Chapter 154

Chapter 154
The Final Threads

The aftermath of the attack left the ballroom eerily quiet, except for the faint hum of murmurs as the shaken guests began to disperse. Yelena and Matteo swiftly bound the unconscious attackers, tying their hands with zip ties they had hidden in their bag. Ethan’s eyes remained steadfast on Lila, scanning her from head to toe for any sign of injury.

“I’m fine,” Lila said softly, her hand brushing his arm. “You should worry about the next step.”

Ethan nodded, forcing himself to focus. He turned to Yelena, who was studying the attackers’ equipment. “What did you find on their comms?”

Yelena adjusted her earpiece. "They specifically targeted Langston, but they rushed their instructions. They didn’t expect resistance. The signal came from somewhere close. Someone nearby is coordinating this.”

Ethan’s gaze narrowed. “Langston might still be in danger. Matteo, keep an eye on him. If he even sneezes, please inform me.

Matteo smirked. “On it.” He moved toward the lounge where Langston was still hiding.

“Yelena,” Ethan continued, “can you trace the signal?”

“I already started,” she replied, her fingers already working furiously across her laptop. "It's encrypted, but the person who sent it didn't adequately hide their tracks." Give me five minutes.”

Ethan glanced at Lila. “You stay with Yelena. If anything happens…”

Lila cuts him off, her voice firm. “Ethan, I’m not a liability. I’ll do whatever it takes to end this.”

Her resolve sparked a faint smile from him. “I know. But just be careful.”

Matteo Mark’s voice came through the earpiece. “Langston’s panicking. He’s demanding we let him leave. Do I sedate him?”

“Not yet,” Ethan said sharply. “Keep him calm. If he escapes, the syndicate might take him out before we can get what we need.”

“Understood,” Matteo replied.

Yelena’s eyes lit up as a series of codes flashed across her screen. “Got it. The signal’s origin point is a high-rise about three blocks from here, the 15th floor.”

Ethan frowned. “Why would they stay so close?”

“Arrogance,” Yelena said. “Or they wanted to monitor the attack firsthand.”

“Either way,” Ethan said, grabbing his gun, “we’re not waiting for them to regroup. Yelena, stay here and monitor the situation. Lila, you’re coming with me.”

Lila nodded, already moving to grab her bag.

The high-rise was a sleek, modern structure of glass and steel, its exterior reflecting the bustling city lights. Ethan and Lila slipped into the lobby unnoticed, blending seamlessly with the late-night crowd.

“15th floor,” Ethan whispered as they entered the elevator.

Lila checked the small pistol hidden at the back of her trousers. “If this is a trap…’

“It won’t be,” Ethan said, his voice firm. “But we’re ready if it is.”

The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime, revealing a quiet hallway lined with offices. The air was thick with tension as they moved silently toward the end of the corridor, where a faint glow spilled out from under a door.

Ethan gestured for Lila to stay back, he then pressed his ear to the door. Faint voices filtered through. Two, maybe three people inside.

He signaled to Lila, who nodded and positioned herself to cover him. With a swift kick, Ethan forced the door open, his gun targeted on the people inside.

Inside, a man and a woman froze mid-conversation, their faces betraying their shock. Computers and surveillance equipment covered the desks, and a large screen displayed live footage of the gala.

“Step away from the computers,” Ethan ordered, his voice hard.

The man hesitated, his hand slowly moving toward a hidden weapon. Lila fired a warning shot, the bullet embedding itself in the wall inches from his hand.

“I wouldn’t,” she said coldly.

The man raised his hands, stepping back. “You don’t know what you’re doing,” he said, his voice shaking. “If you take us down, the syndicate will come for you.”

“They already are,” Ethan said, advancing toward him. “And we’re still standing. Now, tell me who gave the order to target Langston.”

The woman scoffed. “You think we will give you anything? You’re as lovely as dead.”

Ethan’s patience snapped. He grabbed the man by the collar, slamming his back hard against the wall. “I need a name. Who’s your contact? Who’s running this operation?”

The man gasped, his bravado crumbling under Ethan’s glare. “Alexander Vaughn,” he choked out. “He’s the one calling the shots.”

Ethan released him, his mind racing. Vaughn’s name had come up before, but this confirmation was the missing piece they needed.

“What’s his next move?” Lila demanded, but her gun was still aimed on the woman.

The woman sneered. “You think you can stop him? Vaughn’s untouchable. By the time you find him, it’ll already be over.”

Ethan exchanged a glance with Lila. “We’ll see about that.”

They left the operatives tied up in the office, their computers wiped clean by Yelena’s remote hacking. As they left the building, Ethan’s phone buzzed.

“Ethan, it’s Matteo. Langston’s gone. He escaped while I was handling a situation with the building security.”

Ethan cursed under his breath. “Do you have his location?”

“I’m tracking him now,” Matteo said. “He’s heading toward the docks. I think he’s trying to meet someone.”

“We are on our way,” Ethan said, ending the call.

The docks were a total contrast to the city’s vibrant lights, a secret maze of shipping containers and cranes. Ethan and Lila arrived just in time to see Langston approaching a sleek black car parked near the water.

“Stay back,” Ethan whispered to Lila as he crept closer.

Langston was speaking hurriedly to a man inside the car, his gestures frantic. Ethan couldn’t hear the conversation, but it was clear Langston was desperate.

Suddenly, the man in the car pulled a gun, aiming it at Langston. Without hesitation, Ethan fired, the bullet shattering the car’s window and sending the man sprawling.

Langston turned, his face pale as Ethan approached. “You don’t get it,” Langston stammered. “They will kill me if I don’t deliver.”

“Not anymore,” Ethan said, his voice cold. “You’re coming with us.”

Lila joined them, her gaze sharp. “And you’re going to tell us everything you know about Vaughn.”

Langston hesitated, then nodded. “All right. I will tell you everything. But you need to protect me.”

Ethan’s jaw tightened. “You’ll get protection if you earn it. Start talking.”

As they led Langston back to their car, Ethan couldn’t shake the feeling that the night was far from over. Vaughn was still out there, and the syndicate wouldn’t let this blow go unanswered.

But for the first time, they had the upper hand,and they weren’t going to stop until they brought the entire operation crashing down.