Chapter 358

Chapter 358:

“That’s it,” Richard said, his voice thick with emotion. “That’s our cabin.”

Victoria, who had been sitting quietly in the corner, conserving her strength during her cancer recovery, leaned forward. “What does the satellite thermal imaging show?”

Alexander’s security chief stepped forward. “Heat signatures show at least three people inside. One hasn’t moved from this room in hours.” A cold weight settled in Stefan’s stomach. “Camille?”

“And this figure here moves between rooms. Likely Rose.” The security chief pointed to another blip on the thermal imaging. “The third signature stays mostly by the entrance. Probably a guard.”

Alexander turned to his team, his face set in hard lines. “I want schematics, approach routes, extraction plans. We move tonight.” The room erupted into focused activity.

Stefan watched as Alexander pored over maps with his head of security, marking entry points and escape routes. He felt useless, an outsider in this operation of professionals.

“I never truly saw her, you know,” Stefan said quietly when Alexander paused near him. “Not until it was too late.” Alexander’s eyes were cold. “Which one?”

“Either of them. Camille was… good. Genuinely good. I didn’t value that.” Stefan swallowed hard. “And Rose… I never saw the darkness in her. The obsession.”

“Save your confession for later,” Alexander said, turning back to the maps. “The only thing that matters now is getting Camille out alive.”

An hour passed as they refined the plan. The property sat isolated, three miles from the nearest neighbor. Satellite images showed minimal security; Rose had relied on secrecy rather than force for protection.

“We have a problem,” the security chief announced after a call. “A storm front is moving in. Helicopter approach is impossible in these conditions. We’ll need to go in by ground, and the only road is likely watched.”

“What about by water?” Stefan asked, studying the map. “The lake touches the property line here.”

“There’s a hidden inlet,” Richard added, pointing to the satellite image. “Behind those trees. You can barely see it from the cabin. We used to keep a rowboat there.”

Alexander considered it. “Small boats. Silent approach. Two teams—one from the road as a distraction, one from the water for extraction.”

Victoria pushed herself to her feet, her face pale but determined. “I’m coming with you.”

“Absolutely not,” Alexander said firmly. “You’re still recovering.”

“I wasn’t asking permission,” Victoria’s voice held the steel that had built her empire. “I’ll stay in the support vehicle. But I will be there when you bring her out.”

Alexander looked as if he might argue, then nodded once. “Stefan stays with you.”

“No,” Stefan protested. “I need to help. I know the cabin. Camille described it to me in detail.”

.

.

.