Eva

19

______

The tension in the room is suffocating. Dominic paces back and forth, his sharp footsteps echoing against the marble floor of his penthouse. His phone buzzes incessantly on the table—calls from shareholders, board members, and crisis managers, all demanding answers he doesn’t have.

“They’re circling like vultures,” I say softly, watching him as he pauses by the floor-to-ceiling windows. His silhouette is rigid against the city skyline, his gaze distant but stormy.

“They smell blood,” Dominic mutters bitterly, his voice low. “And right now, they think it’s mine.”

Another buzz. This time, he grabs the phone, glances at the screen, and slams it back onto the table, the sharp sound cutting through the heavy silence.

“What did they say?” I ask, though I already know the answer.

“They want me to step aside,” he snaps. His tone is clipped, filled with barely contained rage. “Temporarily, of course. For the good of the company.”

The venom in his voice is palpable. Dominic Kane, the man who built Kane Enterprises from the ground up, being forced to step aside? It’s unthinkable. But I know how these people operate. They don’t care about loyalty, innovation, or even ethics. All they care about is stability and the bottom line.

“I won’t let them take it from me,” Dominic says, turning to face me. His blue eyes burn with anger, but beneath the fire, I catch a flicker of something else. Fear.

“They won’t,” I say firmly. “Not if we stop this before it spirals any further.”

I mean every word, but the weight of our situation presses on me like an anvil. The latest data leak has eroded confidence in Kane Enterprises, leaving it vulnerable. Add Conrad’s betrayal and the shadow of Victor Reyes, and we’re staring down an abyss that threatens to swallow everything Dominic has built.

Connecting the Dots

I lose myself in the files pulled from Conrad’s encrypted network, determined to find the piece we’re missing. Hours blur together as I sift through strings of code, emails, and financial records. Adrian’s voice crackles through the speakerphone, updating us as his team works tirelessly.

“,” Adrian says sharply, his voice breaking through my focus. “We’ve found something.”

Dominic looks up from where he’s been sitting, his expression taut. “What is it?”

“There’s a pattern in Conrad’s activity,” Adrian explains. “The IP addresses he used aren’t random. They’re connected to a larger network—Vortex.”

The name sends a chill down my spine. “I’ve heard of them,” I say, dread creeping into my voice. “They’re one of the most notorious cybercrime syndicates in the world. Blackmail, sabotage, espionage—you name it.”

Dominic’s jaw tightens. “And now they’re targeting me.”

Adrian continues, “Vortex doesn’t act alone. They’re known for taking contracts from high-profile clients. The only name we’ve managed to connect to them is Victor Reyes.”

Reyes. The name feels familiar, though I can’t place it. “Who is he?” I ask.

“Former hedge fund manager,” Adrian explains. “He was exposed for running a Ponzi scheme a few years ago. After he went under, he vanished. But there’s evidence he’s been funding groups like Vortex ever since.”

Dominic’s expression darkens. “Why would Reyes come after me?”

“Revenge, maybe,” Adrian offers. “Or greed. Someone like Reyes doesn’t move unless there’s profit involved.”

Dominic exhales sharply, his fists clenching. “This isn’t just about Conrad. Reyes is orchestrating this.”

The Puzzle Takes Shape

As the hours pass, the scope of the betrayal grows. Every file we uncover shows how deeply Conrad was embedded in the company’s operations. Each transaction, each leaked piece of data, points back to Reyes and Vortex.

“Look at these payments,” I say, pointing at the screen. “They’re routed through shell companies tied to Reyes. But they’re staggered—small, frequent, designed to slip through unnoticed.”

Dominic leans over my shoulder, the tension in his body radiating like heat. “And the timing matches every major breach Kane Enterprises has suffered.”

“It’s a coordinated attack,” I say. “Reyes used Conrad to dismantle your company from the inside.”

Dominic’s gaze hardens. “Then we dismantle him.”

A Quiet Moment

Later that night, after Adrian logs off and the penthouse falls into silence, I find Dominic standing by the window. A glass of whiskey dangles from his hand as he stares out at the city, the faint glow of the skyline reflected in the glass.

“You should rest,” I say softly, approaching him.

“So should you,” he counters without turning, his lips curling into a faint, humorless smile.

I join him by the window, letting the quiet settle between us. “Do you ever think about walking away?” I ask after a moment.

He glances at me, his blue eyes sharp and questioning. “Walking away from what?”

“All of it,” I say, gesturing to the view. “The power, the pressure, the constant fight. Do you ever think about just… letting it go?”

His laugh is bitter, a sharp sound in the stillness. “Every day. But I can’t. This isn’t just a company, . It’s my life’s work. My legacy. If I walk away, they win.”

