Page 72 of Falling for the Grump Billionaire

The weight of the message settles heavily between us, every word a calculated taunt."You’re too late, Dominic. The deal dies at dawn."

The SUV speeds through the city, the tension inside thicker than the night air pressing against the windows. Eva’s hands are clenched in her lap, her green eyes scanning the phone screen again and again as if the message might change.

“It’s Falcon,” she says finally, her voice low but resolute.

“They’re always Falcon,” I reply, my grip tightening on the armrest. “But this time, we’re closing in.”

Eva’s gaze sharpens as she turns to face me. “Are we? Because right now, they’re leading, Dominic. Every time we get a step closer, they’re already three steps ahead.”

“They think they’re ahead,” I snap, meeting her eyes. “But they’ve underestimated me before, and that’s always their mistake.”

Adrian’s Revelation

My phone buzzes in my hand, Adrian’s name flashing across the screen. I answer immediately.

“What do you have?” I demand.

Adrian’s voice is crisp, though an edge of urgency bleeds through. “We’ve confirmed the Berlin location is tied to Falcon’s network. The accounts traced to that address have been linked to Reyes’s shell companies and multiple other offshore accounts. This isn’t just a base of operations—it’s a hub.”

“Are we sure Falcon is there?” Eva asks, leaning closer to the phone.

“We can’t confirm Falcon’s presence,” Adrian replies. “But if we take out this hub, we cut a major artery of their operation. They’ve been using it to funnel resources, coordinate communications, and deploy assets.”

“How secure is it?” I ask.

“Fortress-level,” Adrian says grimly. “Multiple layers of encrypted networks, physical security detail, and surveillance. This isn’t a smash-and-grab, Dominic. You’ll need precision.”

Precision. I can do that.

“Send me everything you have,” I say. “We’re not waiting. If this hub is as critical as you think, we dismantle it tonight.”

A Shifting Dynamic

As the call ends, I glance at Eva. Her jaw is set, her gaze focused, and I know the argument before it starts.

“You’re not going alone,” she says.

“I’m not taking you into a warzone,” I counter.

Her brows knit together, fire sparking in her eyes. “I’ve been in this fight since the beginning, Dominic. You don’t get to bench me now.”

“Eva—”

“No,” she interrupts, her tone firm. “You keep saying this isn’t just about me, that it’s about the company, the merger, everything you’ve built. Fine. But don’t you dare act like you’re the only one with something to lose.”

Her words hit harder than I expect, but I don’t have time to unpack the truth in them.

“We’ll need a plan,” she continues, softening slightly. “Adrian said it’s secure. If we go in without a strategy, we’ll be walking into their hands.”

I exhale sharply, running a hand through my hair. “Adrian’s team will handle the perimeter. I’ll go in and secure the data.”

Eva folds her arms, tilting her head in defiance. “We’llgo in and secure the data.”

The Plan

By the time we reach the airstrip, Adrian’s team has sent over schematics of the Berlin hub. The building is a multi-story office complex disguised as an ordinary financial firm, but the deeper we dive into the files, the clearer it becomes that it’s anything but.

“They’ve got a server room on the fourth floor,” Adrian says, his voice cutting through the tension as we study the layout. “That’s where you’ll find the core of their operation. If you can breach it, I’ll be able to extract the data remotely.”

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