Owen: Gearing up now. What's our target?

Striker's next, and I know he's already packing his sniper kit.

Callum: Roger that.

Maverick's response is last but just as swift.

Jace: Chopper prepped and ready. Where to?

I take a deep breath, steeling myself for what's to come. This is why we formed Raven V. This is why I chose these men. This is what we've trained for.

But this time, it's personal.

Kenzie's life is on the line, and I'll be damned if I let anything happen to her.

My jaw clenches as I type out one more message.

Everett: Rendezvous at the Nest in 30. Full tactical gear. This is not a drill.

I slip the phone into my back pocket and march inside to my office. My mind races, formulating plans, considering angles, and thinking through every possible scenario.

This is Everett Logan in mission mode. The doubts and fears from earlier are pushed aside, replaced by a laser focus on the task at hand.

I'm not just Everett anymore. I'm Ghost, leader of Raven V. I'm about to show Ian and anyone else involved why you don't fuck with us.

The next hour is a blur of activity. The team arrives in record time.

Callum, our sniper, is setting up a command center in my office, meticulously organizing gear and laying out intelligence maps. Jace, our pilot, is prepping for aerial surveillance, checking equipment, and ensuring the chopper is mission-ready.

Our tactical expert, Owen coordinates with local law enforcement, gathers intel, and strategizes the best approach. And Axton, our demolitions and heavy weapons expert, is stationed at the door, keeping watch. His eyes scan the surroundings, alert and ready to act as a protective barrier for the rest of us.

And through it all, I'm a man possessed.

Every lead, every scrap of information is scrutinized. We comb through traffic cam footage, interview witnesses, and search every inch of Silver Ridge and the surrounding area.

But as the hours tick by with no sign of Kenzie, desperation starts to set in. What if we're too late? What if I've lost her for good?

As night falls, I find myself on the porch, staring out at the mountains. A couple of weeks ago, Kenzie and I sat in that swing, looking at that view. Planning for our future.

Vacations. A larger garden for Hazel, where she could plant vibrant flowers and create her own little paradise. An art studio for Harper, a sunlit space filled with brushes, canvases, and the colors of her imagination.

I remember the evening Kenzie and I sat on the porch, sharing a bottle of wine. I asked her what she envisioned for our future and what she wanted most now that she had her new start.

Her smile caught me off guard. “I already have it,” she said, her eyes sparkling with conviction.

For a moment, time stood still as I grasped the depth of her words. She wasn’t just talking about dreams. She was expressing her love for me and the girls. In that fleeting moment, we had it all, and I almost ruined it because of some fucking rumors.

I don't fucking deserve her. But damn it, she's mine, and I'm not letting some fucker cut our time short over some bullshit.

God…if you give me another chance. I won't fuck it up.

I'll give her everything on this side of heaven.

I'll drop down to hell if that's what it takes to have her back.

"Boss, we're ready," Axton says, coming to stand beside me. "We'll find her. You know that, right?"

I nod, not trusting myself to speak. Because the truth is, I don't know.