Falling For The Billionaire I Was Hired to Protect

“Don’t move.”Jace Maddox froze when he heard the voice behind him. His hand hovered over the espresso machine. It was just past four in the morning, his usual hour for coffee. But the night had been ruined, and so had his routine.He turned slowly, eyes meeting the masked man standing in his kitchen. The intruder was tall, dressed in black, holding a knife like he knew how to use it. Jace stayed calm. He always did.“I don’t keep money here,” he said. “And I don’t panic. So whatever you want, say it now.”The man didn’t answer. He stepped forward, blade raised.But before the knife could reach Jace, someone slammed into the attacker from the side. The man was pinned down with brutal force. The knife clattered to the marble floor. Grunts filled the room as the two men struggled, but it ended quickly.The masked man didn’t get back up.Jace stood frozen for a second before the other man rose to his feet, breathing heavily.He was taller than Jace. Strong. Sharp hazel-green eyes locked

Jace didn’t look away.River’s words settled in the space between them like an unspoken history, sharp and heavy. The restaurant noise faded around them. Jace had never been good at reading people, but even he could tell River hadn’t just said that to sound dramatic. He meant it.“Then why are you still here?” Jace asked softly.River sat back, the candlelight catching the faint scar on his jaw. “Because someone’s trying to hurt you. And I want to know why.”Jace studied him. There was no false charm, no empty flattery. River was too real, too blunt and maybe that was why the world already believed the lie. It was easier to think Jace Maddox had fallen for a man like River Hale than to believe he could ever be truly alone.Their plates sat untouched.Outside, the photo ops had already been taken, Jace walking in with River’s hand on his lower back, a brief glance exchanged as they entered the private dining room. Sasha had probably already approved the captions.Jace reached for his g

Jace had never seen River freeze like that. He’d watched him disarm a stranger with terrifying speed. He’d seen him move through rooms like a shadow, calculating, alert, composed. But this was different.River’s shoulders were tense. His jaw was locked. And his eyes... there was something in them Jace hadn’t seen before.Fear.“What did the voice say?” Jace asked, quieter this time.River didn’t speak for a long moment. Then he slid his phone across the table. “They mentioned my unit. No one should know about them. No one.”Jace picked up the phone but found no trace of the number. “Blocked.”River nodded once. “They said I’m protecting the wrong man. That if I don’t walk away… I’ll end up like the others.”Jace blinked. “The others?”River leaned against the wall, dragging a hand through his hair. “There were five of us. My squad. Overseas. We were sent into a mission that wasn’t cleared. We were told it was surveillance, but it wasn’t. Two of them died that night, one lost a leg. Th

The next morning was colder than usual. Not outside, or inside. But inside Jace’s chest, inside his thoughts.He didn’t sleep. He couldn’t. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw his father’s blurred figure on that screen. Every time he blinked, he heard Crane’s voice. Calm and smooth. Just like it had always been.But now Jace knew.Something had happened that night. Something he wasn’t supposed to find and someone was warning him to stop digging.But he couldn’t stop. He wouldn't, not when it seemed everything was coming to light. When River walked into the kitchen, Jace was already dressed and staring blankly at the untouched coffee pot.“You okay?” River asked.Jace didn’t answer right away. Then, softly, “I used to trust that man. Crane. He taught me how to present at board meetings. How to read contracts. How to handle power without blinking.”River poured coffee. “And now?”Jace met his eyes. “Now I think he murdered my father.”The silence stretched between them.River pushed

A knock came before the sun finished rising. It was sharp, annoyed and familiar.River groaned from the couch, pulling the blanket over his head. “Tell her to go away.”Jace stood in the hallway in a black hoodie and sweatpants, hair still damp from a quick rinse. He opened the door just as Sasha barged in with her phone pressed to her ear and a tablet tucked under her arm.“Good morning, lovebirds,” she said without looking up. “Rise and shine. We have a company to save.”Jace squinted at her. “Sasha, it’s six-thirty.”“And your shareholders don’t care. You’re resuming work today. Vacation is officially over.”River sat up slowly. “What vacation?”“The one you’ve both been pretending you’re on,” she muttered. “Now get up, both of you. We have to show the world that Jace Maddox is back in control and very much in love.”Jace’s face twisted. “You’re kidding.”“Do I look like I’m kidding?”River rubbed his eyes. “Can I pretend to be just the bodyguard again?”“No,” Sasha said flatly. “T