Chapter 268 Come Alone or Else
Chapter 268 Come Alone or Else
The tension in Jade's room was palpable as Ethan, Night, and Chris huddled around her.
"Miss Morgan," Ford's voice crackled through, tension evident in every syllable. "Max and Chase Astor are both in surgery right now."
Her expression remained impassive, but her knuckles whitened as she gripped the phone tighter. "How bad?"
"Your brother's injuries are relatively minor—broken leg, some lacerations. But the Astor kid..." Ford hesitated, his voice dropping. "It's not looking good. Doctors just issued a critical condition notice."
"Get Walter Morrison there immediately. And put on sterile scrubs, take your phone into the operating room. I need to see Chase's condition myself."
"I'll speak to the hospital director right away," Ford replied, disconnecting quickly.
Within minutes, Ford was livestreaming from inside the operating room. The surgical team worked frantically, hands moving with practiced precision despite the obvious tension. The head surgeon—the same one who'd treated William Haxton and assisted Jade before—looked up, relief washing over his bloodshot eyes when he spotted her on the screen.
"Thank god," he muttered, exhaustion evident in the creases around his eyes. "We've got massive internal bleeding, collapsed lung, and potential spinal damage. The impact crushed his left side."
Jade assessed the situation through the screen, her eyes narrowing as she studied the monitor readings and exposed surgical site. She began giving precise instructions, her voice crisp and authoritative. Ford watched in amazement as the surgeon followed her every word without question, the medical team responding to her directions as though she were physically present.
Walter Morrison arrived moments later. Jade guided them both through the procedure with cold precision.
---
Connor arrived at the hospital with a team of men. He immediately established security perimeters on every floor, positioning his people at all entrances and exits. He found Zach pacing outside Max's operating room, anxiety etched on his face.
Connor squeezed his shoulder. "Don't worry. He'll be fine." His confidence didn't reach his eyes, which remained alert and wary.
An hour later, a doctor emerged from Max's operating room, surgical mask dangling around his neck as he pulled off his bloodstained gloves.
"The surgery was successful. We've set the broken femur and treated his lacerations. He's being moved to recovery now."
Relief washed over Zach's face, the tension in his shoulders visibly easing. Connor nodded in acknowledgment, but his expression remained grim as he glanced toward the other operating room where Chase Astor's surgery continued.
---
Zach left Max's recovery room, heading toward the attending physician's office to discuss his condition in detail. As he rounded the corner, a flash of familiar honey-blonde hair caught his attention. The woman's graceful figure and confident stride were unmistakable even from behind.
His eyes widened in disbelief. "...Boss?" The word escaped him in a shocked whisper.
Without hesitation, he sprinted after the figure, pushing past nurses and orderlies who protested his sudden movement.
---
Back in Jade's room, Ethan's phone rang. His expression darkened as he listened to Connor's report, his jaw tightening with each word.
"Send me the footage immediately," he ordered, his voice clipped.
In the footage, a woman wore large sunglasses that obscured most of her face, but her height, posture, and distinctive walk were unmistakable. She moved with lethal grace, her confidence radiating even through the grainy surveillance video.
---
Five hours after it began, Chase's surgery finally concluded successfully. The medical team looked exhausted but relieved as they began closing up.
"Let me know immediately if there are any changes in his condition," Jade instructed Sergeant Ford, who nodded on the screen.
"Will do," Ford replied. "What about your brother? Do you want to see him?"
Jade nodded, and Ford carried his phone to Max's room. Connor stood by the bed, his posture rigid as he maintained his vigilance. Max remained unconscious, his face pale against the stark white pillowcase, numerous tubes and wires connecting him to various machines. Ford frowned, scanning the room. "Where's Zach? Wasn't he here?"
Connor shook his head, concern evident in his furrowed brow. "No idea where he went."
Jade looked at Ethan immediately, recognizing the gravity in his expression.
"Connor says he was chasing after some woman," Ethan said quietly.
