You're Okay

The team assembled in the underground bunker beneath the estate, a hidden nerve center for Alexander's operations. Dressed in tactical gear, the men and women stood in tense silence, waiting for Alexander's final briefing. The tension was palpable, but the air buzzed with focus and determination.

Victor stood at the head of the table, a digital map of Marco's safe house projected before him. "This is our target," he said, pointing to a building surrounded by dense forest. "It's isolated, but heavily fortified. Guards patrol the perimeter, and we believe Marco has rigged the area with traps. This won't be easy."

Alexander stepped forward, his authoritative presence commanding attention. "We move in teams of three. Team A will handle the perimeter guards. Team B will disable any traps or security measures. My team will infiltrate the house and secure any intel we can find. Marco may or may not be there, but if he is, I want him alive."

Victor raised an eyebrow. "Alive? That's risky, Alexander."

Alexander's gaze was steely. "Alive. We need answers, and I want to hear them from him directly. But if he resists…" His voice trailed off, the implication clear.

The team nodded, their resolve firm. Alexander glanced around the room. "This is not just about me. Marco has threatened all of us—our families, our lives. Tonight, we end his reign of terror. Let's move."

---

The convoy of armored SUVs sped through the forest, headlights off to avoid detection. The only sounds were the low hum of engines and the faint rustle of leaves in the night breeze. Mia watched from the estate's surveillance room, her heart in her throat as she tracked Alexander's movements. She couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt for staying behind, but she knew she had to protect their child.

The SUVs came to a halt a mile from the safe house. The team disembarked, moving swiftly and silently through the trees. Night vision goggles illuminated the path ahead, revealing guards patrolling the perimeter with automatic weapons.

Victor whispered into his comms, "Team A, you're up."

Three operatives peeled off, moving like shadows toward the guards. In a matter of minutes, the guards were subdued, their radios and weapons confiscated.

"Perimeter secure," came the hushed report.

"Team B, go," Alexander ordered.

The second team moved in, scanning the area for traps. They found motion sensors hidden among the trees, their infrared beams crisscrossing the ground. With careful precision, the team disabled each one, clearing the path for the main group.

Alexander's team approached the house, their footsteps muffled by the soft earth. The building loomed ahead, its windows darkened. Victor whispered, "Infrared shows multiple heat signatures inside. At least six men. Marco's not among them—he's likely deeper in."

Alexander nodded. "We stick to the plan. Let's move."

---

Inside the safe house, the guards were on edge. The radio silence from the perimeter was unsettling, and they were beginning to suspect something was wrong. One guard moved to check the front door, his weapon raised, but before he could react, a flashbang grenade rolled into the room.

The explosion of light and sound disoriented the guards, giving Alexander's team the opening they needed. They stormed in, their weapons trained on the stunned men. One by one, the guards were subdued, their weapons confiscated.

Alexander moved through the house with calculated precision, his eyes scanning every corner. The team uncovered a hidden door leading to a basement, and Alexander signaled for them to proceed.

The basement was dimly lit, lined with file cabinets and computer equipment. Victor's eyes lit up. "This is it. This is what we need."

As the team began gathering files and downloading data, Alexander's gaze fell on a stack of photographs pinned to a corkboard. His stomach churned as he recognized the faces—his business associates, his allies, even his family. Marco had been watching all of them.

"Alexander, we've got movement outside," came a voice over the comms.

Alexander's jaw tightened. "How many?"

"At least a dozen, heavily armed."

"Victor, grab what you can and get out. Team A, prepare for an extraction. Team B, cover our exit."

---

The firefight erupted as Marco's reinforcements swarmed the area. Bullets tore through the night, and the forest lit up with muzzle flashes. Alexander's team held their ground, their training and coordination giving them the upper hand.

Mia watched the chaos unfold on the surveillance monitors, her hands gripping the edge of the table. Her heart raced with every shot fired, her fear for Alexander nearly overwhelming her.

"Come back to me," she whispered, her voice trembling.

Back at the safe house, Alexander and Victor made their way to the exit, carrying the files and hard drives they had recovered. The team regrouped at the vehicles, their escape route secured.

"Move, move, move!" Alexander shouted as the team piled into the SUVs.

The convoy sped away, the sound of gunfire fading into the distance. Marco's men didn't pursue—they had been caught off guard and were regrouping.

---

Back at the estate, Mia ran to meet Alexander as the SUVs pulled into the driveway. She threw her arms around him, tears streaming down her face.

"You're okay," she whispered, clinging to him.

Alexander held her tightly, his own relief evident. "I'm okay. We all are."

Victor approached, holding up a hard drive. "We got what we needed. Marco's operation is about to crumble."

Alexander nodded, his expression grim. "Good. It's time to end this for good."