Chapter 240: Hope in the Darkness (Prat 2)

Chapter 240: Hope in the Darkness (Prat 2)
Jasmine's POV

"I saved his life," Eva countered. "You can hate me, Jasmine, but I did what I thought was right at the time. Now, I'm doing what I think is right again."

She sent a file, then added, "This is the complete building layout, including security details and personnel schedules. Three hours. Don't be late."

The call ended, leaving us in doubt and deliberation.

"It's a trap," Daniel immediately said. "Eva wouldn't betray her father."

"Unless she truly loves Louis," I said quietly. I hated to admit it, but I saw genuine emotion in her eyes. However twisted, it was still a form of love.

"We need to verify this information as quickly as possible," Marcus instructed Wayne to check the file Eva had sent. "Meanwhile, we prepare according to the original plan. If this is real, we need to act immediately."

The next two hours became a race against time. Everyone had their tasks, from weapons preparation to communications setup, from medical support to planning escape routes.

I insisted on participating in the operation and finally reached a compromise—I would enter with the second team, but only after the perimeter was confirmed secure.

Before leaving, I went to see Grace. She was asleep, with Isabella watching over her. I gently kissed her forehead. "Mommy's going to get Daddy. We'll be back soon."

Grace frowned slightly in her sleep, her little hand clutching the blanket tightly. She was too young to experience such fear and separation. I silently vowed that whatever the cost, I would bring her father home safely.

Before departure, my father pulled me aside. "Remember your promise, Jasmine. Stick to the plan. Grace needs at least one parent in her life."

I nodded, my throat tight. "I will. But we're both coming back."

Sitting in the car heading to Weiss's estate, I stared at the passing lights outside the window, my thoughts racing. Four years of waiting, loss and reunion, and now life hanging in the balance again. Why was fate so cruel, giving hope only to snatch it away?

However, unlike four years ago, this time I wouldn't wait passively. This time I would fight. For Louis, for Grace, for our future.

The convoy stopped two miles from the target building, and team members began their final equipment checks. I put on a bulletproof vest, checked the communication devices, and listened to the final instructions.

"Suspicious activity detected," came the voice of the forward lookout through the earpiece. "More guards around the building than intelligence indicated."

"Eva might have betrayed us," Daniel said quietly.

Richard shook his head. "Or Alan sensed something. Either way, we must continue."

Marcus nodded at me. "Ready?"

I took a deep breath, trying to calm the fear inside. "I've been waiting for four years. Can't wait any longer."

"Operation codename 'Phoenix,'" Marcus said to all team members. "All units, confirm ready."

A series of affirmative responses came through the communication channel.

"For Louis," I whispered, my heart pounding.

"For my son," Richard added, determination burning in his eyes.

The operation began with swift precision. The first team moved silently toward the compound, their dark figures barely visible against the night sky. Through my earpiece, I heard the quiet commands as they disabled the outer security cameras and approached the perimeter fence.

"Guard rotation in thirty seconds," came a hushed voice.

I held my breath, gripping the edge of my seat in the tactical vehicle. Each moment another instant Louis might be suffering, or worse.

"Perimeter breach successful," the team leader reported. "Moving to secondary entrance."

Daniel checked his watch. "Right on schedule. If Eva's intel is accurate, the security system should switch to backup in exactly forty-five seconds, creating a three-second blind spot."

Richard sat across from me, his face a mask of controlled tension. In the dim light of the vehicle, I could see the lines of worry etched deeper around his eyes. He had aged years in the days since learning his son might be alive.

"It's happening," Marcus murmured, watching the tactical display. "They're in."

The first team had successfully entered the building's lower level. According to Eva's information, Louis was being held in a renovated medical suite on the third floor. The team would need to move through two levels of potential security before reaching him.

"Movement detected," came the urgent whisper through the comms. "Two guards, not on the expected rotation."

My heart froze. Had Eva's information been deliberately incorrect?

"Neutralized," the voice continued after a tense pause. "Continuing upward."

I closed my eyes briefly, trying to center myself. Violence was never something I'd embraced, despite marrying into a family where it sometimes became necessary. Tonight, however, I couldn't bring myself to care about the morality of our actions. Not when Louis's life hung in the balance.

"Second floor clear," the team reported. "Moving to target floor. Stand by."

It was almost time for the second team—our team—to move in. I checked my vest again, made sure my earpiece was secure. My hands were steady, despite the fear coursing through me.

"Something's wrong," came a sudden transmission. "Too quiet. No personnel on the medical floor."

Richard and Marcus exchanged sharp glances.

"Proceed with caution," Marcus ordered. "Could be a trap."

The silence that followed was excruciating. I strained to hear anything through the comm link—footsteps, breathing, any sign that our team was still moving forward.

Then: "We've found a secure room. Locked from the outside. Preparing to breach."

"Wait," Daniel said suddenly. "Ask for confirmation on the room number."

"Room 312," came the response.

Daniel checked Eva's blueprint. "That's not the room she indicated. Louis was supposed to be in 317."

"It could be deliberate misdirection," Richard suggested. "To protect against leaked information."

Or it could be a trap, I thought, but didn't say aloud. "Tell them to proceed," I said instead. "But with extreme caution."

The team acknowledged, and we listened as they prepared to breach the door. The small explosive charges they carried would minimize noise while providing quick entry.

"Breaching in three... two... one..."

A muffled thump came through the comms, followed by silence.

"Report," Marcus commande.

More silence, then finally: "Room clear, but... sir, you need to see this."

"What is it?" Richard demanded. "What did you find?"

"Evidence someone was held here recently. Medical equipment, restraints. And sir... there's blood."

My stomach twisted. "How much blood?" I asked.

"Not enough to indicate a fatal injury," the team leader replied, understanding my unspoken fear. "But there was clearly a struggle."

"Check the other rooms," Marcus ordered. "Find out where they moved him."

As the team continued their search of the third floor, Richard made the decision for our team to move in. "We need to be closer. If they find Louis, every second will count."

We moved swiftly toward the compound, staying in the shadows. The night had grown colder, or perhaps it was just the fear chilling my blood. By the time we reached the side entrance the first team had secured, my heart was pounding so hard I was certain everyone could hear it.

"All rooms on the third floor clear," came the update. "No sign of the target."

"Check for hidden areas," Marcus instructed. "False walls, concealed elevators."

"Already on it, sir. Wait—we've found something. A service elevator, not on the blueprints. It goes down, below basement level."

Eva hadn't mentioned any sublevels. Either she didn't know about them, or she had deliberately withheld the information. Either way, our plan was now compromised.

"I'm going down there," I said, moving toward the stairs before anyone could stop me.

Richard caught my arm. "Jasmine, wait. We need to—"

The building suddenly plunged into darkness.