Page 97 of Rescuing Sophia

Hope and despair war within me at her words. The thought of seeing Luke again is everything to me, but the price—the price is my soul.

“Is that what you do?” I ask, searching her face. “Obey and hope?”

Violet nods, her expression a mask of resigned determination. “It’s all we can do. For our children, we endure. We survive.”

As she prepares to leave, I catch her arm. “Violet,” I say softly, “thank you. For trusting me with your story. For everything. I don’t know why fate brought us together, but I’m grateful it did.”

She gives me a sad smile. “So am I. Remember what I said. Obey, endure, and maybe—maybe someday…”

As the door closes behind her, I lie back on the thin mattress, my mind racing. I think of Luke, of Blake, of the Guardians. I think of Violet and Zephyr, of the incredible strength it must take to hold onto even the smallest shred of hope in the darkest of circumstances.

I close my eyes, steeling myself for what’s to come. Like Violet, I will do whatever it takes and endure whatever I must to see my son again.

It’s not hope, not really. Hope implies a chance of something better. What we have is simpler and more primal. It’s survival for the sake of our children. And sometimes, that has to be enough.

Malfor has made a grave mistake. His greatest miscalculation is underestimating the power of a mother’s love, because a mother’s love is the most powerful weapon in the world.

THIRTY-FOUR

Blake

The cavernous holdof the transport ship echoes with the low murmur of voices and the metallic clicks of final equipment checks. We’re outside Montenegro.

The night sky roils with an approaching storm. Distant flashes of lightning illuminate the choppy seas below. The air is thick with anticipation and the acrid smell of gun oil and nervous sweat.

CJ’s commanding voice cuts through the ambient noise, silencing all conversation. “Guardians, listen up. We’re T-minus thirty minutes. Let’s go over it one last time.”

I scan the faces around me—Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie teams are all gathered in one place, a rare sight that underscores the gravity of our mission. Each face is a mask of grim determination, eyes sharp with focus despite the long hours of preparation.

CJ activates a holographic display in the center of the hold, showing a 3D rendering of Malfor’s compound.

“Alpha team,” he zooms in on the perimeter walls, “you’ll be our battering ram. Hit the main gate hard and loud. Create as much noise as you can. We want every guard in that compound scrambling to deal with you.”

Max, the leader of Alpha team, steps forward. His voice is gruffbut confident. “We’ve got enough explosives to make the Fourth of July look like a kid’s sparkler party. Those bastards won’t know what hit ’em.”

CJ nods approvingly before shifting the hologram to show the airspace above the compound. “Bravo, you’re our eyes in the sky. HALO jump from 30,000 feet, full stealth gear. Your primary objective is to neutralize their air defenses, specifically those guns on the towers, then provide overwatch and support for Charlie team’s infiltration.”

Brady, Bravo’s leader, runs a hand over his closely cropped hair. “Understood. Weather will make the jump tricky, but nothing we can’t handle. We’ll be guardian angels with very big guns.”

Finally, CJ turns to us. The hologram zooms in on the sheer cliffs at the rear of the compound. “Charlie team, you’ve got the most complex insertion. Two-hundred-foot climb up those cliffs, then a silent infiltration to locate and extract the primary target.”

Ethan nods solemnly. “We’re ready. The RUFI have the climbing route, and our exosuits are prepped for the ascent.”

“Blake.” CJ’s eyes lock onto mine, his gaze intense. “Once inside, you’re on point for locating Sophia. Are you prepared for what you might find?”

I swallow hard, forcing my voice to remain steady. “Yes, sir. Whatever condition she’s in, we’re bringing her home.”

CJ holds my gaze for a moment longer before addressing the entire group. “Mitzy, give us an update on the bumblebee drone.”

Mitzy’s voice comes through the comms, clear despite the distance. “Drone is active and currently with the primary target. Once Charlie team is inside, we can provide real-time guidance to her location. Be advised, the drone’s movements suggest the target is not stationary within the compound.”

A ripple of murmurs passes through the group at this news. CJ raises a hand for silence. “This doesn’t change the plan, people. We adapt and overcome. Any questions?”

The hold is silent, each Guardian mentally preparing for their role in the mission ahead.

“Alright,” CJ continues, his voice carrying the weight ofcommand. “You’ve trained for this. You know your roles. Stay flexible, watch each other’s backs, and complete the mission. Failure is not an option. Am I clear?”

A chorus of “Yes, sir!” echoes through the hold.

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