Dominic

12

_________

The office feels colder than usual, a stark contrast to the chaos swirling around me. My phone vibrates with a relentless stream of notifications—board members demanding answers, legal advisors scrambling to assess the damage, and news outlets sniffing blood in the water.

The breach hit harder than I expected. Sensitive financial data from Kane Enterprises—accounts, transactions, internal memos—has been leaked. Worse, it’s been manipulated to make me look like the center of a fraudulent scheme. Offshore accounts. Misappropriated funds. Bribes to government officials.

It’s a calculated strike, designed to ruin me in every conceivable way.

“Mr. Kane,” Adrian’s voice slices through the fog of my thoughts as he enters the office, his expression grim. “The press is already running with it. Three major outlets are citing anonymous sources claiming the data implicates you directly.”

I rake a hand through my hair, the pressure in my chest building. “Of course, they are. That’s exactly what the bastards want.”

“There’s more,” Adrian says, hesitating for a fraction of a second. “The timing of the leak—it coincides with the pre-launch of our new security software.”

I freeze, my mind racing. The software has been in development for years, a project meant to revolutionize corporate cybersecurity. Its success would solidify Kane Enterprises as an unshakable force in the tech world. But now, with my reputation under attack, the product is dead in the water.

“They’ve been planning this for months,” I mutter, pacing the length of my office. “Every move calculated, every piece of this designed to dismantle everything we’ve built.”

Adrian nods grimly. “It’s not just about the company anymore. This is personal.”

Before I can respond, the door swings open, and Eva strides in. Her expression is a mix of determination and fire, and she doesn’t even bother with pleasantries as she drops a stack of printed pages onto my desk.

“I found something,” she announces.

I glance at the papers, my patience already fraying. “I’m in the middle of something, Eva.”

“This is about the breach,” she says, undeterred. “I’ve been digging into the timing, and it’s not a coincidence. They dropped this data right before your product launch for a reason.”

Her words hit like a gut punch, but I don’t let it show. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying they wanted maximum impact,” she continues, her green eyes blazing with urgency. “This wasn’t just about sabotaging your reputation—it was about killing your product before it even had a chance. If they can make you look corrupt, no one will trust your software to protect their data.”

Her insight is sharp, too sharp, cutting through the haze of my anger like a scalpel. She’s right, and I hate that I didn’t see it myself.

“What do you propose I do about it?” I snap, my voice harsher than I intend. “You think pointing out the obvious is going to fix this?”

She flinches but doesn’t back down. “I’m trying to help you, . You’re not the only one with something to lose here.”

Her defiance draws me in despite myself. “You think you understand what’s at stake? You have no idea what it’s like to have an empire on the line, to know that one wrong move could destroy everything you’ve built.”

Her jaw tightens, but she doesn’t lash out. Instead, her voice steadies, and she squares her shoulders. “You’re right—I don’t have an empire. But I know what it’s like to fight for survival, to claw my way back from nothing. And I’m not about to let some hacker take that away from me again.”

The weight of her words settles over the room, sharp and unrelenting. She’s right—this isn’t just my battle anymore. It’s hers too.

Before I can respond, Adrian’s phone buzzes. He answers quickly, his expression shifting as he listens. “What? When?” His eyes dart to me, urgency etched into his features. “Understood. We’ll handle it.”

He ends the call and turns to me, his face grim. “The hacker’s expanded the attack.”

“What do you mean?” I demand.

“They’ve released information about Eva,” he says. “Her involvement in the investigation. Her connections to Kane Enterprises. It’s all out there.”

Eva’s face pales, but her eyes burn with defiance. “Let them try,” she says, her voice shaking only slightly. “I’m not going to back down.”

But I see the fear beneath her bravado, the way her hands curl into fists at her sides. She’s brave—recklessly so—but she’s not invincible. And whoever’s behind this knows exactly how to exploit that.

“They’re using you to get to me,” I say, my voice low but firm. “And I won’t let that happen.”

She scoffs, crossing her arms. “You can’t control what they do, . This isn’t your fault.”

“Maybe not,” I reply, stepping closer. “But it’s my responsibility to make sure you’re safe.”

Her eyes narrow, and I can see the fight brewing in her. “I don’t need you to protect me.”

“Yes, you do,” I say, my tone leaving no room for argument. “As long as they think you’re connected to me, you’re a target. And the only way to keep you safe is to keep you close.”

Her lips part like she’s about to argue, but the sound of my phone buzzing cuts her off. I glance at the screen, my stomach knotting as I read the message:

You’re both running out of time.

Eva steps closer, reading the text over my shoulder. Her breath catches, and I can feel the tension radiating off her.

“What does it mean?” she whispers.

“It means they’re ready to make their next move,” I say grimly. “And we need to be ready.”

Her voice steadies, her defiance unyielding. “Then we don’t wait for them to strike. We make the first move.”

’s jaw tightens as he stares at the message:

You’re both running out of time.

The words glare back at us like a challenge. I try to focus on the here and now, but the room seems smaller, the air heavier with each passing second.

“They’re escalating,” I say, breaking the tense silence. My voice feels steadier than I expected, even as my pulse races. “This isn’t just a warning. It’s a dare.”

glances at me, his blue eyes stormy with a mix of fury and determination. “And we don’t let them win.”

There’s no hesitation in his tone. His confidence would be reassuring if it didn’t also terrify me. Because whoever is behind this is playing for keeps, and I can’t shake the feeling we’re already a step behind.

turns to Adrian, who’s been uncharacteristically quiet. “What do we have? Anything actionable?”

Adrian shakes his head, his expression grim. “The latest message was routed through multiple proxies—Singapore, Amsterdam, Buenos Aires. They’re masking their location well, but I’m cross-referencing time stamps to narrow down where the original transmission came from.”

