The Fears Of A Billionaire

Chapter 169: Chapter 170: The Trap Unfolds

The gunfire echoed through the empty streets, filling the silence with a chaos that Alyssa knew all too well. As she exchanged shots with Volkov's men, the uneasy feeling in her gut grew stronger. Something was wrong, horribly wrong.

Eleanor took cover beside her, her breathing steady despite the chaos around them. "We can't hold them off for long," she said, firing at one of the advancing enemies. "They're testing our defenses."

"I know," Alyssa replied, her voice tight. "But this isn't the real attack. It's a distraction."

Eleanor's eyes widened, realizing the truth at the same moment Alyssa spoke it. "Then where's the real hit?"

Before Alyssa could answer, Marcus's voice crackled through the radio. "We've got a problem massive heat signatures coming in from the east! They're not just scouts there's a whole damn unit moving in."

A chill ran down Alyssa's spine. "They're hitting the power grid head-on," she said, her mind racing. "We need to regroup now!"

She signaled for the team to fall back, but as they moved to reposition, another explosion rocked the ground. This one was close too close.

"East side, they're breaking through!" a Ukrainian soldier shouted into his radio. The line was cracking, the enemy closing in faster than they had anticipated.

"We're surrounded!" Eleanor's voice was edged with frustration, her eyes scanning the area for an escape route.

Alyssa's mind raced, every instinct screaming at her to think faster, to stay ahead of Volkov's relentless attack. She couldn't lose the grid it was their last defense. But now, it seemed like they were walking right into the trap.

"I need you to trust me," Alyssa said quickly to Eleanor. "We're not out yet. There's a way through this."

"Whatever you're thinking, we'd better make it fast," Eleanor replied, reloading her weapon.

Alyssa grabbed her radio and switched channels. "Marcus, I need you to give us covering fire. We're pulling back to the substation at the edge of the grid. It's fortified we can hold there longer."

"Copy that. I'll buy you as much time as I can," Marcus responded, his voice steady even in the midst of the madness.

Alyssa signaled to the remaining Ukrainian soldiers to move. They began retreating toward the substation, dodging bullets as the enemy pressed forward. With every step, Alyssa felt the weight of the situation pressing down on her. She needed to think of something, anything to turn the tide.

As they reached the fortified substation, Marcus's covering fire gave them just enough breathing room to set up defensive positions. The substation was small, but its reinforced walls offered protection. It was the best chance they had to regroup and plan their next move.

"We're holding them for now, but they're coming in fast," Eleanor said, scanning the area. "We won't last long here if they keep pushing."

Alyssa bit her lip, thinking. "We need to find a way to shut down their advance. If we can disrupt their comms or their power, we might be able to throw them off."

"But how? We don't have the resources to launch an attack while defending this place," Eleanor countered.

"That's where you're wrong," Marcus's voice came through the radio. "I've been tracking Volkov's signals. He's been broadcasting to his troops from a mobile command unit not far from here. If we can take that out, it could cause chaos in his ranks."

Alyssa's eyes lit up with renewed hope. "How close?"

"Less than a mile from here. It's risky, but if someone can get to it, we might have a shot."

"I'll go," Alyssa said immediately.

"No way," Eleanor objected. "You're not going alone."

"I have to," Alyssa replied. "We need every available person here to hold the line. I can move faster on my own."

Eleanor's jaw clenched, but she knew Alyssa was right. "Be careful."

Alyssa nodded, grabbing her gear. "I'll be back soon."

With a quick glance at Marcus's map, Alyssa slipped out of the substation, moving swiftly through the shadows. The sounds of battle faded behind her as she navigated the deserted streets, her focus narrowing to the mission at hand.

She could feel the clock ticking. Every second counted. Volkov's men were relentless, but if she could disrupt their communications, they would lose their coordination. It was the only way to level the playing field.

As she neared the location of the mobile command unit, she crouched behind a crumbling wall, scanning the area. There it was a heavily armored vehicle, parked near an old warehouse. Two guards stood outside, their eyes scanning the perimeter.

Alyssa took a deep breath, assessing the situation. She would have to be quick, precise. If she could take out the guards and disable the vehicle, it might be enough to cripple Volkov's operation.

Silently, she crept closer, her heart pounding in her chest. She could feel the weight of the mission on her shoulders, but she had done this before many times. Failure was not an option.

With practiced ease, she dispatched the first guard, his body dropping to the ground without a sound. The second guard turned, but before he could react, Alyssa had already drawn her knife, taking him down swiftly.

She moved toward the vehicle, her fingers trembling slightly as she placed the explosive charges on the exterior. As she set the timer, she glanced at the city skyline in the distance, where the battle still raged.

"Just a little longer," she whispered to herself, retreating into the shadows.

The explosion rocked the area moments later, sending debris flying as the command unit went up in flames. Alyssa didn't stop to watch she was already on her way back to the substation, her legs moving faster than her thoughts.

When she arrived, the scene was pure chaos. Volkov's men were in disarray, their communications severed. Eleanor was in the thick of it, firing with deadly precision as Marcus picked off targets from his rooftop perch.

Alyssa jumped back into the fray, her presence reinvigorating the team. They fought with renewed ferocity, pushing Volkov's forces back inch by inch.

As the sun began to rise, the last of the enemy retreated into the shadows, leaving the power grid intact. Exhausted but victorious, Alyssa collapsed against the wall, her chest heaving with the effort of the fight.

"We did it," Eleanor said, dropping to the ground beside her. "But this isn't over."

Alyssa nodded, her eyes scanning the horizon. "No. Volkov's still out there. And he's not done yet."

The calm before the storm had passed. Now, the real battle was about to begin.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om