Chapter 579: Queen's Adversity (5)

Everyone hovered over the monitor where Styles replayed Katherine's video from their phone call with Parker earlier. It was hard to look at because of her state, but they had to check it thoroughly to get more clues. The video played several times while Chris and Styles wore headphones to listen to it very carefully.

"Their voices…. It sounds echoey like they're underground," said Chris as he kept his stare at the screen. "Wait—stop. Rewind." Styles followed his command and stopped at the part where the camera pointed at the ground for a couple of seconds.

"That looks like a red line," Amelia observed. "Is that the training room?"

"You think so too, huh?" Chris probed.

Amelia and Styles agreed. Amelia and Chris spent a lot of time in the training room of the old Castle that even the floor became very familiar to them.

Seeing their confident looks, Styles chimed in, "Then this proves it. They're outside Cona."

"We can't waste anymore time. Let's gear up," Damien ordered, and then he left through the front door.

Everyone followed after him, and they headed straight to Maverick Security's headquarters where they gathered the other teams and prepared for their leave. On the way there, they informed Director Hughes who gave them her support by sending a few mercenaries.

At the same time, she was also on the move to arrest several members of the organization who were behind Shadow—her husband, Josiah Connor, gave up a list with those members' names. Moreover, a few teams would also be sent to raid Castle. Everything would be done in sync with each other. With things taking place concurrently, the chances of Parker getting away would be less likely to happen.

…

Maverick Security

While Damien's team was getting ready, Chris, who had been feeling confident, suddenly felt uneasy. They stood next to a black SUV in the agency's underground parking space, waiting for Damien and Styles to arrive.

"What are you thinking?" Amelia probed when she noticed Chris staring at nothing in particular.

"The last time I saw Parker was a debriefing after a quick overseas mission." He looked down and stared at his shoes. "Now that I think about it… I'm guessing he already knew that I had betrayed him. I just keep wondering… Why did he not end me then?"

Placing a hand on his shoulder, she gave it a squeeze and told him, "None of us can understand what's really on his mind. If he were that easy… he wouldn't have lasted this long."

He scoffed softly. For a while, he actually looked up to Parker and thought of him as a father figure—that's because he didn't have anyone else. He didn't have anything apart from Shadow. However, it was time to end the dark organization. Because now, he had people to protect.

Footsteps echoed in the parking space when Damien and Styles stepped out of the agency. Dressed in an all black tactical outfit, Damien looked from left to right, checking the faces of the people who were going with them today. His team consisted of the Alpha team members, Amelia, Gus, Felix, Styles, and Chris. A total of ten elite individuals plus a few mercenaries that Director Hughes sent. Their number may not be that many compared to Shadow's agents, but he believed in everyone's skills and trusted them—even Chris.

He nodded in approval and wordlessly got inside the SUV's front seat. The rest of the team got to their respective vehicles and sped off.

Chris traveled with Amelia in a separate SUV and just as they joined the traffic, he requested to drop by the house where Emma and her adoptive family were staying.

Once they arrived at the residence, he quickly got out of the vehicle, knowing that they were pressed for time. He didn't plan on seeing his sister, but his heart felt heavy, so he thought that seeing her might give him courage. Even though they had only reunited recently, Chris had become quite attached to her already.

Emma had a huge smile on her face as she came out of the house and went to see her brother at the gate. "Chris! Oh… Why are you dressed like that? Are you working today?" she wondered when she saw him in a tactical outfit.

She wasn't aware of her brother's real identity. All she knew and believed was that he was Katherine's mentor in the past, he was part of her security team and that he secretly worked for the government. Emma understood that there were things they couldn't tell her, so she didn't ask more than she thought she could handle.

He lifted the corners of his mouth, breaking into a handsome smile. Though he was wearing an all black combat outfit, he removed all the weapons on him in order not to scare his sister. "How do I look?" he asked.

She gave him a once over, grinned mischievously, and raised a thumb up, saying, "You look cool!"

"Really?" He chuckled, in which Emma nodded enthusiastically.

"Ah! By the way, I've been calling Katherine since yesterday. Is she busy? Why is she not picking up?" she questioned.

The smile slipped from his face briefly, and then he replaced it with a small one as he nodded. "Mm. I'm going to see her soon. I'll tell her to return your call when she's free."

"Is that so? If she's working on her wedding… She should have told me so I can help her. Tch." She pouted and sighed, looking a little disappointed that she hadn't heard from her friend.

"I'll scold her when I see her."

"I'll do the scolding!" She lifted her chin up and smiled when Chris softly chuckled. "Did you need anything? Why don't you come inside? I'll cook you some food."

"No… Actually, I just wanted to see you. I'm going out of state, so I'll be coming home late. Don't wait up for me. Just stay home and lock the doors and windows. There are three guards on duty tonight. Karina, call me if you need anything. Okay?"

Emma beamed at him as she pinched his cheeks playfully. "Kristof, you are so cute when you worry about me! I've been living this life for seven years. We'll be fine! Don't worry."

Chris gently lowered her hands and then patted her head. "I'll always worry. I've only gotten you back after so many years. I'm not going to lose you again."

"Then come home quickly so you can protect 24/7! At this rate, I can't get married!"

His brows drew together as he frowned at her. "The hell you're getting married. Whoever that bastard is, he'll have to go through me first."

Her brother was being protective and she enjoyed it. After all, she hadn't experienced Chris's brotherly care growing up. Hooking her arm with his, she snickered and said, "Forget about me. You should get married first and make me an aunt!"

Chris scoffed. He hadn't even thought about getting married—much less having a child.

Interrupting their conversation, Amelia called his name from the car, reminding him that they needed to leave now. He nodded to acknowledge and faced his sister once again, removing a ball chain necklace from his neck and handing it to her. It had two silver dog tags and an old bullet shell.

"What's this?" she probed.

"It's my safety charm. I won't be home tonight… so wear it. It'll protect you," said Chris. He hugged her and kissed her hair before pulling away. "I have to go. Take care, Solnyshko."

…

Four black SUVs were parked one kilometer away from the Old Castle inconspicuously. The team waited for Damien's command while he, Styles, Amelia and Chris surveyed the area.

Damien's heart rammed in his chest as he anxiously looked at a wrecked old building through a pair of binoculars. According to them, the ruined structure was just a disguise. In reality, Castle was actually underground.

"Alright. I've linked everyone. Are you ready?" Styles probed as he glanced at them from his monitor.

Damien's jaw ticked and his eyes darkened as he spoke under gritted teeth, "Let's bring Katherine back safely."