Page 149 of Falling for the Grump Billionaire

The Harbor Springs facility looms ahead, its dark silhouette cutting against the moonlit sky. The air is thick with tension as our team moves into position, the faint hum of security cameras and the occasional crackle of radios the only sounds.

Adrian motions for us to follow as he disables the perimeter sensors, his movements swift and practiced. Dominic stays close to me, his hand brushing against mine as we weave through the shadows.

Inside the facility, the air feels heavier, tinged with the acrid scent of chemicals. Rows of barrels line the walls, their labels obscured but their presence unmistakable. My pulse quickens as I glance at Dominic, whose expression is as hard as stone.

“This is it,” Adrian whispers, pointing to a control room at the far end of the warehouse. “If Reyes has left anything behind, it’ll be in there.”

Dominic nods, motioning for two of the team members to secure the area. “Eva, stay behind me.”

I follow him into the control room, my heart pounding in my chest. The monitors flicker to life as Adrian plugs into the system, his fingers flying over the keyboard.

“Got it,” Adrian says after a tense minute. “Shipping manifests, surveillance logs—everything we need.”

Dominic leans over the console, his eyes narrowing. “And the barrels?”

Adrian pulls up a file, his expression darkening. “They’re marked as industrial waste, but the destinations don’t match up. These shipments are going to high-security locations, not disposal sites.”

I swallow hard, dread pooling in my stomach. “What’s he planning?”

Before Adrian can answer, the sound of footsteps echoes from the hallway.

“They’re here,” Dominic mutters, drawing his weapon. “Eva, stay back.”

The door bursts open, and chaos erupts. Shouts and gunfire fill the air as Dominic and the team engage the guards. I press myself against the wall, clutching a USB drive Adrian handed me moments before the fight broke out.

“Go!” Dominic shouts over the noise, his voice cutting through the chaos. “Get to the car—now!”

I hesitate, fear rooting me to the spot. But one look at Dominic, his eyes blazing with determination, propels me into action. Clutching the drive, I slip through the back exit, my heart pounding with every step.

The cool night air hits me like a slap as I burst into the open, my chest heaving. The sounds of the fight fade behind me, replaced by the distant hum of the coastline. I sprint toward the car, the USB drive clutched tightly in my hand.

Just as I reach the vehicle, my phone buzzes in my pocket. I fumble to answer, my breath ragged. “Hello?”

A familiar voice comes through, smooth and cold. “Running won’t save you, Ms. Walker.”

My blood runs cold. “Reyes.”

“You’ve played well,” he continues, his tone almost amused. “But the game is over. Enjoy your victory while it lasts.”

The line goes dead.

I stare at the phone, my chest tightening as the weight of his words sinks in. The drive in my hand suddenly feels heavier, and a single thought pulses in my mind:

We’re running out of time.

40

_________

Dominic

The glow of the evening skyline fades, casting the city in a tranquil amber light. Inside Kane Enterprises’ grand hall, the celebration is in full swing. The chandeliers shimmer above the crowd, their golden hues reflecting the mood of triumph. Glasses clink, laughter ripples, and for the first time in months, the tension of uncertainty feels far behind us.

Eva stands beside me, her emerald-green dress catching the light and turning heads wherever she moves. She’s a vision, poised and magnetic, holding her own in a room full of power brokers and decision-makers. As I watch her effortlessly weave through conversations, pride swells in my chest.

“You’re staring,” she teases when she catches my gaze, her emerald eyes gleaming with amusement.

“Not staring,” I counter, raising my glass. “Admiring.”

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