Don’t Fall for the Billionaire Lover

Grant didn't flinch. His face stayed cold and unreadable, eyes giving nothing away. He lifted his chin as a group of men in black filed in behind him, dragging a man in restraints.

"That's the guy Wayne's after, right?" Grant asked, voice flat.

Kash's expression darkened. The man they dragged in was the very convict they'd purposely let slip away-a piece in a plan that had already gone sideways.

Grant spoke again, his tone cool. "Ran into him on my way back. Figured he was the one Wayne wanted?"

Kash stared at Grant, suspicion simmering beneath his calm exterior. He knew the truth: their operation had failed. The plan was to hit at dawn, catch everyone off guard, and walk away with the upper hand. But now it was obvious-they'd been set up from the moment they stepped onto Rooster Hill.

He'd hoped, worst-case, they'd come up empty. Even then, they could just grab the fugitive and get out-no one would get hurt. But Chloe and Connor had vanished. They had to be trapped somewhere in this place, and Kash didn't have a clue what Grant's real goal was, or what he'd do to them.

Kash's voice was sharp. "Grant, hand them over."

For the first time, Grant almost smiled, but it was a mocking twist of his lips. "Isn't this the guy Wayne wanted? If not, then who are you really looking for?"

Kash cut to the chase. "Chloe and Connor. They're consultants with our team. They disappeared inside your house."

Grant shrugged, the picture of indifference. "If they came with you, how is it my problem they're missing? I just got back myself."

Kash's tone was ice. "We're not leaving without them."

Grant didn't even blink. "Do whatever you want."

He stepped into the elevator and rode up to his private suite without a backward glance.

One of Kash's men jogged over. "Captain, what now?"

Kash didn't hesitate. "Keep searching. There have to be hidden passages or secret rooms here. And don't let Grant out of your sight for a second."

Down in the water cell, things were getting worse by the minute. Water seeped faster and faster through cracks in the stone walls, the level creeping higher.

Chloe and Connor checked every inch of the place, searching for a switch or lever-anything that.

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would

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stop the rising water. Nontent

already up to their knees.

Chloe's voice shook. "What do we do? If this keeps going, we'll drown before morning."

Connor watched the water climb, jaw tight. "I think he wants us to get in that cage."

They both glanced at the middle of the cell, where a heavy iron cage hung from thick chains above the water.

"Maybe if someone goes in, the water will stop," Connor said quietly.

He could picture exactly what Grant was thinking. He wasn't trying to kill Chloe, just torture them—or maybe just him.

Connor looked at Chloe. "I'll go. You wait here."

Chloe caught his arm. "No. We go together."

Connor shook his head. "If we both get locked in, we're done. I'll go. You stay."

In the end, Connor stepped into the cage himself. As soon as he wasz inside, the door slammed shut behind him, locking tight. There was no keyhole, no way to open it from the outside.

Chloe rushed over, searching desperately for a way to free him, but nothing worked. The cage was sealed.

Then, something changed. As soon as Connor was inside, the waterfalls pouring down the walls thinned tonoveldrama

trickles, then slowed to drops, then stopped completely. The water level finally stopped rising.

Connor had guessed right.

Somewhere, Grant was watching. And Connor knew exactly what kind of game he

was playing.