Chapter 242: Threat Neutralized

Smoke curled through the warehouse, the last echoes of gunfire fading into tense silence. Bodies littered the concrete floor—all of them hostile.

Chris lowered his gun, exhaling slowly. It was over.

Cole scanned the area, stepping over a fallen attacker. "That's the last of them."

Chris didn't relax. His instincts screamed that something was off. This was too easy. If this was a full-scale rescue attempt, why hadn't there been more forces? A second wave?

His phone buzzed. A response from General Whitaker.

—Copy. Units inbound. Hold position.

Chris turned to his men. "Secure the perimeter. Double-check every body. If any of them are alive, I want them in custody. We need answers."

Soldiers moved swiftly, ensuring no threats remained. But where was Ava?

Skylar pressed herself against the wall, watching everything unfold. Her breath was uneven. Was this her rescue mission? Or someone else's? Either way, they had failed.

Cole kicked over a fallen gunman, his lip curling. "They were good. Not good enough."

Chris didn't respond. His mind was elsewhere.

Then—

A soldier rushed in. "Sir! We found something."

Chris turned sharply. "What?"

The soldier hesitated. "Not what. Who."

And just like that, Chris knew.

They had Ava.