New THE DOCTOR LOOKED AT THE ULTRASOUND, TURNED PALE, AND ASKED ME SOMETHING THAT MADE MY BLOOD RUN COLD: “MA’AM… IS YOUR HUSBAND HERE?”

The clinic’s overhead lights flickered as a sudden storm began to batter the windows outside. The atmosphere inside the small recovery ward grew increasingly tense.

"We need to move Daniel," Detective Vance said, checking his service weapon. "Carlos isn't coming alone. If he realizes the drive has been extracted, he will go to any length to retrieve it. This drive is worth tens of millions of dollars on the black market."

"Move him? He just came out of major abdominal surgery!" Dr. Evans protested. "Any sudden movement could cause internal bleeding!"

"If he stays here, he dies," Vance countered. "Carlos has resources. We have local police units en route, but the storm is slowing them down. We have to secure the boy now."

Suddenly, the clinic's fire alarms began to blare. A deafening shriek echoed through the hallways, accompanied by the flashing of strobes. Over the intercom, a panicked receptionist’s voice cut through: "Code Red. Intruder in the south lobby. Everyone stay in your rooms—"

The feed cut out with a harsh burst of static.

"He's here," I whispered, clutching my chest.

"Elena, take this," Vance said, handing me a small, encrypted burner phone. "Dr. Evans, help me get the boy onto a mobile gurney. We’re going to use the service elevator to get to the basement garage. There’s a transport van waiting."

We rushed into the recovery room. Daniel was pale, his eyes fluttering open as the loud alarms disrupted his sedation. "Mommy? What's that noise?"

"It's okay, baby. We're going on an adventure, remember?" I tried to keep my voice sweet, but my hands were shaking violently as I helped Dr. Evans unhook the IV lines.

We wheeled the gurney out into the secondary corridor just as the heavy doors at the end of the hallway were blown off their hinges with a concussive blast.

Two men in tactical gear, faces covered in balaclavas, stepped through the smoke. Behind them walked Carlos. He wasn't wearing his usual corporate suit. He wore a heavy tactical vest, and in his hand, he held a silenced pistol. His eyes, cold and dead, locked onto me.

"Elena," Carlos said, his voice echoing over the blaring alarms. "Give me the boy. And give me what belongs to me."

"He is your son!" I screamed, standing in front of the gurney, shielding Daniel with my own body. "How could you do this to him? He was dying because of you!"

"He was serving a purpose," Carlos said coldly, taking a step forward. "Something you’ve never managed to do. Now, step aside. I don't want to have to replace you earlier than planned."