Page 30 of Falling for the Grump Billionaire

Conrad hesitates, his gaze darting to the laptop. The flicker of fear in his eyes deepens, and I can tell he’s weighing his options. Whatever he’s about to say, it’s tearing him apart.

Before he can speak, a sharp sound cuts through the air—a faint but unmistakable click.

I freeze, my senses on high alert. The sound came from outside, near the loading bay. Someone else is here.

“Stay where you are,” I hiss at Conrad, holding up a hand to keep him in place. My other hand moves instinctively to the weapon concealed beneath my jacket.

Eva steps closer, her voice a whisper. “What was that?”

I shake my head, signaling for silence. My pulse pounds in my ears as I scan the room, searching for any sign of movement. The loading bay door creaks slightly, a shadow flickering across the edge of the light.

Adrian’s voice crackles in my earpiece. “Dominic, we’ve got incoming. Two figures approaching from the east side, armed.”

My grip tightens on the handle of the gun. “How long until they’re inside?”

“Less than a minute.”

I glance at Eva, her eyes wide but steady. “Get down,” I murmur. “And stay behind cover.”

She hesitates for a fraction of a second before nodding, ducking behind a stack of crates near the wall. Conrad, still frozen in place, looks like he might bolt. I pin him with a glare.

“Don’t move,” I growl. “If you run, you’re dead.”

His Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows hard, his hands trembling.

The first figure enters through the loading bay, their steps cautious but purposeful. They’re dressed in dark clothing, their face obscured by a balaclava. The second figure follows close behind, their movements sharp and efficient. They’re both armed—compact pistols held at the ready.

I step into the open, my gun drawn and aimed. “That’s far enough.”

The lead figure stops, their weapon raising slightly in response. “Dominic Kane,” they say, their voice distorted by a modulator. “We’ve been expecting you.”

The tension in the room spikes, the air crackling like a live wire. I keep my aim steady, my mind racing. They’re not here by coincidence—they knew I’d come. Which means this isn’t just about Conrad. It’s about me.

“You’ve made a mistake,” I say, my tone icy. “If you think you can walk out of here alive, you’re sorely mistaken.”

The figure chuckles, the sound low and mocking. “We’re not here to kill you. Not yet. We’re here to deliver a message.”

Behind me, I hear the faint scrape of a crate as Eva shifts slightly. I glance over my shoulder, meeting her gaze for the briefest of moments. Her eyes are sharp, her notebook clutched tightly against her chest. She’s ready to act if needed.

“What message?” I demand, turning my focus back to the intruders.

The lead figure tilts their head, as if considering. Then they reach into their pocket, pulling out a small device—a sleek, black USB drive. They toss it onto the table beside Conrad, the sound echoing in the silence.

“Play that,” they say. “And you’ll understand.”

Before I can respond, the second figure moves toward the door, their weapon still trained on me. “You’ve got 24 hours to make your choice, Kane,” the lead figure says, their voice cold. “After that, the clock runs out.”

With that, they retreat into the shadows, disappearing as quickly as they arrived.

The silence that follows is deafening.

9

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Eva

The room feels smaller tonight, the walls pressing in as if they’re closing the distance between Dominic and me. His piercing blue eyes are locked on mine, his jaw set with a tension that radiates control—barely. But this weight didn’t start here. It started at the waterfront.

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