BXBX NOVEL Chapter 100: Shadows in London
Chapter 100: Shadows in London
"We didn\'t," Alyssa said, adjusting her coat. "Volkov\'s been planning this all along. He\'s regrouped faster than we expected."
Dominic led the way to the waiting car, his expression unreadable. His mind was already calculating their next move. London was Volkov\'s next playground, and they had no idea what he was planning. The only thing they knew for certain was that the stakes had never been higher.
As they sped through the quiet streets, Dominic\'s phone buzzed again. This time it was a secure line. He answered quickly. "What do you have for me?"
A familiar voice spoke on the other end. "It\'s Ivan. I\'ve picked up chatter from my contacts. Volkov\'s making moves big ones. He\'s in talks with someone high up in the British government. I\'m trying to pinpoint the exact person, but it\'s slippery."
Dominic\'s grip on the phone tightened. "Volkov\'s going political?"
"He\'s always been political, Dominic," Ivan said. "But this is different. He\'s not just manipulating people in the shadows anymore. He\'s aiming for a foothold in the highest corridors of power. If he succeeds... well, I don\'t need to tell you what happens next."
Dominic\'s jaw clenched. "Do you have a location?"
"There\'s a gala tomorrow night," Ivan said. "A fundraiser for international energy investments, hosted by some of London\'s elite. Volkov\'s name isn\'t on the guest list, but I\'d bet he\'ll be there. If he\'s courting political power, that\'s where he\'ll make his move."
Dominic hung up, his thoughts racing. "We\'ve got an event. Tomorrow night. Volkov might make his play there."
Alyssa glanced at him from the front seat. "Another gala? These people really love their fancy parties."
"Perfect cover for backdoor deals," Laura added, her voice tense. "And perfect for someone like Volkov. He\'ll be invisible in a crowd like that."
Marcus frowned. "And us? We stick out like sore thumbs."
"We\'ll do what we always do," Dominic said. "Blend in, find Volkov, and stop him before he can make his move."
They spent the rest of the night preparing. Eleanor, their tech expert who had stayed behind in London, had already set up a safehouse and was pulling together the information they needed on the gala and its guests. By dawn, the team had mapped out every potential threat, every angle Volkov could use. But they all knew it wouldn\'t be enough. Volkov was too clever, too ruthless to be caught so easily.
The next evening, the gala was held in one of London\'s most luxurious venues, an ornate building that reeked of old money and influence. Dominic and his team moved through the crowd, each of them in carefully selected disguises. Dominic as a wealthy international businessman, Alyssa as his partner, Marcus and Laura as security consultants.
The atmosphere was thick with tension, but on the surface, it was all polite conversation and champagne flutes.
Dominic scanned the room, searching for any sign of Volkov or his allies. His eyes fell on a cluster of powerful figures, including several prominent British politicians. But there was no sign of Volkov.
"He\'s here somewhere," Alyssa murmured, standing close to Dominic as they moved through the crowd. "He wouldn\'t miss this."
Suddenly, Marcus\'s voice crackled through the earpiece. "Dominic. I\'ve got eyes on a target. Back of the room, by the private entrance. Looks like one of Volkov\'s lieutenants."
Dominic\'s heart raced. "Keep an eye on him. If he moves, follow. We\'ll see where this leads."
As the night wore on, the tension in the air grew thicker. Every moment felt like a countdown to something inevitable. Dominic could feel it, the storm brewing just beneath the surface.
And then, it happened.
The lights flickered, plunging the room into momentary darkness. A calculated move. When the lights came back on, the room was in chaos. Security guards were rushing toward the exits, and in the confusion, Dominic caught sight of Volkov.
He was moving toward the private entrance, flanked by two of his men.
"Volkov!" Dominic barked into the earpiece. "He\'s making his move!"
Without hesitation, Dominic and Alyssa pushed through the panicked crowd, closing in on Volkov. But as they neared the entrance, one of Volkov\'s men turned and opened fire.
Alyssa dove behind a marble column, pulling Dominic down with her. "We\'re pinned!"
Marcus\'s voice was sharp over the comms. "We\'re coming in from the side!"
Gunfire erupted as Marcus and Laura flanked the attackers, taking out one of Volkov\'s men. But Volkov was already slipping away, disappearing into the chaos of the building\'s underground halls.
Dominic cursed under his breath. "We can\'t let him get away!"
They tore through the labyrinth of corridors, chasing Volkov into the depths of the building. Every step felt like a race against time, each corner they turned bringing them closer to the final confrontation.
Finally, they cornered Volkov in a loading bay, his escape route cut off by Marcus and Laura. Volkov turned to face them, his expression calm despite the gun in his hand.
"Dominic," Volkov said, his voice smooth. "I was wondering when you\'d catch up."
Dominic raised his gun, his heart pounding. "It\'s over, Volkov."
Volkov\'s smile was cold, calculating. "Is it? You\'ve been chasing me for so long, Dominic. Do you even know what you\'re fighting for anymore?"
Dominic\'s eyes narrowed. "I\'m fighting to stop you. To stop people like you from tearing the world apart."
Volkov tilted his head slightly. "The world is already broken. I\'m just making sure I end up on top when the dust settles."
Alyssa stepped forward, her gun trained on Volkov. "You\'re done, Volkov. This is the end."
For a moment, the air was thick with tension. Then, in a sudden burst of movement, Volkov raised his gun, but Dominic was faster. A single shot rang out, and Volkov collapsed to the ground, his hand clutching his chest.
He gasped, his eyes wide with shock as he stared up at Dominic.
Dominic stepped forward, his voice low. "This is the end."
Volkov\'s breathing slowed, and with one final, ragged breath, he was gone.
The room was silent, the weight of what had just happened sinking in.
Alyssa holstered her gun, exhaling slowly. "It\'s really over this time."
But Dominic wasn\'t so sure. Volkov was dead, but the world he had built the corruption, the power plays, the alliances was still very much alive.
As they stood over Volkov\'s body, Dominic knew that their fight was far from over.
But for now, they had won. And that was enough.