CHAPTER 195
LUCAS'S POV
The firefight that followed lasted exactly seven minutes and changed everything about how the world saw anti-trafficking work. What started as a trap designed to eliminate us quietly became an international incident when legitimate federal agents arrived to find a jungle clearing filled with the bodies of mercenaries who'd been hired to kill humanitarian workers.
I crouched behind a fallen log, providing covering fire while Skylar moved through the undergrowth with lethal precision, when the real rescue helicopter appeared on the horizon. This one flew with federal markings, proper approach protocols, and communication frequencies that matched our actual emergency contacts.
"Ground team, this is actual federal extraction. We show hostile fire at your position."
"Confirmed hostile fire," I replied, ducking as bullets splintered the tree bark above my head. "Multiple professional combatants, military-grade equipment, attempting to eliminate humanitarian personnel."
"Copy that. Federal agents inbound, full tactical response authorized."
Through the jungle, I could see Harry advancing on the fake rescue helicopter while Jax coordinated with Skylar to eliminate the sniper positions that had us pinned down. Our years of working together showed in every movement - we fought like a single organism with four bodies.
But we also fought like people who had everything to lose and no intention of dying in a foreign jungle while our children waited at home.
"Tango down," Skylar's voice was cold and professional as she eliminated another threat. "Moving to secondary position."
"Contact right," Harry called, engaging targets that were trying to flank our position. "These aren't local security - someone paid serious money for this operation."
The arrival of actual federal agents changed the tactical situation completely. Suddenly our enemies found themselves caught between professional law enforcement and four very motivated targets who'd been fighting for their lives.
"Federal agents! Drop your weapons!"
The voice boomed through the jungle with the authority of legitimate government power, and I could see the confusion spreading through the mercenary positions. They'd been hired to eliminate us quietly, not to engage in a running battle with federal task forces.
"Stand down immediately or face lethal force!"
Some of the mercenaries began withdrawing, recognizing that their mission had become impossible. Others continued fighting, either out of professional commitment or because they understood they were already too compromised to survive capture.
"Claire," Skylar's voice cut through the comm channel that had been used to coordinate the ambush. "Your extraction window is closing."
"What makes you think I need extraction?"
"Because you're not stupid enough to stick around for the federal investigation that's about to dissect this entire operation."
Through my scope, I could see movement near the tree line - someone in civilian clothes moving away from the combat zone with the purposeful stride of someone who'd planned their escape route well in advance.
"Last chance," Skylar continued. "Surrender now and maybe you get witness protection instead of a life sentence."
"Surrender to what? The same system that's been covering up trafficking for decades? The same government agencies that take money to look the other way?"
"Surrender to people who actually want to save children instead of profit from their suffering."
"You still don't understand, do you? This isn't about good versus evil. This is about accepting reality versus chasing impossible dreams."
The gunfire was tapering off as federal agents secured the perimeter and surviving mercenaries either escaped or surrendered. But I could feel that this conversation between Skylar and Claire was heading toward something that would define how we moved forward.
"What reality?" Skylar asked.
"The reality that human trafficking generates more revenue than most legitimate industries. The reality that governments depend on that revenue through taxes and bribes. The reality that you can rescue individual victims, but you can't change the economic systems that make their exploitation profitable."
"Watch me."
The two words carried such absolute conviction that I felt a chill run down my spine. This wasn't just Skylar refusing to accept defeat - this was her declaring war on the entire infrastructure that made trafficking possible.
"Federal agents securing the area," the legitimate rescue team reported. "Ground team, prepare for extraction."
"Copy that," I replied, but I was still focused on Skylar's conversation with the ghost from our past.
"Skylar," Claire's voice carried what sounded like genuine regret. "You have three children who need their mother. Don't let your need to save everyone else's children make them orphans."
"My children are going to grow up in a world where their mother fought for what was right instead of accepting what was convenient."
"Your children are going to grow up with a target on their backs because of your refusal to compromise."
"Then I'll teach them to shoot straight."
The federal extraction went smoothly after that, professional agents escorting us to helicopters that would take us to debriefing sessions and eventually home. But as we lifted off from the jungle clearing where we'd nearly died, I couldn't escape the feeling that we'd won this battle while losing something more important.
"Media's already picking up the story," one of the federal agents informed us during the flight. "American humanitarian workers attacked by unknown mercenaries while investigating trafficking reports."
"How much detail?" Skylar asked.
"Enough to make you heroes. Not enough to compromise operational security."
"And the investigation?"
"Will focus on who hired the mercenaries and why they wanted you eliminated. Should generate significant support for expanded anti-trafficking funding."
I watched Skylar process this information, seeing her calculate how to use the publicity to advance our mission. But I also saw something else in her expression - the cold determination of someone who'd decided that half-measures were no longer acceptable.
"There's something else," the agent continued. "Three governments have formally requested meetings about expanded cooperation. They want to discuss giving your foundation broader investigative authority."
"What kind of authority?" Harry asked.
"The kind that would make operations like today's completely legal and officially sanctioned."
As we flew toward whatever came next, I realized that our near-death experience in the Thai jungle had accomplished something we'd never managed through legitimate channels. It had proven that anti-trafficking work was dangerous enough to require serious government support.
But looking at Skylar's face as she stared out at the landscape below, I wondered if that support would be enough to satisfy someone who'd just declared war on an entire industry.
Or if we'd simply acquired the legal authority to become something even more dangerous than we'd been in our criminal days.
The question was whether our children would thank us for making the world safer, or curse us for making their lives infinitely more complicated.
But watching the jungle disappear beneath us, I realized that choice had been made the moment we'd decided to fight instead of surrender.
We were committed now, for better or worse.
All that remained was discovering whether love really could survive the kind of war we were about to wage.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
