Page 105 of Falling for the Grump Billionaire

“Good,” I reply, my voice like steel. “I want him alive.”

Adrian nods, his sharp gaze darting to Eva. “We’ll keep her safe.”

“I’m coming with you,” Eva cuts in before I can object.

“No,” I snap, turning to face her fully. “You’re staying here with Adrian’s team.”

Her eyes narrow, anger flaring in her expression. “If you think I’m going to let you face him alone—”

“This isn’t up for debate, Eva,” I interrupt, my tone firm but not unkind. “I need to know you’re safe.”

She opens her mouth to argue but falters. I see the conflict in her eyes—the desire to fight beside me warring with the fear she’s trying so hard to suppress.

“Fine,” she says finally, her voice tight. “But you’d better come back in one piece.”

I step closer, brushing my hand over her cheek. “I will,” I promise. “Stay with Adrian. Trust me.”

She nods, though the doubt lingers in her expression.

The industrial district looms ahead like a shadowy maze of rusted metal and concrete. The headlights of Adrian’s convoy carve paths through the darkness, illuminating the skeletal remains of warehouses and old machinery.

“Conrad’s running out of road,” Adrian says through the comms. “He’s boxed in.”

“Good,” I reply, gripping the wheel tighter as I lead the charge.

Up ahead, the taillights of Conrad’s SUV flash as it skids around a corner, the tires spitting gravel. He’s fast, but not fast enough.

“He’s heading toward the train yard,” one of Adrian’s men reports. “There’s no way out from there unless he’s planning to abandon the vehicle.”

“Stay on him,” I order, my focus razor-sharp.

The road narrows as we approach the yard, the sound of distant freight trains echoing through the night. Conrad’s SUV swerves wildly, barely missing a stack of rusted shipping containers.

“He’s losing control,” Adrian says. “We’ve got him.”

The SUV jerks to a stop near the tracks, the driver’s side door flying open. Conrad stumbles out, his movements frantic as he searches for an escape.

I slam on the brakes, my car skidding to a halt just feet away. I’m out of the vehicle in an instant, my gun drawn as I move toward him.

“Conrad!” I shout, my voice cutting through the noise. “It’s over. Don’t make this harder than it has to be.”

He turns to face me, his face pale but twisted with defiance. “You think you’ve won?” he spits, his voice dripping with venom. “You don’t even know what game you’re playing.”

I step closer, my aim steady. “Drop whatever weapon you’ve got and get on the ground.”

He laughs, a hollow, manic sound. “You’re too late, Kane. Reyes has already set the next move in motion. Even if you take me down, you’ll never stop him.”

“Maybe not,” I say, my tone cold. “But I’ll make damn sure you don’t get to see it.”

Before he can respond, Adrian and his team close in, their weapons trained on him. Conrad hesitates, his gaze darting between us, before finally raising his hands in surrender.

Back at the penthouse, Adrian’s men secure Conrad in one of their safehouses, leaving me and Eva to process what we’ve learned.

“He was stalling,” Adrian says, pacing the living room. “Trying to buy Reyes time to move whatever pieces he has left.”

Eva sits beside me, her hand resting lightly on my arm. “Did he say anything useful?”

Adrian shakes his head. “Nothing we didn’t already suspect. But his comms were active when we caught him. My team’s tracing the signals now.”

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