Code of Shadows

Chapter 57 - Nuclear Threat

The opulence of the charity auction hall was overwhelming, but I barely noticed the glittering chandeliers or the polished marble floors as we slipped inside. My focus was elsewhere, scanning the room for any sign of John Lark. Somewhere in this sea of gowns and tuxedos, a deal for the stolen plutonium was about to go down, and Ethan and I were tasked with stopping it. The stakes had never been higher, but that gnawing tension inside me had little to do with the mission itself—it was more about who we were dealing with. John Lark. He was unpredictable, and his network of operatives only made him more dangerous.

"Ethan, anything yet?" I asked softly, my eyes darting across the crowd, looking for the faintest hint of a threat. The people here were too polished, too perfect—someone had to be hiding something.

"Nothing yet," he replied through the comms, his voice steady but tense. "Stay close, Alex. We can't afford any mistakes tonight."

I nodded, even though he couldn't see me. My pulse quickened, the weight of this mission pressing down on me. We couldn't fail—not when nuclear weapons were in play.

We moved through the crowd like shadows, blending in, but always aware, always ready. Every face I passed seemed like a potential enemy. I spotted a woman laughing into her champagne glass, a man whispering into the ear of someone who looked like an ambassador. It was all so... calculated.

"I'm not going anywhere," I replied quietly, catching sight of a group of men in the corner. I could feel Ethan's eyes on me, protective but focused. He didn't say it aloud, but I could sense his concern. He was worried—not just about the mission, but about me.

And maybe he had every right to be. Trust didn't come easy to me, and now that Ethan and I were together, the stakes felt even higher. What if I let my guard down? What if this mission went south because I wasn't thinking clearly? I pushed the thoughts aside, focusing on the task at hand.

Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw him.

John Lark.

He moved with a calm that sent a shiver down my spine, his dark suit blending effortlessly with the wealthy guests around him. But there was something predatory in his posture, like he was sizing everyone up, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. I tensed.

"Ethan, I've got eyes on him," I whispered into the comms, keeping my distance but locking onto Lark's every move.

"I see him," Ethan confirmed, his voice low. "Stay with him, but don't get too close. We need to see where this is going."

We trailed Lark through the crowd, staying just far enough to avoid suspicion but close enough to act when the moment came. I could feel the pulse of the room shift—people sensed something was off. The tension was building. And then, in a heartbeat, it snapped.

Alarms suddenly blared through the auction hall, shattering the elegant facade and sending the crowd into a frenzy. Guests screamed, pushing past each other in panic as security guards rushed to contain the chaos. For a moment, I was swept up in the wave of confusion, but Ethan's hand found mine, pulling me back to focus.

"Move!" Ethan yelled, and we bolted through the sea of people, our target clear. Lark had disappeared into the chaos, but we were right on his trail. We weaved through the crowd, dodging panicked guests and overturned tables, the sound of footsteps echoing ahead.

I could see Lark now, just ahead, slipping through a side door that led to a dark corridor. We pushed harder, chasing after him with everything we had. My breath came in short gasps, my heartbeat pounding in my ears. There wasn't time to think, only act. The hallway stretched out before us, narrowing as we closed the distance.

And then, just as we were within striking distance, I heard it.

"Tell Alex I'm coming for her."

Lark's voice cut through the air like a blade, sharp and cold. I froze, my feet rooted to the floor as his words sank in. How did he know my name?

Ethan was ahead of me now, still chasing, but I couldn't move. My mind was racing, trying to make sense of it. Why would Lark single me out? And how did he know who I was?

"Ethan," I whispered into the comms, my voice shaky. "Did you hear that?"

He didn't respond right away, too focused on catching Lark. But I could hear the same urgency in his breathing, the same realization that something was very, very wrong. "We'll figure it out later," he finally replied, his voice clipped. "Stay focused."

I forced myself to move again, pushing past the fear that had momentarily paralyzed me. We had a mission, and Lark wasn't going to get away.

We followed him deeper into the building, down twisting corridors and staircases, but no matter how fast we ran, Lark stayed just out of reach. Every time I thought we had him cornered, he'd slip away again, like a ghost vanishing into the night.

But I couldn't shake the feeling that he was toying with us—that this was all part of his plan.

Finally, we burst through a door leading to the basement, the air damp and cold. Lark stood at the far end of the room, his silhouette framed by the dim light filtering through a grated window. He didn't move. He just stood there, watching us, as if he had been waiting all along.

"Don't move!" Ethan shouted, his gun raised, but Lark just smirked.

"You're too late," he said, his voice calm, almost amused. "The deal's already been made."

I stepped forward, my pulse racing. "What deal? Where's the plutonium?"

Lark tilted his head, his smile widening. "You're asking the wrong questions, Alex."

And then, before we could react, he pressed something on his watch and disappeared through a hidden door behind him.

My heart raced as the door slammed shut, cutting off any chance of catching him. What did he mean, asking the wrong questions? And why did I feel like this was only the beginning?