Page 88 of Billionaire’s Heartbreak

“I considered this company before but they were too extreme. Their system was basically all or nothing.”

“And you prefer having options.”

“Exactly.”

She stared at the keypad. “So let me make sure I understand this.” She pointed at it. “We get three attempts, and then game over. Like an iPhone.”

I nodded. “Kind of.”

She stared at me. “And if we somehow get the code right, there might be people waiting outside to kill us.”

“That would be the other problem.”

She straightened. “Then we'd better get ready.”

“Yes, boss.” I couldn't help smiling. “Whatever you have in mind.”

“First, we search this entire place for weapons.” She tapped her chin thoughtfully. “Then, once we've got enough firepower, we enter the code.”

Something had changed in her.

No one was going to boss her around anymore. Not her brother. Not Dannie. And apparently, not me.

It had taken me a little while to get used to, especially after she'd thrown herself into danger trying to find Squirrel. I'd been furious. Terrified.

But now…

I liked this version of her.

Watching her take control made something inside me rise to meet it. Something darker. Stronger. Protective.

We searched the living room first. Nothing. Then the bedrooms, cupboards, drawers, and every obvious hiding place. Eventually, we found a hollow section behind one of the kitchen walls. June's eyes lit up.

A pantry.

For one glorious second, I thought we'd found weapons. Instead, we found shelves filled with emergency food: dried meals, canned goods, bottled water. Enough to keep two people alive for a very long time.

“That's a win.” I announced.

“Because of the food?”

I picked up one of the packets. “Because I never have to eat millet again.”

She laughed. It was the first genuinely happy sound I'd heard from her in days.

Eventually, we ended up in Dannie's gym. Calling it a home gym was insulting. It was more like a private training facility. Weights lined the walls, punching bags hung from the ceiling, and padded flooring covered most of the room.

June sat on a bench, looking defeated. “So what do we do now?”

I pushed myself to my feet. “Maybe we don't need weapons.”

She looked at me suspiciously. I stepped onto the mat and settled into a horse stance.

“Maybe we can take them empty-handed.”

“With karate?”

“Not karate.” I shifted my weight and raised my hands. “Wing Tsun.”