Chapter 15
The air on the isolated island near the California border was heavy with rust and the sharp stench of chemicals.
According to intelligence reports, an armed terrorist group had kidnapped ten wealthy figures. from both the legal and underground worlds and was demanding an enormous ransom.
After long discussions, the victims’ families decided to pool their resources, hiring the Special Operations Unit to rescue their loved ones and to end the terrorists once and for all.
“The intel shows all ten hostages are being held in the central plant. About fifty armed guards are stationed inside. The leader is in the highest room.”
“Crimson Hawk, lead Team A through the ventilation system to rescue the hostages. Silver Wolf, take Team B to infiltrate and eliminate the leader. I, Shadow Eagle, will lead Team C in a frontal assault.”
Sean’s voice came steady and precise through the earpiece.
“Roger that.” Silver Wolf and I adjusted our rifles, responding in unison.
Through the vent grid, I scanned the scene below. Ten men knelt in the corner against the wall, their hands tied behind their backs while armed patrols circled the room.
My eyes locked onto a familiar figure among them. Jason Gardner.
He was crouched in the corner, his hands bound, his body covered in bruises and cuts.
“So, Mr. Gardner, when’s your ransom money arriving?” the scar-faced captor sneered, pressing a rifle butt under his chin.
Jason smirked coldly. “Even if it arrives, you won’t live long enough to spend it.”
The next moment, a thunderous explosion shook the facility. I kicked open the vent grille and leapt down. Two silenced shots cracked in the air, dropping the nearest guards before they even
saw me.
“Get down!” I shouted, my voice distorted through the mask.
Jason froze when he saw my silhouette, so familiar it made his breath catch.
Those eyes are so familiar, could it really be her?
At the shout, the kidnappers scrambled forward, leaving Jason stunned, staring at my figure weaving through the hail of bullets.
After a closer look, he was almost sure it was really me.
Sean’s unit stormed in from the front, the tall man and I falling back-to-back in perfect synchronization.
“Crimson Hawk, three o’clock!” he shouted.
“On it!” I rolled to the side, firing a clean double tap.
When a bullet nearly grazed me, Sean suddenly shoved me out of the way, the shot tearing through his sleeve. Our eyes met for a fleeting second and silent understanding passed between
Watching from the corner, Jason felt an ache twist in his chest.
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His ex-wife had changed. The woman in front of him was a stranger. Or perhaps he was only now realizing he had never truly known me at all.
The fight ended swiftly.
When I finally stood before him, his breath caught.
Even with the mask, the outline was unmistakable. I, the female agent was indeed the ex-wife he had been searching for.
Three years of searching every corner of the world, using every contact and resource only to discover I had been hiding among the elusive shadows of the Special Operations Unit. No. wonder I vanished so quickly.
As night fell and the terrain grew too dangerous to navigate, the team decided to rest at the site until morning. Medics tended to the rescued hostages, patching wounds and arranging temporary shelter.
Jason shook off the medic helping him and strode toward me as I removed my gear.
“Scarlet?” His voice trembled with disbelief, a trace of joy breaking through.
I turned, meeting his eyes briefly with a blank expression. “Sir, please cooperate with the medical team,” I said evenly, my tone purely professional.
He ignored the distance in my voice and pulled me into his arms. “Scarlet, do you know how hard I’ve searched for you these past three years? I missed you so much!”
I broke free at once, my gaze sharp. “Please show some respect, sir. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being rude.”
Without another word, I walked away. He tried to follow, but Sean stepped into his path.
He approached with a flat yet firm tone. “Sir, you need treatment.”
Something flickered in Jason’s eyes as he glanced at us and suddenly he understood. Still, he ignored Sean’s warning and chased after me.
“Scarlet, please! Let’s talk! I know I was wrong. I’ve looked into everything that happened back
then.”
“I misunderstood you. Give me a chance to apologize, please!”
“Just five minutes. I’m begging you!”
I didn’t respond. I didn’t slow my steps. I didn’t even look back.
Sean moved forward again, this time kicking him to the ground. By the time Jason struggled back to his feet, I was already gone.
He could only shout at the trace of me. “I won’t give up! Now that I’ve found you, I’ll make you fall in love with me again!”
A faint, mocking smile curved on my lips. I truly wanted to ask him-where did he find the audacity to say something so ridiculous?
Inside the rest area, Sean’s expression was unreadable as he asked quietly, “Do you want me to get rid of him?”
“No need. Just pretend he doesn’t exist.”
He wasn’t worth another second of my time anyway.
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Goodbye, Jason Gardner. We’re nothing more than strangers now.
1:53 pm P ppp.
