24

The convoy screeched into a long-abandoned industrial yard outside the city—a rust-stained complex of warehouses surrounded by thick brush and decaying fencing. LAPD tactical teams poured out in waves, weapons drawn, fanning out across the perimeter while the FBI swept the surveillance feeds.

Karadec stepped out first, scanning the looming structure ahead. He was halfway through issuing orders when he heard the slam of a second vehicle door.

He turned, eyes narrowing as he saw Morgan stepping out beside Soto, a bulletproof vest hastily strapped over her blouse.

"What the hell, Selena?" Karadec hissed, striding up to Soto. "You brought her?"

Soto didn't flinch. "She insisted. And I couldn't exactly bench a mother when her kids are involved."

"She shouldn't be here," Karadec snapped. "This place could be crawling with people who won't hesitate to shoot. You know that."

Soto exhaled, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Talk to her. But you won't stop her."

Karadec turned sharply, walking straight to Morgan as she scan the building with terrified eyes.

"Morgan, you can't be here," he said, low but urgent. "This is too dangerous. You need to stay outside, wait here with the field medics. Let us sweep the building."

"I can't just wait. Not now. I'll go insane if I do." Morgan looked up at him, eyes bloodshot but steady. "They're in there, Karadec. I need to be looking for them too."

He hesitated, the conflict clear on his face.

Her voice cracked, but her resolve didn't.

"I won't get in the way. But I need to do this."

Karadec swallowed hard, jaw clenched. "Just—you stay close. Do not wander. I mean it."

Morgan nodded, but her mind was already racing ahead.

Teams breached three entrances simultaneously. The echo of boots and radios filled the air. Karadec led Morgan, Daphne, Oz, and a tactical squad through a northern wing filled with decaying crates and peeling walls.

But within minutes, the teams began to separate, covering more ground.

And Morgan, being Morgan, she slipped away—quiet and determined, cutting left when the group veered right.

She knew what she was doing was reckless.

But a whisper in her gut told her she wouldn't find her children by following.

She moved fast, silent, ducking past stacked pallets and pushing deeper into the warehouse. Her heart pounded as she turned a corner.

And there they were.

Ava and Elliot.

Bound together, duct tape over their mouths, eyes wide with terror but alive.

Morgan gasped, the world spinning. "Oh my God—Ava! Elliot!"

They flinched, then recognized her and burst into muffled cries. She ran to them, tearing the tape from their mouths and cutting the zip ties with the pocketknife Karadec had once gifted her "just in case."

"Are you okay? Are you hurt?" she asked frantically, hugging them both.

"No—we're okay," Ava sobbed.

"We were so scared, Mom. We didn't know if you'd find us." Elliot cried.

Morgan pulled off her coat and wrapped it around Ava then grabbed both of them.

"I've got you. We're going home."

They began to run, Morgan steering them toward a side door she'd seen earlier, avoiding the main halls where the team was still sweeping.

But they didn't make it far.

A metal clang. Heavy footsteps. And then, from the shadows, four men emerged.

One of them smiled coldly. "Going somewhere?"

Morgan froze, pulling her children behind her. "Stay back," she warned, placing herself between the men and her kids.

"Run! Go, now!" Morgan shouted.

Ava and Elliot hesitated, screaming through tears. "Mom, no!"

"Run!" she repeated, voice breaking. "I'll find you again, I promise—GO!"

Terrified, they obeyed, darting into the shadows as Morgan turned to face the abductors.

They closed in. Morgan didn't scream. Didn't beg.

She just stared them down.

And then they grabbed her.

—

Meanwhile, Karadec was storming through the second level when his comm crackled.

"We found the kids!" one of the agents yelled. "I repeat—we've got Ava and Elliot. They're safe."

Karadec spun. Relief flashed through him like lightning. He sprinted to the voice, rounding the corner to find them in the arms of another officer.

They spotted him instantly.

"Karadec!" Ava cried, running to him.

He knelt and caught them both, arms tight around them. Ava sobbed against his chest while Elliot clung to his shoulder.

"You're safe now," he said fiercely. "You're safe."

But Ava pulled back, her face streaked with tears.

"They took her," she whispered. "They took mom."

"What?" he gasped.

"They grabbed her!" Elliot added. "She told us to run and they—they took her instead."

Karadec went cold, mind racing with panic.

"No," he said, backing up a step. "No, no, no—"

He turned to the agents. "Everyone! All teams, Morgan's been taken! Shut every exit! Lock down the perimeter now!"

The command snapped through the comms like gunfire. Agents surged into action, officers sealing exits and sweeping vehicles.

But it was already too late.

By the time Karadec burst through the doors to the loading dock, the last black SUV was peeling away down the gravel path, its tires spitting up dust as it sped toward the tree line.

"Stop the car!" he barked, raising his weapon. He opened fire.

Oz and two LAPD officers joined him, unleashing a volley of gunshots. Bullets slammed into the rear of the SUV, glass shattered, metal crunched, but the vehicle didn't stop.

It kept going. Relentless.

They emptied their clips, but the SUV vanished into the woods like a ghost.

Karadec sprinted after it, yelling into his radio for a perimeter block, for anything—but he already knew.

It was gone.

He skidded to a halt at the edge of the clearing, chest heaving, gun still trembling in his grip. His fists clenched. He stood in silence, fury pulsing beneath his skin like a second heartbeat.

Oz caught up, panting. "We missed them."

Karadec didn't speak. He just stared at the road, fury boiling under his skin.

—

Back at the park, Ludo fell to his knees as Ava and Elliot ran into his arms.

He hugged them tightly, overwhelmed with relief.

Until Ava looked up at him with tear-streaked cheeks and said, "They took Mom."

"What?" Ludo's voice cracked, panic flooding his features. "What do you mean—what do you mean they took her?!"

He stood up abruptly, eyes scanning the field. "Is it true?" he demanded, turning to Karadec and the nearest officers. "They took Morgan? Tell me she's not—please, tell me she's not—"

Karadec didn't answer right away. His jaw was tight, his face grim.

Selena stepped forward quickly, placing a hand on Ludo's shoulder. "Ludo, we're going to find her. I promise. But we need you to stay calm."

Karadec was already tapping his comms. "Ronnie, do you have eyes on the SUV? Can we track it?"

"We're on it. Working with local traffic cams and satellite. Give us a minute." Ronnie's voice crackled through the comms.

Selena turned to Karadec. "We need to regroup. We'll have a better shot finding her from the field office, with full comms and coordination."

Karadec didn't argue, but his eyes were wild. His concerning silence tells that he was barely keeping it together.

"Karadec," Selena said more firmly, "you need to be sharp. You want to find Morgan? Then get your head on straight. Let's move."

She turned to the rest of the team. "Everyone—back to the FBI field office. Now."

They obeyed without hesitation.

Then she turned to Ludo. "You're staying in custody with LAPD for now. It's the safest place for you and the kids."

Ludo looked torn, like he wanted to argue, but Ava clung to his arm and Elliot looked pale with fear.

He nodded silently, hugging them both again as the agents rushed into action around them.