Page 117 of Falling for the Grump Billionaire

Reyes gestures lazily. “Let’s keep this simple. Hand over the data. Your empire. Everything. And in return…” His smile widens as he gestures to me. “She walks away.”

“No!” I protest, but Dominic’s sharp look silences me.

“Let her go first,” Dominic says, his tone icy.

Reyes chuckles again, shaking his head. “Always so noble. Fine.” He waves to his man, who steps forward, holding the laptop out to Dominic.

I watch in horror as Dominic types into the keyboard. The screen flashes to life, and lines of code begin transferring.

“Dominic, don’t!” I cry, my voice breaking.

“It’s done,” he says, his tone dark and final. “Now let her go.”

Reyes’s laughter echoes down the alley. “Oh, Dominic. Did you really think it would be that easy?”

Before I can react, one of Reyes’s men grabs me, dragging me backward toward the car. Dominic lunges forward, his roar of rage cutting through the chaos, but more men appear, blocking his path.

“Goodbye, Kane,” Reyes says with a mock bow as he climbs back into the car.

The last thing I see is Dominic’s face—bloodied, furious, unrelenting—as I’m shoved into the backseat.

The car speeds away, the city lights blurring into streaks as I’m forced deeper into the darkness. My mind races, desperation clawing at my chest. Dominic’s face flashes in my memory, his voice echoing in my ears.

“You are worth everything.”

The words fuel my resolve even as the noose tightens. Reyes thinks he’s won, but he has no idea who he’s dealing with.

This isn’t over. Not by a long shot.

The world outside the car is a blur of light and shadow as we speed through Zurich’s streets. Reyes’s men sit in stoic silence, their faces unreadable behind their darkened sunglasses. My wrists ache where the zip ties dig into my skin, but the sting barely registers. My mind is racing, desperate to find a way out of this.

Reyes sits across from me, the smug expression on his face tightening the knot of anger and fear in my chest. He’s calm, composed—like a predator who knows the prey has no chance of escape.

“You know, Eva,” he begins, his voice smooth as silk, “this could have been avoided. All of this.”

I don’t reply. I refuse to give him the satisfaction.

He leans forward slightly, his smile sharp. “Dominic Kane is a formidable man, but his weakness has always been his need to protect. To control. And you, my dear, have become his Achilles’ heel.”

I clench my fists, forcing myself to meet his gaze. “If you think Dominic is going to stop, you don’t know him as well as you think. He’ll find me. And when he does, you’ll regret every second of this.”

Reyes’s laugh is low and dark, sending a chill down my spine. “That’s what I’m counting on.”

The SUV jerks as it takes a sharp turn, throwing me against the window. I bite back a wince, refusing to let Reyes see any sign of weakness. Instead, I focus on the scenery outside—a maze of unfamiliar streets and dimly lit industrial buildings.

We’re heading somewhere remote. Somewhere no one will find us.

The car slows as we approach a gated complex, the iron bars creaking open to reveal a stark, sprawling facility surrounded by high walls. The building ahead is nondescript, its windows dark and uninviting. This isn’t a place of negotiation; it’s a place where secrets are buried.

The moment the car stops, Reyes’s men spring into action, yanking the door open and hauling me out. I stumble but catch myself, standing as tall as I can despite the fear clawing at my insides.

Reyes steps out behind me, gesturing toward the building with a flourish. “Welcome to my little sanctuary. It’s not as luxurious as Kane’s penthouse, but it serves its purpose.”

“Which is what?” I ask, my voice sharper than I feel. “Intimidation? Torture? You won’t get anything from me.”

Reyes’s smile doesn’t waver. “Oh, I don’t need anything from you. Not yet. Your presence here is enough to keep Dominic in check.”

He turns and strides toward the entrance, his men shoving me forward to follow. Inside, the air is cold and sterile, the walls painted a dull gray. The faint hum of electricity vibrates through the space, punctuated by the echo of our footsteps.

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