Chapter One Hundred And Ten

Chapter 110

The sound of Dimitri's boots echoed on the hardwood floor, a rhythm that matched the tension thrumming through the room. He removed his coat, tossing it onto a nearby chair, his expression grim.

"Jon's making his move," Dimitri said, his voice a low rumble. "He's targeting the city's power grid. If we don't stop him, New York will go dark by tonight."

The weight of his words pressed down on them, but it was Jay who broke the silence. "How far along is he?"

Everyone looked at him, eagerly waiting for a response. Jemima’s throat constricted as it suddenly became dry.
Vanessa was Dimitri's fiancé, why did he seem unfazed by her betrayal? That was the thought that raced through her mind as she observed him.

"Far enough that we're running out of time," Dimitri replied, his sharp eyes scanning the room. "We need to move now. I've got men stationed near the grid's central hub, but they won't hold long without reinforcements."

Jemima, sitting by the window, straightened. Her fingers tightened around the edge of the sill, her green eyes narrowing. "If Jon shuts down the grid, it's not just the city that'll be affected. Hospitals, security systems, banks—everything, every industry will collapse."

“If that happens, the rate of crimes will skyrocket by a hundred percent, and it'd lead to thousands of innocent people dying,” Ava concurred, her eyes scanning the gentlemen. She had gently tucked the kids away to bed and insisted on helping out.

"That's the point," Dimitri said, his voice clipped. "Chaos. Fear. And once he has that, he'll move to consolidate power."

Ava leaned forward, her elbows on her knees. The strain on her face was more pronounced now, shadows darkening her eyes. "What's his endgame? He's already got power. Why risk this?"

"Control," Jay answered, his tone bitter. "Jon doesn't just want power. He wants everyone to kneel. Shutting down the grid forces the city to its knees—and then he decides who stands back up."

The room fell silent again, the enormity of the situation sinking in. Marcus finally spoke, his voice steady but grim. "Do we have a plan?"

Dimitri nodded. "We need to hit the grid's control center before Jon's men can complete the takeover. But it's not just a smash-and-grab. The system is protected by layers of security—both digital and physical. We'll need a tech specialist to bypass the firewalls, and we'll need to neutralize his men without triggering a citywide panic."

Jay's jaw tightened. "We've got a tech specialist. Elena owes me a favor. I'll call her."

"And Vincent?" Jemima asked, her voice softer now.

Jay's eyes darkened as he glanced toward the basement door. "He stays where he is. For now."

Ava frowned, her arms crossed. "What if he knows something else? Something that could help us?"

Jay shook his head. "He's given us what we need for now. If we let him out, he becomes a liability. We'll deal with him after this."

Jemima wanted to argue, but the determination in Jay's tone left no room for debate. Instead, she turned her attention back to Dimitri. "How many men are we up against?"

"Jon's sent at least twenty to secure the grid," Dimitri replied. "But knowing him, he's got reinforcements waiting nearby. We'll need to be fast and precise."

The plan came together quickly, each member of the group falling into their roles with practiced efficiency. Jay made the call to Elena, who agreed to meet them at a safe house near the grid's control center. Marcus gathered weapons and equipment, while Dimitri coordinated with his men to secure the perimeter.

Jemima found herself standing in the kitchen, loading ammunition into a small handgun. Her hands moved with precision even though her breath came out shaky. She shook her head vigorously, attempting to shake off the doubt that plagued her mind.

Jay entered the room, his presence grounding. He leaned against the counter, watching her silently for a moment before speaking. "You don't have to come."

She looked up, her green eyes meeting his. "Not again Jay, please. You’re the one who keeps reminding me that I’m silent killer and if there’s any chance I have a shit at putting this whole madness to end then best believe I’m not missing it."

His gaze softened, but there was still a shadow of worry in his expression. "Stay close to me. Promise me that."

"I promise," she said, her voice steady.

He nodded, his hand brushing hers briefly before he turned to leave.

