Page 33 of The Billionaire's Distraction

And she was in love with him.

Every day, every quiet moment, every shared laugh, every kiss only deepened her feelings for this quiet, enigmatic man.She didn’t know all the details of his life—he kept those shadows tightly locked away—but she was beginning to believe the details didn’t matter.The man in front of her did.

She never told him, though.Instinct warned her that revealing the intensity of her feelings might push him away.So instead, she kept things light, teasing, fun.She baked him cupcakes one night after a particularly long day, offering them to him with a sheepish smile.Chocolate frosting, swirled high, with sprinkles.She pretended it was casual, but when he kissed the frosting off her fingers, she thought she might combust.

And then there were the little gifts.Trinkets, really, that made her laugh or pause every time she found them.A pair of quirky earrings tucked into her bag.A bookmark shaped like a quill slipped into the pages of the book she always kept in her bag.A silk scarf in her favorite color, folded neatly atop her purse one evening.She’d never caught him doing it, but she knew that the small gifts were from him.Tony wasn’t a man of words.He was a man of actions.

And he was spoiling her in ways that were subtle, thoughtful, disarming.

Sometimes, he whisked her out on dates she hadn’t expected.A jazz bar where the music curled like smoke in the air.A midnight walk along the riverfront, admiring the city lights reflecting in the water.Once, he even took her to a hole-in-the-wall diner, the kind with cracked vinyl booths and waitresses who called everyone “hon.”He ordered for them both, then leaned back to watch her reaction to greasy fries and the best milkshake she’d ever tasted.

And every night, when she fell asleep in his arms, she thought the same thing: this couldn’t last.Men like Tony Mancini didn’t belong with women like her.

But her heart didn’t care.

Her heart was already his

Chapter 20

Tonywasreadytokill someone.Maybe literally.Maybe not.His fury had been simmering for hours, a low, restless burn that refused to settle.He stormed into the security department, sick of being cooped up in his office.He needed people around him, movement, noise—anything but the silence pressing in on him.

That happened to be the exact moment Sal walked in, cradling Gianna against his chest.The little girl was happily slurping at her bottle, her enormous dark eyes blinking curiously at the glowing tactical screens.

“Need a break?”Tony asked immediately, his gaze fixed on the baby.His chest tightened, the furious beast inside of him still clawing, still restless—but soothed, just a little, by the sight of Sal’s tiny daughter.Maybe if he held her, some of that calm would rub off on him too.

Sal’s arms tightened around Gianna.“Not a chance.She’s almost done with her bottle.”

“I don’t care,” Tony shot back, stepping closer.“Hand her over.I’m her godfather.She likes me better.”

Sal snorted.“You wish.She’s already figured out who has the real brains in this operation.”

“Brains?”Tony barked a laugh.“You can barely work a coffee machine without me standing behind you.”

Before Sal could retort, Paulo’s low chuckle rumbled from behind him.

Both men turned, glaring.

“What the hell is so funny?”Tony demanded, narrowing his eyes at the tall figure leaning casually against the counter that separated the analysts from the tactical maps.

Paulo Ruffino didn’t flinch.He never did.Tall and lithe, with the kind of wiry strength that spoke of speed and control, Paulo was one of those rare men who could dominate a boardroom under the spotlight or vanish into shadows without a sound.A predator, through and through.Detroit was his territory, and he guarded it with the same ruthless devotion Tony and Sal protected Chicago.

“I never thought I’d see the day,” Paulo drawled, arms folded loosely.“The two kings of Chicago bickering like schoolboys over who gets to hold a baby.”His dark eyes flicked to Gianna, softening for half a second.“Though I’ll admit—she’s pretty damn cute.”

“She’s not cute,” Tony growled, planting his fists on his hips.“She’s perfect.And back off.I’mher godfather.”

Sal rolled his eyes, patting his daughter’s diapered butt soothingly.“You’re her backup.I’m her father.”

Tony’s jaw flexed.“Details.”

Paulo shook his head, his lips twitching.“Damn, I came here expecting strategy meetings and instead I get to watch you two nearly come to blows over who gets spit-up duty.Detroit’s gonna love this story.”

“Don’t you dare,” Tony warned, his glare sharp enough to cut steel.

Paulo only smirked, then reached into his jacket and pulled out a folded packet of papers.His voice shifted back to business.“Jokes aside, I didn’t come all this way to play referee.Frankie Calvino, the guy who took over after Bianchi’s arrest, is moving players.And I don’t think it’s going to be good.Also, the FBI agent who took down Bianchi?Still in play.”

Tony straightened immediately, tension flooding into his shoulders.“The FBI isn’t an issue.The agent, a guy named Raffe Moretti is a good guy.”He huffed a bit, his hands fisted on his hips.“We gave him Bianchi, as well as a massive arms shipment that was heading to that group of idiots lurking in the woods of Montana.”

Paulo’s eyes narrowed.“Youownan FBI agent?”