Page 126 of Falling for the Grump Billionaire

“This is… extensive,” he mutters, almost to himself. “It’s not just Reyes’s network. It’s everyone he’s worked with, every deal he’s brokered, every account he’s funneled money through.”

“Can we trust it?” Dominic asks, his voice cold.

Adrian exhales sharply, leaning back in the chair. “That depends. On the surface, it looks authentic. But Reyes is too smart to hand over something this valuable without a catch.”

I step closer, unable to ignore the knot tightening in my stomach. “What kind of catch?”

Adrian looks up at me, his expression grim. “It could be disinformation—designed to mislead us. Or worse, it could be a trap. If we act on this without verifying it, we could walk right into his hands.”

Dominic’s jaw tightens. “How long will it take to verify?”

Adrian hesitates. “Days. Maybe weeks. The encryption alone will take time to untangle, and we’ll need to cross-reference every piece of data against independent sources.”

“We don’t have weeks,” Dominic snaps, his frustration flaring. “Reyes is already moving. If we wait too long, he’ll disappear, and we’ll lose everything.”

Adrian nods, his expression unreadable. “Then we prioritize. Start with the most actionable pieces—accounts, locations, high-value targets. If there’s a weak link in his network, we’ll find it.”

“Good,” Dominic says, his voice like steel. “Start now.”

Adrian doesn’t waste another second, his attention returning to the laptop as he begins to dissect the file. The room falls into a tense silence, broken only by the faint click of keys and the hum of the air conditioning.

I glance at Dominic, who is pacing near the window, his hands shoved into his pockets. His movements are sharp, precise, but I can see the strain in his posture, the weight he’s carrying.

“You should sit,” I say softly.

He pauses, turning to look at me. For a moment, I think he’s going to argue, but then he sighs and crosses to the chair opposite me. His shoulders remain tense, but he leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees.

“Eva,” he begins, his voice low, almost hesitant. “You’ve been pulled into this because of me. Reyes is using you as a pawn, and I… I can’t forgive myself for that.”

I reach across the table, placing my hand over his. “Don’t. Don’t do that. This isn’t your fault.”

His gaze meets mine, and for a moment, the walls he keeps so carefully constructed crack. “I should have protected you better.”

“You did,” I say firmly. “You’ve done everything you can to keep me safe. But I’m not some damsel in distress, Dominic. I’m in this with you. By choice.”

His lips press into a thin line, but he doesn’t argue. Instead, he turns his hand over, intertwining his fingers with mine. Thegesture is small but grounding, a silent acknowledgment that we’re in this together.

Several hours later, Adrian straightens abruptly, breaking the stillness of the room. “I’ve got something.”

Dominic and I both rise, crossing to stand behind him. Adrian points to the screen, where a string of numbers and letters is highlighted.

“This account,” Adrian says, tapping the screen. “It’s tied to a shell company in Dubai. Reyes has been funneling money through it for years. But here’s the interesting part: the account was accessed less than an hour ago.”

Dominic’s expression sharpens. “Where?”

Adrian pulls up another screen, his fingers moving quickly. “A private terminal at JFK Airport. Whoever accessed it is still in the city.”

My stomach twists. “Reyes?”

“Possibly,” Adrian replies. “Or one of his operatives. Either way, this could be our chance to intercept them.”

Dominic’s jaw tightens. “Get me a team. Now.”

Adrian nods, already pulling out his phone to make the call. Dominic turns to me, his gaze fierce. “You’re staying here.”

“Dominic—”

“No.” His tone leaves no room for argument. “It’s too dangerous. I need to know you’re safe.”

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