The safe house was a nondescript building on the outskirts of the city, its exterior blending seamlessly with the industrial surroundings. Inside, the group gathered around a table strewn with maps, blueprints, and Dimitri's detailed notes.

Elena arrived shortly after, her laptop in hand and a determined look on her face. She was a petite woman with sharp features and a no-nonsense demeanor. "You owe me big for this, Jay," she said as she set up her equipment.

"I'll add it to the tab," Jay replied, a hint of a smirk breaking through his usual seriousness.

Elena rolled her eyes but got to work, her fingers flying over the keyboard as she accessed the grid's security systems. "This isn't going to be easy," she warned. "Jon's got some serious encryption in place. I can get you through, but it'll take time."

"How much time?" Marcus asked.

"Depends on how many surprises Jon's left for me," Elena said. "But once I'm in, you'll have a window of about ten minutes to shut everything down before the system locks us out again."

"Ten minutes?" Ava repeated, her brows furrowing. "That's not much."

"It's all you're going to get," Elena said firmly.

Jay nodded. "We'll make it work."

As night fell, the team moved out. The control center was located in a heavily guarded industrial complex, its perimeter patrolled by armed men. From their vantage point on a nearby rooftop, Jemima could see the faint glow of security lights cutting through the darkness.

Dimitri crouched beside her, his voice low. "We'll split into two teams. My men and I will create a diversion at the south entrance. You and Jay take the north. Once we're inside, Elena guides us to the control room."

"Got it," Jemima said, her grip tightening on her weapon.

Jay joined them, his expression grim. "Let's move."

The approach was tense, every shadow and sound setting Jemima's nerves on edge. Jay led the way, his movements swift and silent, with Jemima close behind.

At the north entrance, they encountered their first obstacle—a pair of guards stationed near the gate. Jay signaled for Jemima to stay back, then moved in with lethal precision. Within seconds, both guards were down, their bodies hidden in the shadows.

Jemima swallowed hard, her heart pounding. This wasn't the first time she'd seen Jay in action, but it never got easier.

They slipped through the gate, navigating the maze of corridors and stairwells with Elena's voice guiding them through earpieces.

"Turn left in the next hallway," Elena instructed. "You're close."

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed ahead. Jay raised a hand, signaling for Jemima to stop. He pressed himself against the wall, his gun at the ready.

The footsteps grew louder, and a moment later, a group of guards rounded the corner.

Jay didn't hesitate. He fired off two shots, taking down the first two guards, while Jemima aimed and fired at the third. The man fell with a grunt, his weapon clattering to the floor.

"Clear," Jay said, his voice steady.

Jemima nodded, her hands shaking slightly as she lowered her gun.

The control room was a small, windowless space filled with monitors and control panels. Elena's voice crackled through their earpieces. "You've got ten minutes. Go."

Jay and Marcus moved quickly, following Elena's instructions to disable the system. Jemima stood guard by the door, her eyes scanning the hallway for any sign of reinforcements.

"Almost there," Elena said. "Just a few more seconds—"

The sound of gunfire interrupted her, and Jemima spun around to see a group of Jon's men charging down the hallway.

"We've got company!" she shouted, firing at the approaching guards.

Jay cursed under his breath, his focus never wavering as he continued working on the control panel.

"Hold them off!" he ordered.

Jemima and Marcus exchanged a glance before taking up defensive positions. The hallway erupted into chaos, the sound of gunfire and shouted commands filling the air.

Despite the chaos, Jemima's focus sharpened. She fired with precision, her movements calculated and controlled.

"Done!" Jay shouted. "Let's move!"

They retreated quickly, Dimitri and his men covering their escape.

Back at the safe house, the team regrouped, their exhaustion evident. But the grid was safe—for now.

Jay leaned against the wall, his expression unreadable. "This isn't over," he said quietly. "Jon's still out there."

"And Vanessa," Jemima added, her voice tinged with bitterness.

Jay's gaze softened as he looked at her. "We'll deal with her. Together."