The team assembled at noon. We drove to the Hamptons in separate vehicles, staying in contact via encrypted phones.
The plan was simple as simple as these things could be.
3:30 PM: Approach the estate from three different directions.
3:45 PM: Breach the perimeter. Team One heads for the girls. Team Two secures the exit routes.
4:00 PM: Extract all targets.
4:15 PM: Vehicles depart for the safe house.
4:20 PM: FBI receives the call.
Simple. Clean. Precise.
In theory.
At 3:25 PM, we were in position outside the estate.
Connor's voice came through the comms. "Everyone ready?"
A chorus of confirmations.
"Isabella?"
I took a deep breath. Thought about Sofia. About the promise I'd made her. About the girls waiting inside that estate.
"I'm ready."
"Then let's go save some lives."
We moved toward the estate, and I said a silent prayer.
For the girls. For my team. For my family.
For all of us.
Because in fifteen minutes, everything would change.
One way or another.
