Page 66 of Falling for the Grump Billionaire

Her calm, steady presence pulls me back from the edge of my thoughts. She’s been my anchor through all of this, and I can’t afford to let her feel as helpless as I do right now.

“We hit back,” I say, my voice firm. “Whoever sent this is watching us, tracking our moves. But they made a mistake showing their hand.”

Eva arches a brow. “And how do you propose we find them? If this is coming from Conrad’s network, they’re clearly good at covering their tracks.”

“They’re not perfect,” I counter, already dialing Adrian. “Nobody is.”

Adrian picks up on the first ring, his voice sharp and focused. “I’ve been expecting your call,” he says.

I waste no time. “We got another message. Same burner method, same vague threat. I need this traced, Adrian. I don’t care how long it takes—find the source.”

“I’m already on it,” he replies. “That server we traced to Conrad’s shell company? It pinged another device recently. It’s not much, but it’s a lead.”

“How recent?” I demand, pacing the room.

“Less than an hour ago. The IP address flagged an access point downtown, in an industrial area. I’m pulling satellite feeds now.”

“Send me the address,” I say, cutting the call.

The air is charged as I pull open a drawer in the desk, revealing the gun I’ve kept hidden there. Eva watches me carefully, her arms crossed. “So, you’re going after them tonight?”

I nod. “I’m not waiting for them to make the next move. If Conrad—or whoever’s working with him—is careless enough to leave a trail, I’m going to follow it.”

“Then I’m coming with you.”

Her words stop me mid-motion, the gun feeling heavier in my hand. “No, Eva. It’s too dangerous.”

She steps forward, her eyes blazing with determination. “I’m not staying behind, Dominic. I’ve been a part of this from the start, and I’m not going to let you face it alone.”

“Eva, this isn’t a negotiation,” I snap, my frustration bleeding through. “I can’t protect you if you’re in the line of fire.”

“And what happens if something goes wrong out there?” she counters, her voice rising. “What happens if you don’t come back? You think I could live with myself knowing I just sat here and waited?”

Her words hit harder than I expect, knocking down the walls I’ve spent years building. She’s not wrong. Eva has never been the kind of person to stay on the sidelines, and asking her to do so now is asking her to be someone she isn’t.

“Fine,” I relent, my voice low but firm. “But you stay close, and you do exactly what I say. No exceptions.”

A flicker of relief crosses her face before she nods. “Deal.”

The drive to the industrial district is tense, the silence between us heavy with anticipation. Adrian’s directions lead us to an old, abandoned warehouse on the edge of the city. It’s the kind of place where deals go south and people disappear.

I park the car a few blocks away, cutting the engine and turning to Eva. “This could be a trap,” I warn. “If anything feels off, we’re out of here. No hesitation.”

“I understand,” she says, her voice steady.

We step out into the chilly night air, the sounds of the city fading as we approach the warehouse. The building looms ahead, its windows dark and its walls weathered with age.

Adrian’s voice crackles through my earpiece. “I’ve got eyes on the perimeter. No movement so far, but be careful. If they’re inside, they’re staying out of sight.”

“Understood,” I reply, my hand resting on the gun at my hip.

Eva follows closely as we slip through a side entrance, the door creaking on its hinges. The air inside is stale, the faint scent of oil and rust lingering.

The warehouse is a maze of crates and machinery, every shadow a potential threat. I lead the way, my senses on high alert. Eva stays close, her footsteps light and deliberate.

“Over here,” Adrian says through the earpiece. “There’s a heat signature in the back office. Could be one person, maybe two.”

We move silently toward the office, the faint glow of a computer screen visible through the cracked door. I hold up a hand, signaling Eva to stay back as I push the door open.

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