killed him. They're all suspects. Trust no one—not even the one who seems to care.
My blood turned to ice.
I looked up at Damien—this man who'd just touched me like I was precious, who'd looked at me like I was worth protecting.
Not even the one who seems to care.
What is it? Damien asked, seeing my expression change.
Nothing. I stood quickly, putting distance between us. I need to go.
Maya—
Please. Just... leave me alone.
He looked like I'd stabbed him. But he nodded and unlocked the door.
As he walked out, he paused. I meant what I said. About keeping you safe. Whether you believe me or not.
Then he was gone.
I stared at the text message.
One of them killed him.
Six suspects. Six strangers who now controlled everything.
And one of them—maybe the one who'd just made my heart race—was a murderer.