Chapter 16 - The Obsidian Gala
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The new Obsidian Tower stood like a jagged black shard against the city skyline, a monument to dirty money and unchecked ambition. The grand opening gala was in full swing on the top floor, filled with politicians, socialites, and corrupt businessmen eager to curry favor with the new power player in town.
I was inside, dressed in a tailored tuxedo, blending seamlessly into the crowd of elite guests. Vincent had managed to forge our invitations through a contact in the catering company. He was currently stationed near the server room on the floor below, waiting for my signal.
Across the ballroom, I spotted Marcus Thorne.
He was a large, imposing man with a thick beard and eyes that constantly scanned the room for threats. He wore his wealth like armor, but the aggressive posture of a street enforcer was still evident in the way he stood.
More importantly, standing two steps behind Thorne was Arthur Sterling, his chief financial officer. Sterling looked nervous, clutching a heavy metal briefcase locked to his wrist with a biometric handcuff.
My earpiece crackled softly.
"I have visual on the target," Vincent murmured over the encrypted channel. "Security is heavy, Dominic. Six armed guards at the perimeter."
"I see them," I whispered into my lapel. "I need you to create a diversion in the south corridor. Draw the guards away from Sterling."
"Copy that. Initiating fire alarm override in three minutes."
I moved slowly through the crowd, accepting a glass of champagne from a passing waiter to maintain my cover. I positioned myself near the hallway that led to the executive washrooms—a chokepoint Sterling would eventually have to use.
Suddenly, a familiar face caught my eye near the bar.
It was Lily.
She was wearing a stunning emerald evening gown, a hidden microphone clipped to her clutch. She was supposed to be at home, miles away from the danger, finalizing her article.
My blood ran cold.
"Vincent," I hissed into the comms. "Lily is here. She’s in the ballroom."
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"What?" Vincent sounded alarmed. "She told me she was staying at the house!"
Before I could move to intercept her, Lily approached Marcus Thorne directly, holding out a digital recorder. She was ambushing him for a quote. The brave, foolish girl was trying to look the monster directly in the eye before she brought him down.
