Page 141 of Falling for the Grump Billionaire

Dominic hesitates, his jaw working as he considers the risk. Finally, he nods. “Fine. But you stay out of the line of fire. Promise me.”

I meet his gaze, my heart pounding. “I promise.”

Into the Shadows

The night is cold and quiet as Dominic and Adrian prepare to infiltrate the industrial site. From my position at the penthouse, I watch their progress through the secure video feed Adrian set up. The tension is suffocating, every sound amplified in the silence of the room.

“Adrian, you’re up,” Dominic says over the comms, his voice low and steady.

Adrian moves to disable the external security systems, his fingers flying over the keyboard of a portable terminal. “Give me sixty seconds.”

I watch the screen, my hands clenched into fists as the feed switches to show the interior of the admin building. Rows of filing cabinets and computer terminals fill the space, each one potentially holding the key to Reyes’s operation.

“We’re in,” Adrian announces.

Dominic and Adrian move quickly, scanning the room for anything useful. Dominic finds a terminal and plugs in a flash drive, his focus unyielding as he begins downloading files.

“Hurry,” I urge over the comms.

“Almost there,” Dominic replies.

A sudden movement on the video feed makes my stomach drop. “Dominic, you’ve got company!”

The camera shows two guards entering the building, their weapons drawn.

“Adrian, cover me,” Dominic orders.

The feed cuts out as the first gunshot echoes through the comms, followed by the sound of rapid footsteps. My heart pounds as I wait for an update, the silence stretching endlessly.

“Dominic?” I whisper.

“We’re clear,” he finally says, his voice strained but steady. “Files are secure. We’re pulling out.”

Relief floods through me, but it’s short-lived. Adrian’s voice crackles through the comms, urgent and sharp.

“Dominic, we’ve got a bigger problem. Reyes knows we’re here.”

The sound of distant sirens fills the feed, growing louder with every second.

“Move!” Dominic barks, his voice cutting through the chaos.

The screen flashes to black, leaving me staring at my reflection in the darkened glass. My chest tightens as I realize the truth: this fight isn’t just about taking Reyes down. It’s about surviving long enough to finish the job.

And the clock is ticking.

The storm has arrived, and it’s coming for us all.

38

__________

Dominic

The early morning light filters through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the penthouse, casting golden streaks across the dark hardwood floors. I sit at the dining table, nursing a lukewarm cup of coffee. The remnants of Lena’s files are spread out in front of me, their cryptic notes and fragmented reports swirling in my mind like a storm that refuses to settle.

Every lead we’ve followed has only revealed more of Reyes’s intricate network, and it feels like we’re still several moves behind. Last night’s message to Eva—simple, direct, and dripping with malice—lingers in my mind. He knows we’re getting closer, and it’s making him bold. Dangerous.

Across the room, Eva is curled up on the couch, her legs tucked beneath her as she reviews the notes for the hundredth time. Her focus is unwavering, but the shadows under her eyes betray the weight she’s carrying. It’s a look I know well—the same one that stares back at me from the mirror every morning.

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