Chapter 29
The silence on the line was heavy with the weight of the past. Cole stared out into the vast, dark expanse of the Montana wilderness. He had fought so hard to secure this sanctuary, to bury the violence and the bloodshed.
"I told your father, I am done running," Cole said softly.
"I am not asking you to run, Cole," Director Vance replied. "I am asking you to hunt. If those EMP devices fall into the hands of a hostile state, the global infrastructure will be permanently compromised. You know the catastrophic damage they can cause. You saw it in Cheyenne Mountain."
Cole closed his eyes, the memory of the burning server vault flashing through his mind. He knew she was right. The monsters never truly stopped coming; they just changed their names.
"What is the operational parameter?" Cole asked, the cold, tactical operator slowly awakening from his slumber.
"Absolute autonomy," Vance promised. "I will provide the intelligence, the logistics, and the extraction. You provide the kinetic solution. No oversight. No rules of engagement. You locate the devices, you neutralize the cartel leadership, and you disappear."
"I need my team," Cole demanded, turning to look back at the fire pit where Sarah, Ava, and Donovan were laughing together.
"You have them," Vance agreed. "I will ensure your family remains under absolute, classified protection while you operate."
"Send the dossier to the secure server," Cole ordered. "We leave in twenty-four hours."
He hung up the phone, slipping it into his pocket. He took a long, deep breath of the crisp mountain air, feeling the familiar, icy calm of a mission settling over his soul.
He walked back to the fire pit.
Sarah looked up at him, instantly recognizing the shift in his posture. The relaxed rancher was gone; the apex predator had returned.
"Who was it?" Sarah asked, her voice tight with apprehension.
"Director Vance," Cole stated simply. "There is a situation in Dubai. A cartel auctioning EMP devices."
"Cole, no," Ava pleaded, standing up, her eyes wide with fear. "You promised! You said the war was over!"
"The war is never over, Ava," Cole whispered, stepping forward and gently taking her hands. "It just pauses. If I don't stop this cartel, the weapons they sell will eventually be used against us. I have to secure the perimeter."
"You can't go alone, Boss," Donovan grunted, stepping into the light of the fire, her eyes fierce and uncompromising. "You need someone to watch your six."
"You are staying here, Rachel," Cole commanded, his voice leaving no room for argument. "You protect Sarah and Ava. You hold the fort."
"I can run the logistics from here," Sarah offered, her tears shining in the firelight, but her resolve hardening. "I can access the Dubai municipal grids, loop their security cameras. I can be your overwatch."
Cole looked at his sister, profound pride swelling in his chest. She was a true operator now.
"I'm counting on it," Cole smiled faintly.
May you like
He looked at Nora, who was happily roasting a marshmallow, completely oblivious to the dangerous world her uncle operated in.
"I will be back," Cole promised, looking deep into Ava's eyes. "I always come back."
