Chapter 13
The night air was crisp and clear as the tactical team moved into position around Kraslov's estate. Walker checked his gear one final time, the familiarity of pre-mission routine steadying his nerves.
Reed's voice came through the comm in his ear. "Teams in position. Beta team has eyes on the target. He's in the main house, east wing."
"Roger that," Walker replied. "Ready on your go."
The plan was straightforward—infiltrate the estate, secure Kraslov, extract with minimal engagement. Reed's intelligence suggested the State Department official was preparing to flee with critical evidence. They couldn't allow that to happen.
"Execute in three... two... one... Go."
Walker moved forward with the team, his movements silent and precise. Years of SEAL training had prepared him for exactly this kind of operation. The perimeter security was sophisticated but not impenetrable—especially with the access codes Reed's team had acquired.
They breached the outer fence without issue, splitting into three teams as planned. Walker led Alpha team toward the main house while Beta covered the grounds and Gamma secured their exit route.
The mansion loomed ahead, dark except for lights in the east wing as reported. Walker signaled his team to maintain silence as they approached the terrace doors.
The lock mechanism yielded to their electronic override. Walker entered first, weapon ready, senses hyperalert to any movement or sound. The others followed, fanning out to secure the immediate area.
"Clear," came the whispered confirmation from each team member.
They moved deeper into the house, following the blueprint Reed had obtained. According to intelligence, Kraslov would be in his study, preparing documents for his escape.
As they neared the east wing, Walker heard voices—Kraslov and someone else, arguing in hushed tones.
"We need to move now," the unknown voice insisted. "They're closing in."
"I need ten more minutes," Kraslov replied. "The transfer isn't complete."
Walker signaled his team to hold position while he edged closer to the partially open door, trying to identify the second voice. Something about it seemed familiar.
"...can't risk it," the voice continued. "Star's team is too close."
Walker's blood ran cold as recognition hit. Thomas.
He quickly relayed the information to Reed through their secure channel. "Secondary target confirmed on site. Proceeding with extraction."
Reed's acknowledgment came immediately. "Understood. Be advised—local authorities have been alerted to a potential security breach at a diplomatic residence. Timeline compressed. You have seven minutes."
Walker signaled the countdown to his team. On his mark, they breached the study door, weapons trained on the two men inside.
"William Kraslov," Walker announced, "you're being detained on suspicion of treason, conspiracy, and murder."
Kraslov froze behind his desk, while Thomas immediately reached for his weapon.
Walker trained his gun on the former security guard. "Don't," he advised coldly. "You won't make it."
Thomas's eyes narrowed with hatred, but he raised his hands slowly.
"Secure them," Walker ordered his team.
As agents moved to handcuff the two men, Walker approached Kraslov's computer, still active on the desk.
"The evidence is being uploaded to a secure server," he noted, quickly assessing what he was seeing. "We need this."
One of the tech specialists moved forward, plugging in a device to capture the data. "Got it. Copying now."
Kraslov finally broke his silence. "You have no authority. This is a diplomatic residence. You're committing a federal offense."
Walker smiled without humor, then moved forward and jammed his fist into the man’s gut. "Tell it to the judge. I'm sure they'll be very interested in your explanations for the deaths of Robert Star and Frank Clark, among others."
The color drained from Kraslov's face. "You have nothing," he choked out.
"We have everything," Walker corrected. "Including your recent communications with Alpine Holdings—your shadow operation funneling technology to the highest bidders."
Outside, sirens became audible in the distance.
"Time to go," Walker instructed his team. "Package secured."
They moved efficiently, escorting their prisoners through the house toward their extraction point.
As they reached the rear gardens, a black SUV pulled up, Reed at the wheel.
"Local authorities two minutes out," he reported as they loaded Kraslov and Thomas into the vehicle. "Second team will handle them. We need to move."
Walker climbed in beside his brother as the rest of the tactical team dispersed according to plan.
Within moments, they were driving away from the estate, leaving behind a carefully orchestrated scene for local police to discover—one that would trigger the proper federal protocols without compromising their operation.
"Did we get everything?" Walker asked as they drove.
Reed nodded. "The data from his computer confirms the financial connections. Combined with what Sabrina found, we have enough to bury him."
Walker glanced at Kraslov in the rearview mirror. The man who had orchestrated so much death, who had torn apart their families, looked smaller somehow—just a man, not the shadow that had haunted them for years.
"Take us back," Walker said quietly.
The drive back to the airfield where their helicopter waited was tense but uneventful. Walker's thoughts kept returning to Sabrina, waiting at the safe house, unaware yet that they had succeeded.
As they boarded the helicopter, Reed secured their prisoners while Walker made the call he'd been waiting to make.
"It's done," he told Henry when the call connected. "We have them both. Tell Sabrina we're coming back."
Henry's reply was lost in the roar of the helicopter's engines spinning up, but the relief in his voice had been clear.
They were airborne within minutes, flying back toward the Canadian border. Walker kept his attention on their prisoners, particularly Thomas, whose calculating eyes suggested he hadn't given up looking for an escape.
"You know it won't end with us," Thomas said suddenly, his voice pitched just loud enough for Walker to hear over the helicopter noise. "The Shepherd has contingencies you haven't even imagined."
Walker leaned closer, eyes cold. "Kraslov is the Shepherd. Game over."
Thomas's smile chilled Walker's blood. "Is that what you think?"
Before Walker could respond, the helicopter lurched violently. Warning lights flashed on the control panel as the pilot fought to maintain stability.
"What's happening?" Reed demanded.
"Engine failure!" the pilot shouted back. "We're losing altitude!"
Walker's training kicked in instantly. "Brace for impact!"
He secured his harness, checked that their prisoners were restrained, and mentally mapped their position. They were over forested terrain, maybe fifteen miles from the border.
The helicopter's descent accelerated, the ground rushing up through the darkness. Walker's last conscious thought before impact was of Sabrina—her smile, her touch, the promise in her eyes when he'd left.
The crash came with shattering force. Metal screamed against wood as the helicopter tore through the forest canopy. Walker felt the brutal jolt of impact, then nothing.