Page 18 of Billionaire Wolf Needs a Fixer

"Thanks," I replied, trying to sound nonchalant."Though I'm pretty sure Garrett was going easy on me."

Levi's lips twitched in the ghost of a smile."He wasn't.You've got grit, Krista."

Our eyes locked, and for a moment, the room felt too small, the air too thick.I opened my mouth to say something, anything to break the tension, when my phone buzzed loudly, shattering the moment.

I pulled it out, frowning at the unknown number."Unknown caller," I muttered, debating whether to answer.

"Put it on speaker," Levi commanded.

I hesitated but hit the button."Hello?"

A distorted voice crackled through the line."If you want to take down Dante, you're looking in the wrong places."

My heart skipped a beat."Who is this?"

The voice ignored my question."He's not just a drug dealer.He's into something bigger, something darker.Look into his shipping company."

Before I could respond, the line went dead.I stared at the phone, my mind racing.

"What the hell was that?"Levi asked, his voice tight.

I looked up at him, my pulse quickening."I think we just got a lead."

Levi's expression darkened."Or a trap."

"Either way, we can't ignore it," I said, standing.

I turned to Levi."Can you trace the call?"

He nodded, already pulling out his own phone."I'll have Dean on this."

Levi grabbed my hand, his touch warm and firm while he pinned me with his intense gaze."Krista, be careful.Whoever this is, they're playing games.Dante's dangerous, and if he thinks you're onto him…"

"I know," I said, cutting him off."But we don't have a choice.We need to follow this."

Before I could respond, Levi's phone rang.He frowned at the screen before answering."Dean?What's up?"

I watched as his expression shifted from confusion to shock."You're sure?Okay.We'll be there."

He hung up and turned to me, his eyes blazing."Dean found something.Dante's drug ring is a front.He's running a human trafficking operation."

The words hit like a punch to the gut.My stomach churned as the pieces fell into place.Dante wasn't just a villain; he was a monster.And we were in way over our heads.

"We'll stop him," he said in a deadly steady voice."But we need to be smart.We can't afford any mistakes.

I nodded, my resolve hardening."Then let's get to work."

Levi's gaze softened, his thumb brushing over my knuckles."You're incredible, you know that?"

My cheeks warmed, but I held his gaze."Incredibly stubborn, maybe."

"Incredibly brave," he corrected, his voice low and steady."And infuriatingly brilliant."

I laughed, though it came out shaky."And here I thought you only saw me as a nuisance."

His expression turned serious, the kind of seriousness that made my heart stutter."I see you, Krista.More than I think you'd like me to."

The room seemed to shrink around us.I opened my mouth to deflect, to make a joke, anything to break the tension, but nothing came out.Instead, I just sat there, trapped in the warmth of his eyes, the unspoken words hanging heavy between us.

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