Ethan handed her his phone, showing the security footage Connor had sent. "Take a look."
The woman in the video made Jade's blood run cold, though her expression remained carefully neutral.
Night and Chris moved closer, peering over her shoulder at the screen. They recognized the woman instantly, their faces registering shock before they exchanged glances and turned to Jade with disbelief written across their features.
---
In a dimly lit room, Milo approached SPECTER, the Shadow Organization's leader, whose face remained obscured by digital scrambling. The blue light from multiple screens cast an eerie glow over the space.
"Sir, I apologize for failing to capture Max Morgan," Milo reported, keeping his head slightly bowed in deference. "However, we've secured another asset—someone else who matters to Jade."
SPECTER's distorted voice betrayed a hint of curiosity beneath its mechanical tone. "Bring him to me."
---
Jade's phone suddenly received an anonymous video call request—clearly the work of a hacker, though not skilled enough to break through her superior firewall. She studied the notification for a moment before tapping to accept the call.
SPECTER's digitally obscured face filled the screen, his voice processed to disguise its natural tone. "We meet again." He examined her through the screen, the pixelated mask doing nothing to hide his smug satisfaction. "You've recovered well. How disappointing."
Night rose from his seat, muscles tensed and ready to confront the Shadow Organization leader, but Jade held up her hand to stop him, her eyes never leaving the screen.
"Should I come to you, or will you come to me?" she asked coldly, her voice devoid of emotion.
"Poland, Nigeria, New Delhi, Canberra," SPECTER listed with exaggerated thoughtfulness. "Guess where I've hidden them?" His tone was mocking. "I'm generous enough to let your three friends help you save them."
He was deliberately trying to separate Jade from Night, Chris, and Ethan. Three hostages scattered across four countries—a clever strategy to divide their forces.
"Your friends have one week. After that, all three die." His voice hardened. "And I'll keep finding people you care about. Your most valued asset is already with me, and I'll treat him well—for now."
"Come alone. Bring anyone else, and his fate will be worse than Shadow's." His voice dropped to a near whisper. "Oh, and I have an old friend of yours here. I'm sure you're eager to see her as much as I'm eager to watch you two fight."
The screen went dark abruptly, leaving an oppressive silence in its wake.
---
"Absolutely not," Night thundered, his face contorted with rage as he paced the room like a caged animal. "I won't let you risk your life for these nobodies."
Jade ignored him, addressing everyone calmly, her voice measured. "We only have a week. The distances are vast. You should prepare."
Night stared at her in disbelief, his hands clenching into fists. "You want us to save them?"
"Whether you save them or not, it's time to end this," she replied, her eyes hard with determination.
"At least wait until we've both recovered," Night insisted.
Ethan's expression was grave, his eyes never leaving Jade's face. "Are you really going alone?"
She looked at him, noting the concern etched in the lines around his eyes. "Do you have a better solution? This confrontation was inevitable."
Night's face darkened, his voice dropping dangerously. "I refuse. I'm not abandoning you to save people I don't even know."
"You're injured. I'll send someone else," Jade said firmly, her tone brooking no argument.
Night exploded, slamming his fist against the wall. "This is suicide!"
Jade met his gaze with absolute certainty. "I'll survive."
"Bullshit! They've set a trap for you!" Night's voice echoed off the walls, his frustration palpable.
Chris joined in, his normally calm voice tinged with concern. "I agree. This is reckless. At least wait until you're fully healed before confronting them."
Jade remained silent, her decision already made, her mind calculating outcomes and contingencies.
"Have you contacted Selene? An insider within the Organization could give us an advantage. With proper planning, we might have a chance," Ethan spoke.
Jade looked at him, a slight smile crossing her lips. His suggestion matched her own thoughts exactly.
"You haven't slept since last night," Ethan continued gently, noting the almost imperceptible shadows beneath her eyes. "Rest first. We'll discuss this when you wake up."
After washing up and eating lunch, Jade climbed into bed.