Twisted Veil of Devotion

Part 15

Ryan POV

The moment we received the confirmation—the location where the helicopter had been tracked to—I knew time had finally run out. The FBI and police forces were already mobilizing, ready to move in. But I wasn't waiting for backup. I couldn't.

Stella had been gone too long. Every second that passed felt like an eternity, and with each minute, the fear in my chest grew heavier. But this time, I had something the other teams didn't—something that kept me from falling apart: knowledge. I knew who had taken her. I knew the danger she was in.

Zane Cavallaro.

The name tasted bitter in my mouth, but it was all I had to hold onto. His compound, hidden in the middle of nowhere, was our destination now. The thought of what Stella was enduring there—alone, trapped in the belly of the beast—made my blood boil.

As we approached the compound, my instincts were screaming. There was something about this place, something so carefully hidden and so tightly controlled, that sent chills down my spine. The guards patrolling the perimeter were well-trained, alert, and looking for anyone who dared to approach. I felt their eyes on me as we made our way closer, but I kept my head down, maintaining the calm exterior I needed to stay focused.

"Ryan," Agent Hayes said, his voice low as we passed the security checkpoint. "The team is set. We go in fast and quiet, got it?"

I nodded, not looking at him. "I'm not waiting. I'm going in alone."

The agent shot me a sharp look. "You're not going in without backup."

I didn't argue. He was right—disrupting Zane's operation required precision, not reckless heroics. But my mind wasn't on the plan. It was on Stella.

We crept closer to the compound, the towering walls growing more imposing with each step. It looked more like a fortress than a home, built to keep everything and everyone out. I'd already memorized the layout, marked every entry point. But still, something told me I wouldn't find it as easy as I imagined. This wasn't just some hideout. This was Zane's domain. His kingdom.

The last piece of the puzzle slid into place when we came upon the final stretch of the compound. The mansion loomed ahead, its ornate architecture taunting the chaos that simmered beneath. The place reeked of power, of money—everything Zane was.

"I'm taking the left flank," I said to Agent Hayes. "You take the right. We'll converge on the main house."

"Roger that. We move now."

As I sprinted toward the shadows, my thoughts kept returning to Stella. She was in there. She was close. I could feel it.

And no matter what it took, I was bringing her home.

The explosion of gunfire echoed through the air as the police and military forces stormed Zane's compound. We had the numbers, the strength, and the element of surprise. Zane's men were scattered, outnumbered, and soon enough, their resistance crumbled under the sheer force of the assault. I could feel the satisfaction of progress, of finally closing in on the monster who had stolen Stella from me.

But when we breached the compound and searched every room, every dark corner of the mansion, it hit me like a gut punch: Zane and Stella were nowhere to be found.

The house was empty, almost eerily so. There was no sign of them—nothing. It was as if they had vanished into thin air, just when we thought we had him.

A mix of frustration and dread swirled in my chest, but I had no time to dwell on it. Zane's men were still a threat, and the military was busy rounding them up, collecting whatever information they could. My focus was entirely on finding Stella, and it was only a matter of time before we got someone to talk.