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Chapter 21: The Shadow of Power

A voice broke through his thoughts—Alyssa, her calm presence grounding him. "We need to hit them before they can regroup. This deal can\'t go any further."

He nodded, barely suppressing the tension building inside him. "Agreed. But we\'ll need to be strategic. If we just storm in, we\'ll be overwhelmed."

"I\'m already working on an exit strategy," Alyssa said, her fingers deftly navigating her phone. "Eleanor\'s got control of the security systems. If we time this right, we can disrupt their communications and move in."

Dominic\'s earpiece crackled again, this time with Laura\'s voice. "We\'ve intercepted some chatter. Orlov\'s men are securing the perimeter. Volkov\'s getting ready to leave. If we\'re doing this, it has to be now."

There was no turning back. Dominic signaled to the rest of the team. "Get into position. We\'ll intercept Volkov when he heads for the exit. Marcus, you and Laura take the back route, cut off any reinforcements."

"You got it," Marcus replied, his voice calm despite the weight of the moment.

Alyssa checked her watch, her jaw tight with determination. "We have less than five minutes. Volkov won\'t wait around once he senses something\'s wrong."

Dominic\'s eyes locked on the balcony. The deal had been struck, but now they needed to dismantle the web of influence before it solidified. He and Alyssa exchanged a glance, and without a word, they both moved toward the door that led back inside.

The ballroom was a sea of opulence, but beneath the glittering chandeliers and murmuring conversations, there was an undercurrent of danger. They moved swiftly, weaving through the crowd, keeping their eyes on Volkov, who was now walking beside Orlov toward the grand staircase.

Dominic\'s earpiece buzzed again. Eleanor this time. "I\'ve shut down their surveillance for sixty seconds. That\'s all we\'ve got. Move fast."

"Go," Dominic whispered to Alyssa. She nodded, splitting off from him and circling wide around the room to approach from another angle.

Dominic adjusted his suit jacket, his mind calculating every possible outcome. Volkov was within striking distance, but Orlov\'s men were everywhere. The wrong move would spark a firefight that could bring half the city down on them. He needed to play this perfectly.

As Volkov reached the top of the stairs, Dominic stepped into his path, cutting him off. Volkov\'s eyes flickered with recognition, and a cold smile spread across his face.

"You\'re persistent, I\'ll give you that," Volkov said, his voice smooth but dripping with contempt. "But you\'re too late. The deal is done."

Dominic\'s face was stone. "Not yet."

Volkov glanced toward Orlov, who watched with detached curiosity, clearly more interested in how this confrontation would unfold than in the man who had just blocked their path.

"You\'re outnumbered and outgunned," Volkov continued, his voice low and mocking. "You won\'t win this fight."

Dominic felt the weight of the pistol hidden beneath his jacket, but he knew pulling it now would trigger chaos. Instead, he stayed calm, stepping closer. "It\'s not about winning, Volkov. It\'s about stopping you before you do any more damage."

Volkov\'s smile faltered for a split second, then returned, sharper than before. "You think you\'re the hero here, Dominic? You think taking me down will change anything? The wheels are already turning, and you\'re just one man standing in the way of a force much larger than yourself."

A sudden crash echoed from behind, followed by shouts. The team had made their move. Alyssa had cut through Volkov\'s men near the ballroom entrance, and Marcus and Laura had engaged the guards outside.

Volkov\'s eyes darkened. "Foolish."

Before Dominic could react, Volkov\'s hand shot toward his side, reaching for the concealed weapon under his coat. But Dominic was faster. With a swift motion, he grabbed Volkov\'s wrist, twisting it sharply. The gun clattered to the floor.

Alyssa appeared at Dominic\'s side, her own gun trained on Volkov. "It\'s over."

Orlov took a step back, his face a mask of cold indifference. "I don\'t have time for this."

He turned, as if dismissing the entire situation, but Alyssa moved to block his path.

"No," she said sharply. "You\'re not going anywhere."

For a brief moment, the tension hung in the air like a storm waiting to break. Then Volkov laughed, a deep, unsettling sound that sent a chill down Dominic\'s spine.

"You think you\'ve won?" Volkov sneered. "You think stopping me here means anything? The world is full of men like me. Cut off one head, and another will rise."

Dominic\'s grip tightened on Volkov\'s arm. "That may be true. But I\'ll make sure you\'re the last one."

Suddenly, a shot rang out from the far side of the room. Laura\'s voice came through the earpiece, strained. "We\'ve got company. Reinforcements are closing in fast."

"We\'re out of time," Alyssa muttered, her eyes flicking toward the chaos building at the edges of the ballroom.

Dominic made his decision. "We take Volkov with us. He\'s too dangerous to leave here."

Alyssa nodded. "Agreed." With precision, they cuffed Volkov\'s hands behind his back. Orlov watched with narrowed eyes, but he said nothing, his face a mask of calm indifference.

"Orlov\'s next," Dominic said, his voice low. "But first, we need to get out of here."

As they moved toward the exit, dragging Volkov along with them, the night outside was already erupting into chaos.