“It’s not enough,” snaps. His tone is sharp, but there’s no mistaking the underlying frustration. “We need more than breadcrumbs.”

Adrian hesitates, then steps forward, his tablet in hand. “There might be something.”

I move closer, scanning the screen over Adrian’s shoulder. It’s a series of logs—timestamps, IP addresses, encrypted files. I recognize the faint glimmer of a pattern immediately.

“What’s that?” I ask, pointing to a highlighted string of code.

Adrian glances at me, then at . “It’s a fragment from the metadata of the latest leak. I almost missed it, but it’s a unique signature. Whoever is sending these messages is using the same encryption key as the data breach files.”

stiffens. “So, the hacker left their digital fingerprint?”

“Not exactly,” Adrian replies. “This isn’t a direct identifier—it’s more like a calling card. It’s subtle, but it’s there. A signature left intentionally.”

“They’re taunting us,” I mutter, the realization settling uneasily in my chest. “They want us to find them—on their terms.”

“Which means it’s a trap,” says, his tone colder than I’ve ever heard.

I nod slowly. “But it’s also our best shot at finding out who’s behind this.”

doesn’t respond immediately. He steps back, pacing the room like a caged tiger, his jaw clenched and his hands balled into fists. He’s weighing the risk, and I can almost see the wheels turning in his head.

Finally, he stops and looks at Adrian. “Can you track it? Follow the trail without tipping them off?”

Adrian hesitates, then nods. “It’ll take time, but I can try.”

’s gaze flickers to me, his expression unreadable. “And you?”

I blink, caught off guard by the question. “What about me?”

“Do you think it’s worth the risk?” His voice is calm, measured, but there’s an edge beneath it—a challenge.

I take a breath, forcing myself to meet his gaze. “It’s a risk either way. If we sit back and do nothing, they’ll keep coming. At least this way, we have a chance to fight back.”

A faint flicker of approval crosses his face, but it’s gone almost as quickly as it appeared. He turns back to Adrian. “Do it. But the second anything feels off, you pull the plug.”

Adrian nods and leaves the room without another word, his tablet in hand. The sound of the door clicking shut behind him feels louder than it should, leaving and me alone in the silence.

For a moment, neither of us speaks. The tension in the room is palpable, an unspoken acknowledgment of everything that’s at stake.

“You didn’t have to ask my opinion,” I say finally, breaking the silence.

arches an eyebrow. “And yet, I did.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re in this with me,” he says simply. “Whether either of us likes it or not.”

His words catch me off guard, and I hate how much they affect me. He’s right—I am in this, whether I wanted to be or not. But it’s not just that. There’s something in his tone, in the way he looks at me, that makes me feel…seen. Like I’m not just another piece on the board.

Before I can respond, his phone buzzes again. He glances at the screen, his expression darkening.

“What is it now?” I ask, my nerves fraying.

“Another message,” he says, handing me the phone.

I take it, my stomach knotting as I read the words:

You’ll never be ready for what’s coming.

I stare at the message, my mind racing. “They’re not just taunting us anymore,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper. “They’re warning us.”

“And I don’t take warnings lightly,” replies, his tone colder than ever.

The drive to the safe house Adrian flagged is tense, the air between us heavy with unspoken fears. ’s hands grip the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles white against the leather.

“This safe house,” I say finally, breaking the silence. “What makes it so secure?”

“It’s off the grid,” he replies, his voice clipped. “No one knows about it except me and Adrian. It’s been my fallback plan for years.”

“For situations like this?”

He glances at me briefly, his blue eyes sharp. “There’s never been a situation like this.”

His words send a chill down my spine. Kane doesn’t strike me as a man who’s easily rattled, but the fact that he’s taking this so seriously only underscores how dire things have become.

When we arrive, the safe house is exactly what I expected—discreet, unassuming, and fortified like a military bunker. parks the car and steps out, scanning the perimeter with the practiced ease of someone who’s done this before.

“Stay close,” he says, his tone leaving no room for argument.

I follow him inside, my nerves on edge. The interior is stark but functional—steel-reinforced walls, minimal furniture, and an array of monitors and equipment that make it clear this place is designed for more than just lying low.

Adrian is already there, hunched over a laptop as he types furiously. He glances up as we enter, his expression grim.

“What’s the status?” asks, his voice sharp.

“I’ve traced the metadata from the latest message,” Adrian replies. “It’s leading to a private server farm on the outskirts of the city. It’s heavily encrypted, but I’m working on cracking it.”

“How long will it take?”

“Hours, maybe less,” Adrian says. “But there’s something else.”

He turns the laptop toward us, displaying a live feed from a security camera. The footage shows a nondescript building—industrial, unremarkable—but the activity outside tells a different story. Armed guards patrol the perimeter, their movements deliberate and precise.

“Whoever’s running this server farm isn’t just a hacker,” Adrian says. “They’ve got serious resources.”

’s jaw tightens. “And a lot to hide.”

Eva steps closer, her green eyes narrowing as she studies the footage. “If we’re going to make a move, we need to be smart about it. This isn’t just a digital operation anymore—it’s physical.”

“She’s right,” Adrian says. “We need more intel before we do anything. Rushing in blind is a death sentence.”

doesn’t respond immediately, his gaze fixed on the screen. I can see the gears turning in his head, the conflict between his desire for action and the need for caution.

Finally, he nods. “We wait for the trace to finish. Then we plan our next move.”

The room falls silent again, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. I glance at , his profile sharp in the glow of the monitors. He’s a man used to being in control, but this situation is testing even his limits.

“We’ll get through this,” I say softly, surprising even myself.

He looks at me, his expression unreadable. “We don’t have a choice.”

His phone buzzes again, breaking the moment. He glances at the screen, his eyes narrowing as he reads the message:

Time’s up.