Chapter 40 Elijah
Chapter forty
Elijah
“Does Ava know she has a tracking device on her?” Sebastian’s voice cuts through the room, stopping me in my tracks.
I’ve been pacing the length of the tactical space since I arrived, trying to outrun the anxiety crawling up my spine.
I look up and meet his eyes—my best friend, my brother—and shake my head.
“We need to be ready to move the moment we get a location,” Kai says, all security director, focus and authority.
“We’ll need weapons and gear to breach wherever they’re holding her,” I add, scanning the faces in the room.
“I appreciate everything you’re doing for me,” I continue, my voice firm, “but I can’t ask you to come with me.
This is too dangerous. We don’t know how many men we’re dealing with or how well-armed they are.
You all have families, responsibilities.
I won’t risk your lives for something that’s mine to fix. Ava is my responsibility.”
The room falls silent. Eyes lock on me—some wide, some unreadable. Kade gives me a look I’m not sure I want to interpret. Kaleb, beside him, stares at the floor, shaking his head with a small, knowing smile.
But it’s Gabriel who steps forward, planting himself in front of me, eyes steady.
“If you seriously think I’m going to stand back while you go rescue my little sister—because Ava is my sister—then you’ve clearly lost your goddamn mind,” he says, his voice low but unwavering.
“And like you just reminded us all, we’re family here.
All of us. So let me make this crystal clear: we are not letting you go in alone. Not now. Not ever.”
I glance toward Sebastian, managing the faintest trace of a smile.
“You’re really going to let him talk to me like that?”
Sebastian shrugs. “When he’s right, he’s right. And this time? He’s dead on. So stop with the noble sacrifice crap and let’s gear up.”
He turns to Kai and Keller. “Can you show us where we can find more weapons?”
“Absolutely,” Kai grins. “Time to hit the toy store, boys.”
“I’ll stay back, be your eyes and ears,” Kade says, standing and pulling me into a firm hug. “Ethan’s already working on pulling the building’s blueprints once we lock down the location.”
He turns to Sebastian. “Did you bring my girl?”
“Yeah. She’s in your office, waiting. She’s worried,” Sebastian replies gently.
“I’m going to say goodbye to my princess,” Kaleb says, and with a glance at Keller and Kai, the three head out.
“Wait near the elevator at the end of the hall on the right,” Keller calls over his shoulder.
“What’s that about?” I ask Sebastian.
He just shakes his head and keeps walking.
Hang in there, baby, I repeat the words over and over like a silent prayer. I’m coming for you.
***
In less than five minutes, the guys are back. We step into the elevator, and yes, it’s massive. Easily big enough to hold six guys, all over six-three and built like linebackers, without anyone having to squeeze.
As soon as we’re inside, Kai pulls out a sleek access card and swipes it through a panel on the wall. A calm, slightly robotic female voice responds.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Kingston. What can I do for you?”
“Good afternoon, K.A.L.I,” Kai says smoothly. “Take us to The Den, please.”
“Of course,” the voice replies, cool, polished, like something straight out of an Avengers movie.
The elevator hums to life and begins its descent.
“Incredible how far technology’s come,” Gabriel says, glancing around as the walls flicker with faint interface lights.
Kai nods. “Yeah, and we make sure we’ve got the best of it. Keller and I keep everything upgraded. Cutting-edge security, bleeding-edge tech. Nothing less. Our lives, and others, depend on it.”
“Gentlemen, step up to the panel so K.A.L.I can scan your faces and log your full names,” Keller instructs.
“The system won’t grant access to the armory without both biometric ID and our confirmation.
It detects how many people enter the elevator and the anteroom.
If they fail to identify themselves and are not confirmed by members of our team, the armory remains locked and an external alert is triggered to signal a possible intrusion. ”
We follow his lead, taking turns standing before the sleek glass panel. A soft blue light sweeps across each of our faces as we state our names. Once Kai verifies our identities, there’s a low hiss, followed by a deep metallic click—like a vault unlocking.
A massive door swings open with the weighty groan of reinforced steel.
“This is more secure than the Pentagon,” Gabriel mutters under his breath.
Judging by the serious looks exchanged around the room, he might be right.
As we step through the threshold, the air changes instantly.
The room swallows our footsteps. The walls are covered in a thick, matte-black material that drinks up sound, muting even our breathing. It feels like walking into a vacuum—soundproof, sterile, and somehow sacred. A place built not just for war, but for precision.
The space is massive, bigger than I expected, and every inch of it screams control and readiness.
Along the walls, built-in cabinets line the perimeter, their solid, bulletproof glass gleaming under the soft, cold lights.
Behind them, weapons are arranged with almost obsessive precision—each piece military-grade, perfectly cleaned, and waiting.
My eyes scan the arsenal. I immediately recognize the familiar silhouettes of M4A1 carbines, their attachments pre-installed for rapid deployment.
Silenced Heckler I know the SUVs are modified too. Probably reinforced chassis, bullet-resistant glass, maybe a few surprises under the hood.
We split up, three vehicles, tight formation. The garage doors open in perfect sync, and we roll out like we’re heading straight into a war zone.
Because maybe we are.
This feels bigger than a rescue. This feels like the first shot in something much larger.
And whatever we’re about to unleash—I have a feeling none of us are ready for it.