Page 135 of Falling for the Grump Billionaire

The First Spark

The next morning, Eva and Lena begin meeting with locals, gathering stories of intimidation and sabotage. Each account paints a clearer picture of Reyes’s tactics—his systematic dismantling of a community to feed his empire.

Meanwhile, Adrian and I work to untangle the financial web connecting South Haven Partners to Reyes. The deeper we dig, the more blatant his operation becomes.

By evening, word has spread. The townspeople are beginning to rally, their fear giving way to anger. It’s a start, but we know Reyes won’t let this stand.

The Shadow Returns

Late that night, I step onto the balcony for air. The town is quiet, the streets empty. But that familiar prickling sensation creeps over me—the feeling of being watched.

I scan the shadows, my eyes narrowing as I catch movement at the edge of an alley. A figure stands there, unmoving, their presence deliberate. They don’t try to hide, but they don’t advance either.

I take a step forward, my fists clenching. But before I can act, the figure slips into the darkness, vanishing without a trace.

When I return inside, Eva is waiting for me, her expression a mix of concern and resolve.

“What is it?” she asks.

“Reyes,” I say, my voice low. “He’s sending a message.”

Her jaw tightens, and for a moment, I see the same fire that drives me reflected in her eyes. “Then we send one back.”

I nod, the weight of what’s to come settling over me. Reyes thinks he can control us with fear. He doesn’t realize that fear is what fuels the fight.

This is just the beginning. And we’re ready.

The quiet of the inn is deceptive. Every step I take feels like walking a tightrope, the weight of Reyes’s shadow pressing heavier with every hour. Eva’s words echo in my mind:“Then we send one back.”She’s right, of course, but Reyes doesn’t play fair. If we’re going to respond, it has to be smart, surgical, and devastating.

I step into the sitting room where Eva and Lena are huddled over a map of Harbor Springs. Eva’s green eyes are sharp as she traces a line with her finger, her focus unrelenting. Lena nodsalong, though her exhaustion is evident in the way her shoulders slump.

“Dominic,” Eva says, looking up as I enter. “We’ve been mapping out the properties Reyes already controls. It’s worse than we thought.”

I move to stand behind her, leaning over the table. The map is dotted with red marks, each one representing a property tied to Reyes’s shell companies. They outnumber the few remaining independent businesses, forming a clear perimeter around the heart of the town.

“He’s choking the center,” I say, my voice low. “Cutting off access and resources.”

Eva nods, her lips pressing into a thin line. “If we don’t act fast, he’ll isolate the holdouts completely. Lena’s clinic is one of the last. It’s only a matter of time before he makes another move.”

I glance at Lena, who’s sitting with her hands clasped tightly in her lap. She looks up, her determination warring with the fear in her eyes.

“Whatever he throws at me,” Lena says quietly, “I’m not selling. This clinic is my family’s legacy. I won’t let him take it.”

Her resolve is admirable, but it’s not enough. Reyes isn’t just attacking her clinic—he’s dismantling an entire town to fuel his empire.

“He doesn’t need you to sell,” I say, leaning on the table. “If he escalates, he’ll use force. Harassment, sabotage, even violence. We’ve seen it before.”

Lena pales slightly, but Eva places a reassuring hand on her arm. “We won’t let it come to that,” she says firmly. “We’ll protect you, Lena. And your clinic.”

I nod, my mind already racing through possible strategies. “Adrian’s working on a deeper dive into South Haven Partners. If we can disrupt their financial flow, we can weaken Reyes’s hold here.”

“Good,” Eva says, her voice steady. “But we also need to rally the town. If the people stand together, Reyes can’t pick them off one by one.”

Lena hesitates. “It’s hard to get them to fight back when they’re scared. Most of them don’t even know who’s behind all this.”

“Then we show them,” I say. “Expose Reyes for what he is.”

Gathering Evidence

---