I study him, the weight of his words settling over me. For all his confidence and control, Dominic Kane is a man haunted by his own battles. A man who’s spent his life fighting wars most people will never understand.

“You’re not alone,” I say, placing a hand on his arm. “You don’t have to carry this by yourself.”

His gaze softens, and for a moment, the mask slips. “You’re too good for this world,” he says quietly. “Too good for me.”

I shake my head, a small smile tugging at my lips. “And yet, here I am.”

The Next Threat

The peace of the moment shatters as Dominic’s phone buzzes on the table. He grabs it, his face darkening as he reads the screen.

“What now?” I ask, my stomach twisting.

He hands me the phone. The message is short but chilling: "Tomorrow, 9 a.m. Your biggest deal will crumble. Courtesy of Vortex."

My breath catches. “They’re targeting the merger.”

The merger is everything Kane Enterprises has been working toward. It’s the lifeline that will stabilize the company and secure its future. If Vortex sabotages it, the fallout will be catastrophic.

“We have to stop this,” I say, my voice trembling with urgency.

Dominic’s eyes burn with fury. “We will. No matter what it takes.”

Just as dawn breaks over the city, Adrian calls. His voice is sharp, laced with urgency. “We’ve got a trace.”

Dominic answers immediately, his voice low. “Where?”

“A private estate outside the city. It’s linked to Reyes’s offshore accounts,” Adrian says. “But there’s more. Conrad’s name popped up again—he’s been there recently.”

Dominic and I exchange a look.

“This ends now,” he says.

His phone buzzes again. This time, the message reads:

"Come and get me. Let’s see if you survive."

The clock is ticking, and the stakes have never been higher.

The weight of the text message settles heavily in the room, the words "Come and get me. Let’s see if you survive." cutting through the tension like a blade. Dominic’s expression is unreadable, but the energy radiating off him is anything but calm. His fists clench at his sides, his jaw tight as he stares at the screen.

I can feel the anger simmering beneath his exterior, his usual composure starting to crack. “We can’t just rush in,” I say, trying to inject reason into the moment.

Dominic’s eyes snap to mine, cold and sharp. “We don’t have time to play it safe, . 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.

“We need to move,” Dominic says, his eyes locking with mine. “Now.”

The Escape

We make our way back toward the entrance, every step measured and deliberate. The sound of engines grows louder, and my pulse quickens as we slip out the front door and into the shadows.

“East side,” Adrian’s voice directs. “There’s a clearing about fifty yards out. My team will cover you.”

Dominic grabs my hand, pulling me along as we sprint across the estate’s grounds. The sound of car doors slamming and voices shouting carries through the air, but we don’t stop.

A sharp crack pierces the night—a gunshot. I stumble, my heart leaping into my throat, but Dominic’s grip keeps me steady.

“Keep moving,” he commands, his voice unwavering.

We reach the clearing just as Adrian’s team engages the reinforcements. The chaos behind us is a blur of shouts and gunfire, but Dominic’s focus remains locked on the path ahead.

“Get in,” Adrian barks as we reach an armored vehicle waiting at the edge of the clearing.

We climb in, the doors slamming shut behind us as the vehicle speeds away.

The Drive Back

The silence in the vehicle is deafening, the tension thick as we process what just happened. Adrian sits in the front seat, his gaze fixed on the road, while Dominic examines the flash drive in his hands.

“This better be worth it,” he mutters, his frustration evident.

“It will be,” I say, though my own doubts gnaw at me.

Back at the penthouse, the tension doesn’t abate. Adrian plugs the flash drive into his laptop, his fingers flying across the keyboard as he decrypts the files.

“What do you see?” Dominic asks, his voice tight.

Adrian’s expression darkens as the files open. “It’s a communications log,” he says. “Reyes has been coordinating with someone inside Kane Enterprises. These messages—” He pauses, scrolling through the data. “They’re planning something big. And soon.”

“What’s the target?” I ask, leaning over his shoulder.

Adrian shakes his head. “It doesn’t say. But there’s a date—tomorrow.”

Dominic exhales sharply, his fists clenching. “Then we don’t have much time.”

The Cliffhanger

As Adrian continues to analyze the files, Dominic’s phone buzzes. He glances at the screen, his expression darkening as he reads the message.

“What is it?” I ask, my stomach twisting.

He shows me the screen. The message is short but chilling: "Enjoy the show. Tomorrow, everything falls."

Dominic’s grip on the phone tightens, his blue eyes filled with fury. “They think they’ve already won,” he says, his voice a low growl.

“They’re wrong,” I say, determination hardening my voice.

But as the weight of the message sinks in, a single thought lodges itself in my mind: What if we’re too late?