Chapter 88

(Gail POV)

My heart races as I grip the phone tightly, the officer's words sending a chill down my spine. "Sam was attacked? And his bodyguard Jake is in the hospital?" I can barely process the information. "You couldn't locate Sam's body? Please, keep searching - we have to find him!"

My mind whirls with questions and fears. How could this have happened? Sam was supposed to be safe, with Jake by his side. I should have insisted on tighter security measures. Now one of my top developers is missing, and his protector lies injured. I clench my fist, determined to get to the bottom of this.

"The police are doing everything they can to locate Mr. Briar," the officer assures me. "We'll update you as soon as we have more information." I thank him and hang up, my thoughts racing. I need to alert the rest of the team and coordinate a search effort. We can't afford to lose Sam, not after all the progress he's made.

My heart is pounding as I rush to Yuna's workstation. This can't be happening. I take a deep breath, trying to stay calm as I approach her.

"Yuna, I need to talk to you. It's about Sam."

Her eyes widen with concern. "What happened? Is he okay?"

I swallow hard, bracing myself to deliver the news. "Sam was attacked. His bodyguard, Jake, is in the hospital with gunshot wounds. The police couldn't find any trace of Sam."

Yuna's face falls, her expression a mix of shock and fear. "Oh my god, this is terrible! We have to do something!"

"I'm going to the hospital to see Jake and find out what happened," I tell her. "You should come with me."

She nods without hesitation. "Absolutely, I'm coming with you. Sam needs our help."

We hurry out of the office, my mind racing with a thousand questions. Who would want to hurt Sam? And where is he now? I can only pray that Jake has some answers.

At the hospital, we approach the front desk, our voices laced with urgency.

"Excuse me, we're looking for Jake Callahan. He was brought in with gunshot wounds," I say.

The nurse checks her computer, her brow furrowing. "I'm afraid Jake is still in surgery. The doctors are working to stabilize him - he's in critical condition."

Yuna's hand grips my arm, her eyes filled with worry. "Can you tell us what happened?"

The nurse shakes her head. "I'm sorry, I don't have any other details. You'll have to wait for the doctors to update you."

Yuna and I exchange a worried glance. There's nothing else we can do but wait and pray that Jake pulls through. I guide Yuna to the waiting area, and we sit in tense silence, our minds consumed by the uncertainty of Sam's fate.

After what feels like an eternity, the doctor finally emerges from the operating room. Yuna and I rush over, our hearts pounding with anticipation.

"How is Jake? Is he going to be okay?" I ask, the worry evident in my voice.

The doctor nods solemnly. "Jake sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his abdomen and leg, but he's a fighter. He's out of surgery and in stable condition. The next 24 hours will be critical, but he's expected to make a full recovery."

I exhale a shaky breath, relief washing over me. "Thank goodness. Can we see him?"

"Yes, but I'd advise against stressing him too much right now," the doctor cautions. "He needs rest to recover. You can go in briefly, but keep it brief and calm."

Yuna and I exchange a grateful look and follow the doctor down the hall to Jake's room. As we enter, I'm struck by how pale and vulnerable he looks, hooked up to various machines monitoring his vital signs.

I approach his bedside, my voice soft. "Jake, it's Gail and Yuna. We're here."

Jake's eyes flutter open, and he offers a weak smile. "Ms. Foster... Yuna... I'm glad to see you both."

"We should be the ones saying that," I say, gently placing my hand on his arm.

I lean in closer, my brow furrowed with concern. "Jake, what happened? Where's Sam?"

Jake winces as he shifts in the hospital bed, his voice strained. "We were just leaving the office, about to get in the car, when... when it exploded. Masked gunmen started shooting at us."

My heart sinks, dread washing over me. "Oh no..."

"I tried to fight them off, but there were too many," Jake continues, his eyes filled with regret. "I told Sam to run, and he did. I don't know where he went after that."

I feel a lump in my throat, the implications of his words weighing heavily on me. "You mean... Sam is still out there? Alone?"

Jake nods weakly. "I'm sorry, Ms. Foster. I did my best to protect him, but they were too much for me."

I place a reassuring hand on his arm, my mind racing with a million questions. "It's not your fault, Jake. You did what you could. Right now, we need to focus on finding Sam."

Yuna, who has been listening quietly, speaks up. "We'll do everything we can to locate him. I can't imagine what he must be going through."

I nod in agreement, my resolve hardening. "Exactly. We need to act quickly. Jake, do you have any idea who those gunmen were or why they attacked you?"

Jake shakes his head, wincing in pain. "No, I couldn't make out any distinguishing features. They were just... masked."

I frown, my brow creasing with worry. "This is troubling. We need to alert the authorities and get a full investigation underway."

Yuna places a hand on my shoulder, her expression earnest. "I'll call the police right away. We have to find Sam before it's too late."

I turn to her, my gaze filled with determination. "Yes, do it. I'll stay here with Jake, see if he remembers anything else that could help."

As Yuna hurries out of the room, I turn my attention back to Jake, my voice low and serious. "Jake, I need you to think carefully. Anything you can recall, no matter how small, could be crucial in finding Sam."

Jake nods, his eyes reflecting the gravity of the situation. "I'll do my best, Ms. Foster. I just hope we can find him in time."

My heart aches at the thought of Sam out there, alone and in danger. I can only pray that we're not too late.

///

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