Chapter 45: Chapter 45

The jungle pulsed with tension, a living beast under the moonlight. Searchlights scoured the dense foliage, drones hummed in the sky, and command outposts crackled with constant updates. Victoria Langley stood at the center of it all, her  eyes cold and unyielding.

A map flickered in front of her, detailing every known escape route, rebel hideout, and recent engagement zones. But the one thing she needed most—Jamie Lancaster’s location—remained elusive.

Her fingers tapped against the table. Impatient. Frustrated. Angry.

"Where is she?" Her voice was a low snarl, directed at the intelligence officers huddled around her.

Esteban shifted uneasily, his arm still wrapped in fresh bandages from his encounter with Solomon Kane. "We’ve been sweeping every possible escape route. Jamie couldn’t have gone far—"

"Not fast enough," Victoria snapped. "I want every possible lead followed. Turn this jungle upside down if you have to."

The officer hesitated. "Ma’am, if we focus entirely on Jamie, we risk losing track of the remaining rebels—"

After giving a ultimatum to her officer, She turned her glare to one of her tech officers. "Initiate full-area surveillance. Satellite, drones, infrared scans. I don’t care if we have to set this entire jungle on fire."

A tech officer hesitated before speaking. "If we focus too much on Jamie, we risk giving the rebels time to regroup."

Victoria's glare cut through the room like a knife. "I don’t care. Find her. Now."

Everyone scrambled into action.

Jamie Lancaster would be found—even if Victoria had to burn the entire jungle down to do it because she  understood that Jamie Lancaster wasn’t just another fugitive. She was a Lancaster, and if there was one thing Victoria had learned over the years, it was that the Lancaster family never went down quietly.

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Alejandro’s Arrival at the SEALs Camp

Alejandro staggered into the SEALs' forward base, his clothes torn, his body bruised. He had made it out of hell—but at a terrible cost.

Two SEAL medics immediately grabbed him, laying him down on a stretcher. One of them checked his wounds. "Jesus, you look like you crawled through fire."

Alejandro chuckled weakly. "Felt like it, too."

Commander Jack Turner stepped forward, arms crossed, studying him with a sharp gaze. "Who the hell are you?"

Alejandro’s breath was ragged, but his mind was sharp. "Someone who needs your help."

Jack frowned. "We’re not in the business of picking sides in a civil war."

Alejandro smirked. "Maybe you’ll change your mind when you hear what I have to say."

Jack raised an eyebrow. "Go on."

Alejandro took a deep breath and spoke one name.

The entire room fell silent.

David Lancaster, who had been standing nearby, stiffened. His heart pounded in his chest as he stepped forward, eyes locked onto Alejandro.

"Solomon Kane?" His voice was urgent, demanding. "You saw him?"

Alejandro nodded slowly. "Yes. And your daughter, Jamie."

David felt his world tilt.

"She’s alive?" His voice was almost a whisper.

"Yes. Solomon is protecting her," Alejandro confirmed.

David closed his eyes for a brief moment, his hands clenching into fists. Relief, fear, determination—all crashed into him at once.

Then, he turned to Jack Turner.

"You have to help us," David said, his voice unwavering. "Victoria is hunting my daughter. If we don’t act now, she’ll never escape."

Jack hesitated. His expression was unreadable as he processed the weight of the request.

"David…" he exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "You’re asking me to go against Victoria Langley. She represents the United States government. If we interfere, we’re putting ourselves in direct opposition to—"

"To a tyrant," David interrupted. His voice was fierce, desperate, and unwavering. "She doesn’t care about the government. She cares about power. You’ve seen what she’s willing to do—what she’s already done."

Jack was silent. He knew David was right. But he also knew what it would mean.

Going against Victoria wasn’t just a mission—it was treason.

David saw the hesitation in Jack’s eyes. For the first time in years, Jack Turner looked uncertain.

And that was when David felt his own hesitation rise.

Jack though being his commander was also one of  his closest friend, the man he had trusted with his life. If even Jack was uncertain, then was David really making the right call?

His mind was at war with itself.

Calling his father—Admiral Henry Lancaster—was a step he had sworn never to take. Their relationship had been broken for years. His father had opposed his marriage to Beth, had resented his choices, had never accepted his decisions.

David had cut all ties with the Admiral.

Now, he wasn’t just David Lancaster, the estranged son.

He was a father. And his daughter needed him.

David felt his body tremble ever so slightly—until his eyes caught something.

His wife was standing there, her hands clasped together. Her eyes pleaded with him.

Then, he looked to Sophia, his sister.

And to Ryan, his closest friend.

They weren’t pleading—they were encouraging him.

Telling him, through their silent gazes, that he had to do what was right.

David breathed in sharply—and made his decision.

He turned toward the secure comms terminal.

And dialed the one number he had promised never to call again.

The line connected instantly.

A deep, commanding voice answered.

"This is Admiral Henry Lancaster."

David’s throat went dry. He swallowed, forcing himself to speak.

A long, heavy silence followed.

Then, Henry Lancaster spoke, his voice edged with cold steel.

"I was under the impression my son wanted nothing to do with me."

David exhaled slowly. "This isn’t about us. It’s about Jamie."

The silence on the other end of the line changed. The coldness was gone—replaced with something far more dangerous.

"Explain," Henry ordered.

David quickly laid everything out—Victoria’s pursuit, the political corruption, Jamie’s life hanging in the balance.

When he finished, the silence stretched for several seconds.

Then, a low, dark chuckle came through the line.

"Let me get this straight," Henry said, his voice dangerously calm. "I’ve been out here fighting elves, losing good men, keeping humanity from being wiped out—and those politicians think they can go after my granddaughter?"

Then, the explosion came.

"Commander Turner!" Henry’s voice boomed through the line.

Jack snapped to attention, standing straight. "Yes, Admiral!"

Henry’s voice was fierce, unrelenting.

"You will bring back my granddaughter. At any cost."

Jack finally grinned. He turned to his men, his decision finally made.

Henry grunted approvingly. "Good. Because the United States Navy does not leave its own behind."

David let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.

Jack looked at him, then at Beth, Sophia, and Ryan.

"Get ready," he said. "We're going after Jamie."

Outside, the SEALs mobilized, weapons checked, vehicles prepped.

And in that moment, the war shifted.