Ryder had been alone in the shadowy room all day, his thoughts a chaotic storm of grief and anger. The shocking revelations about Vaughn had left him reeling, and the silence only amplified his torment. Outside, Axel and his team were huddled, their voices low but urgent as they discussed their next steps.
“What now?” Ethan asked, his brow furrowed with concern. “We’ve laid it all out for him. What’s our move?”
Axel glanced toward the room where Ryder was, his expression grim. “We wait. He needs time to process everything. But we can’t wait too long. Vaughn’s not going to sit idle.”
As the conversation continued, the door to the room creaked open. Ryder emerged, his eyes red and swollen from hours of crying. His face was a mask of exhaustion and sorrow. The group fell silent, turning their attention to him.
“I want to speak with Vaughn,” Ryder said, his voice raw and shaky.
Axel shook his head. “That’s not a good idea, Ryder. He’ll manipulate you, twist everything around. We need to be smart about this.”
Ryder’s shoulders slumped. “I just want to go home to my kids. I’ve had enough.”
Axel stepped forward, his expression earnest. “I get it, man. But if we don’t take Vaughn down, no one’s safe. Not you, not your kids. Vaughn won’t stop until he’s got everything he wants.”
Ryder looked away, the weight of his despair nearly crushing him. “What do you want from me, Axel?”
Axel took a deep breath, his voice gaining intensity as he spoke. “Listen, Ryder. I know you’re hurting. We all are. But Vaughn has been a shadow over our lives for too long. I lost my entire team in Somalia because of his schemes. The woman I loved was taken from me. Vaughn isn’t just a threat; he’s a plague that destroys everything in its path. But we have a chance to fight back. We have the strength, the resolve, and the right. If we don’t act now, we’re letting him win. We’re letting him tear apart everything we hold dear. I know it’s hard. I know you want to go home. But sometimes, standing up and fighting is the only way to protect what matters most. We’re fighting not just for ourselves but for everyone who’s been hurt by Vaughn’s cruelty. For every person he’s destroyed.”
Ryder’s eyes locked onto Axel’s, and a flicker of resolve began to form amidst the pain. “I’ll join you. But I need you to promise me something.”
“Anything,” Axel said immediately.
“Make sure my kids are safe. Hidden from Vaughn. Before we do anything, I need to know they’re out of his reach.”
Axel nodded solemnly. “We’ll do that tonight. Your kids will be safe, I promise.”
Ryder gave a small, weary nod. The decision was made, and the weight of it settled heavily on his shoulders. But amidst the grief and anger, a spark of determination flickered. They would face Vaughn together, and this time, they would be ready.
###################
Lucas and Emma pulled up to the warehouse safe house as night descended over the city. Lucas exited the car, moving swiftly but carefully as he unbuckled Emma and lifted her out of the vehicle. He carried her protectively into the safe house, the heavy door creaking open to reveal the dimly lit interior.
Inside, the air was filled with a tense mix of relief and exhaustion. The White Widow lay on a makeshift bed, her abdomen tightly bandaged from the wounds she sustained during their fight with Barone Ferro. Her eyes flickered open as the door creaked, immediately finding Sophia and then settling on the small figure Lucas carried.
“Sophia!” Emma’s voice broke the silence as she wriggled free from Lucas’s arms and ran toward her aunt. Sophia dropped to her knees, catching Emma in a tight embrace, tears streaming down her face.
YOU ARE READING
G.H.O.S.T.S
Ação"G.H.O.S.T.S" Ryder's exit from the army is a silent retreat from the cacophony of war, a step back from the precipice of a life spent in service. The agency, a beacon in the aftermath of his military career, offers him a chance to redirect his expe...
