Page 70 of Falling for the Grump Billionaire

Dominic’s eyes snap to mine, cold and sharp. “We don’t have time to play it safe, Eva. Reyes is baiting me, and if I don’t act now, he’ll get away with it.”

“He’s baiting you because he knows you’ll come running,” I counter, stepping closer. “He’s counting on you being reckless.”

Dominic exhales sharply, turning away to pace the length of the room. His frustration is palpable, every step echoing with the weight of his internal struggle.

“Adrian said it’s a private estate,” I continue. “If Reyes is there, it means he’s cornered. That gives us an advantage—but only if we use it wisely.”

He stops pacing, his gaze meeting mine. For a moment, I think he’ll argue, but instead, he nods. “Fine. We do this smart. But we move now.”

The Estate

The drive to the estate is silent, the tension between us palpable. Dominic grips the steering wheel tightly, his focus unyielding as the city lights blur into the darkness of the countryside. The air feels heavier out here, as if even nature is holding its breath.

Adrian’s directions lead us to a secluded property surrounded by towering trees and a wrought iron gate. Beyond the gate, the faint outline of a sprawling estate looms in the darkness, its windows glowing faintly.

“Adrian’s team is already in position,” Dominic says, pulling the car to a stop a few hundred yards from the entrance. “We’ll move in once they’ve cleared the perimeter.”

I nod, my heart pounding as I follow him out of the car. The cool night air does little to calm my nerves, but I force myself to focus. This isn’t the time to let fear take over.

Dominic pulls out his phone, his voice low as he speaks to Adrian. “Status?”

“All clear so far,” Adrian replies. “No movement outside, but there are heat signatures inside the main building. Reyes is definitely here.”

“Good,” Dominic says. “Hold your position. We’re coming in.”

Breaking In

The gate creaks open under Adrian’s team’s control, and Dominic leads the way through the shadows. I follow closely, my steps light and deliberate as we approach the estate. The closer we get, the more my adrenaline spikes, every shadow feeling like a potential threat.

The front door is unlocked—a deliberate choice, no doubt meant to lure us in. Dominic hesitates for only a moment before pushing it open, the heavy door groaning on its hinges.

Inside, the air is thick with tension, the faint hum of electronics the only sound. The entryway is grand, with marble floors and a sweeping staircase, but there’s an emptiness to the space that feels unnatural.

“Stay close,” Dominic murmurs, his voice barely audible.

I nod, my heart hammering in my chest as we move deeper into the house. The glow of a monitor draws our attention to a room down the hall, and Dominic gestures for me to wait as he steps inside.

“Clear,” he says a moment later, motioning for me to follow.

The room is a study, its walls lined with bookshelves and its desk cluttered with papers and electronics. A monitor on the desk displays a live feed of the estate’s exterior, confirming what we already suspected—Reyes has been watching us.

Dominic scans the room quickly, his movements precise and efficient. “He’s not here,” he says, frustration lacing his voice.

“But he was,” I point out, gesturing to the desk. “This setup—it’s too active. He hasn’t been gone long.”

Dominic nods, his jaw tightening. “We’ll find him.”

The First Lead

As we search the room, I spot a flash drive plugged into one of the monitors. “Here,” I say, pulling it out and holding it up for Dominic to see.

He takes it, his expression grim. “This could be what we need.”

Before we can examine it further, Adrian’s voice crackles through Dominic’s earpiece. “We’ve got movement,” he says, his tone urgent. “Two vehicles approaching from the west. Looks like reinforcements.”

Dominic swears under his breath, his hand already reaching for his gun. “How long do we have?”

“Three minutes, maybe less,” Adrian replies.

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