Chapter 14 - Into the Lion’s Den
The corridors of the fourth floor were dead silent, bathed in the sickly green glow of emergency exit signs. The hospital staff had been quietly cleared out or neutralized hours ago by the conspirators.
I stepped out of the service stairwell, my combat boots making no sound against the polished linoleum floor.
The door to Emily’s VIP recovery room was cracked open by an inch. Through the narrow gap, I could see the dim silhouette of the two masked operatives. One of them stood near the window, while the other held his weapon leveled precisely at the center of my sleeping daughter's pillow.
I didn't knock. I kicked the heavy wooden door inward with explosive force, shattering the latch and sending it slamming against the drywall.
“Drop your weapons!” I commanded, stepping into the room with my service pistol raised.
The operative near the bed spun around with terrifying speed, but instead of panicking, a cold, distorted laugh echoed through the voice-modulator built into his tactical mask.
“We were wondering when you’d show up, Colonel Hart,” the lead operative hissed, his weapon shifting away from Emily and pointing directly at my chest. “Do you really think a decorated soldier like you can outsmart a shadow network that controls the very government you swore an oath to protect?”
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“You underestimated a mother’s resolve,” I replied, my finger tightening slightly on the trigger. “Where is the man pulling your strings?”
“He doesn't need to be here to watch you fail,” the operative sneered, reaching for a remote detonator on his belt. “Hand over the card, or your daughter dies right now.”
