Mia’s Prison

The mansion buzzed with tension as Alexander prepared his team for the rescue mission. Every available agent was summoned, armed, and briefed. Despite his outward calm, Alexander's mind raced with possibilities. Marco had played his hand, and now the stakes had never been higher.

Victor entered the war room, his face grim. "We've pinpointed Marco's location. The signal from the USB drive leads to a private island off the coast. It's heavily fortified, but we can get in through the northwestern dock."

Alexander nodded, his expression resolute. "Good work. We move tonight."

Victor hesitated. "Alexander, we need to talk about Project Paragon."

Alexander glanced at him, his jaw tightening. "What about it?"

"I've been digging through the data we recovered," Victor continued. "Marco's obsession with Mia isn't just personal—it's scientific. He's been conducting experiments for years, trying to create some kind of genetic breakthrough. Mia's DNA is key to his plans, and now, with her pregnancy…"

Alexander's fists clenched. "He won't touch her or our child. I'll make sure of it."

Victor placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "We'll get her back. But you need to be prepared. Marco isn't just playing games anymore—this is a war."l

Mia's Prison

Mia sat in the sterile room, her wrists sore from the restraints. Marco's words echoed in her mind, each revelation more disturbing than the last. Her heart ached for Alexander, but she knew he would come for her.

The door opened, and a young woman entered, carrying a tray of food. She looked nervous, avoiding Mia's gaze as she set the tray down.

"Please eat," the woman said softly.

Mia studied her, noting the fear in her eyes. "You don't have to work for him. You can help me."

The woman froze, glancing toward the door. "If he finds out…"

"He doesn't have to," Mia pressed. "What's your name?"

"Lila," she whispered.

"Lila, you can help me. Marco's plans are dangerous. He doesn't care about anyone but himself. You don't have to be a part of this."

Lila hesitated, then leaned closer. "He's moving you tonight—to the main lab. I don't know where it is, but it's on the island. I'll try to leave the door unlocked when the guards take you."

Mia's heart swelled with hope. "Thank you, Lila."

Lila nodded quickly, then left the room, leaving Mia to silently prepare herself for what was to come.

The Rescue Mission

The team approached the island under the cover of darkness, their speedboats slicing through the waves. Alexander stood at the helm, his eyes fixed on the distant lights of Marco's stronghold.

"We've got one chance to do this right," Victor said over the comms. "The guards are concentrated on the south side, so we'll breach from the north. Once inside, we split into two teams. Alexander, you take Alpha Team to find Mia. I'll lead Beta Team to secure the lab and gather intel."

Alexander nodded, his voice steady. "No mistakes. We get in, get Mia, and end this."

As they neared the dock, the team disembarked silently, moving like shadows through the underbrush. The guards were caught off guard, taken down swiftly and quietly.

Inside the compound, the air was thick with tension. The halls were dimly lit, and the sound of distant machinery hummed in the background.

Victor signaled for the teams to split, and Alexander led his group deeper into the facility. His pulse quickened as they encountered heavier resistance, but his focus never wavered.

Finally, they reached a locked door at the end of a corridor. Alexander motioned for his team to stand back as he breached it with a single, powerful kick.

"Mia!" he called out.

Inside, Mia sat on a cot, her face lighting up with relief as she saw him. "Alexander!"

He rushed to her, pulling her into his arms. For a moment, the world faded away, and all that mattered was that she was safe.

"Are you hurt?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.

"I'm fine," she replied, her hands clutching his shirt. "But we have to get out of here. Marco's moving me to the lab. He's planning something—something terrible."

Alexander nodded, his resolve hardening. "We're not leaving without you."

As they turned to leave, an alarm blared throughout the compound. Red lights flashed, and the sound of boots echoed in the distance.

"We've been compromised," Victor's voice came through the comms. "We've got company!"

The Escape

The team fought their way through waves of guards, the compound erupting into chaos. Explosions shook the walls as Alexander shielded Mia, keeping her close as they made their way to the extraction point.

Lila appeared suddenly, her face pale. "This way!" she called, leading them through a hidden passage.

"Who's she?" Victor asked, covering their escape.

"She's helping us," Mia said, her voice firm.

They emerged outside, the cool night air a stark contrast to the heat of the battle. The speedboats waited at the dock, and the team hurried aboard.

As they sped away from the island, Mia leaned into Alexander's embrace, her body trembling with exhaustion.

"It's over," he whispered, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

But deep down, they both knew the fight was far from finished. Marco had escaped, and the secrets of Project Paragon still loomed over them like a dark cloud.