Chapter 15: A Game of Shadows 

The air in the ballroom was thick with money, power, and deception. Langley swirled his whiskey, eyes gleaming with the amusement of a man who had spent a lifetime dancing on the edge of legality.

Alex kept his expression cool, despite the tension knotting in his gut. He could feel the weight of Langley's security detail hovering around them, watching. Getting close was the easy part—separating him from the briefcase was the real challenge.

Langley took a slow sip before speaking. "So, Mr. Keller… what is it that you're looking for?"

Alex gave a casual shrug. "Opportunities. The kind that don't come with paperwork."

Langley smirked. "Ah. A man who enjoys discretion."

"Discretion keeps people alive."

Langley let out a low chuckle. "You're not wrong." He glanced around the room. "Unfortunately, I don't do business with ghosts."

Alex leaned in slightly. "Then let's make this real." He nodded toward the briefcase. "I'm interested in what you're selling."

Langley's smile didn't fade, but something colder flickered behind his eyes.

"Is that so?"

Before Alex could answer, a subtle movement caught his eye.

Across the room, Ellie and Maya were watching him—but not just him.

Two men at the bar. Hunters.

Ellie's gaze met his for half a second, just enough to send a silent message. They weren't alone.

Damn it.

Langley noticed the shift in Alex's focus. "Something wrong, Mr. Keller?"

Alex smiled smoothly, forcing himself to stay in control. "Not at all. Just appreciating the company."

Langley chuckled again, but his gaze sharpened.

"Let's take a walk."

Alex hesitated for only a second before nodding. This was it. His chance.

Langley gestured to one of his men, who opened a side door leading to a private lounge. Isolated. No cameras. Less security.

Perfect.

As they stepped inside, Alex stole one last glance toward Ellie and Maya.

Be ready.

Then the door shut behind him.

Maya exhaled sharply, watching Alex disappear with Langley.

Ellie's voice was low. "We have to move now."

Maya's fingers twitched toward the knife hidden beneath the slit of her dress. "Agreed."

The two hunters at the bar were watching the same door Alex had just walked through. They knew.

Ellie grabbed a champagne glass from a passing waiter, her expression unreadable. "I'll distract them. You get ready."

Maya arched a brow. "You sure?"

Ellie gave a tight smirk. "I can be charming when I want to be."

Maya sighed. "This I gotta see."

Ellie ignored her and made her move.

She approached the bar with a confident stride, placing her glass down near the two men. They were sharp-dressed but carried themselves like soldiers—broad shoulders, eyes constantly scanning.

Ellie leaned on the counter, flashing a playful smirk. "Either of you gentlemen buying a lady a drink?"

The man closest to her turned, his cold blue eyes assessing her. "Depends. You looking for company?"

Ellie gave a slow shrug. "That depends on what kind of company you are."

The second man chuckled. "The dangerous kind."

Ellie kept her expression playful, but inside, she was already mapping her next move.

Behind them, Maya disappeared into the crowd.

One distraction down. Now for the extraction.

Inside the lounge, Alex took stock of the room in seconds.

One entrance. A small bar. A sleek glass table. Three guards standing at attention.

Langley unbuttoned his jacket and sat down. "Tell me something, Keller." He placed the briefcase on the table, his cuffed wrist still attached. "Who sent you?"

Alex kept his face neutral. "I don't take orders from anyone."

Langley smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "See, I don't believe that. Because men like you? They don't just walk into my world uninvited."

One of his guards stepped forward.

Alex tensed.

Langley leaned back. "So let's skip the bullshit." He tapped the briefcase. "Tell me what you really want."

This was it.

Alex exhaled slowly. "Alright."

Then he flipped the table.

Glass shattered. Whiskey spilled.

Alex lunged.

His elbow slammed into the throat of the nearest guard, cutting off any warning. The second guard went for his gun—too slow.

Alex drove his fist into the man's ribs, twisting the weapon from his grip and firing one clean shot into the third guard's knee.

Langley shot to his feet, but Alex was already moving. He grabbed the cuff and yanked Langley forward, slamming his head against the edge of the bar.

Langley collapsed, dazed, but the briefcase was still locked to his wrist.

Damn it.

A knock on the door.

Then a voice. "Mr. Langley? Is everything alright?"

Alex cursed. No time.

He grabbed Langley's gun and fired two shots into the lock on the briefcase.

The steel shattered. The cuff snapped.

The case was free.

Alex grabbed it and bolted.

Ellie saw it the moment things went wrong.

The gunshots. The shouts.

The hunters at the bar stiffened—one reached for his phone.

Not happening.

Ellie grabbed the champagne bottle and smashed it over his head.

The second man spun—Maya's knife was already in his ribs.

Blood bloomed across his suit as he staggered back, eyes wide.

Maya wrenched the blade free, letting him crumple.

Ellie exhaled. "Subtle."

Maya shrugged. "They started it."

Then Alex burst from the lounge, briefcase in hand.

"Time to go!"

Ellie and Maya moved fast. Security was closing in.

Maya grabbed the fire alarm and yanked it down. Sirens screamed through the ballroom.

Chaos erupted.

Screaming guests. Confused guards. A stampede toward the exits.

The perfect cover.

The three of them darted through the chaos, pushing past panicked elites. They reached the staff exit just as a wave of security stormed into the ballroom.

Too late. They were gone.

They sprinted down the alley, the sound of sirens growing distant.

Alex held the briefcase tight. They had it.

Maya looked over her shoulder. "Did we just pull that off?"

Ellie smirked. "Looks like it."

Alex exhaled, his heart still racing. "Let's not celebrate yet."

They needed to get back to Bishop.

But something in Alex's gut told him this wasn't over.

Not even close.