The Warning
Beth sat on the couch, her fingers gripping a mug of coffee that had long gone cold. The tension in the room was suffocating, pressing down on her like an invisible force. Sophia sat beside her, arms crossed, eyes sharp with barely contained worry. Across from them, Ryan stood with a grim expression, his fingers resting on a folder that neither of them dared to open just yet.
"You need to understand," Ryan began, his voice steady but weighted with urgency. "This isnât just a search operation. The CIA isnât looking for David and Jamie to bring them home safely. They see them as obstaclesâdangerous assets that need to be controlled."
Beth felt her breath hitch. "What are you saying, Ryan?"
Ryan exhaled, leaning forward. "From what my sources tell me, the moment Jamie was rescued from the elves, she became a priority target. The U.S. government is determined to control whatever magic knowledge she has, and theyâre willing to go to extreme lengths to ensure no one else gets to her first." His eyes flickered with something darker. "That includes eliminating any interferenceâlike David."
Sophia clenched her fists. "They think Davidâs an obstacle just because heâs protecting his daughter?"
Ryan nodded. "And now theyâve deployed her."
Bethâs stomach twisted. "Who?"
"Victoria Langley."
The name sent a chill through the room.
Beth had heard of Victoria beforeâeveryone in intelligence circles had and even though she was just a house wife even she had her name from David and his friends . A ruthless CIA operative with a reputation for getting the job done at any cost. She commanded an elite force, handpicked for precision strikes and high-value asset retrieval. The kind of team that didnât take prisoners unless absolutely necessary.
"If sheâs leading the hunt, then theyâre not planning a rescue mission," Ryan continued. "Theyâre treating this as a retrieval or elimination op. And theyâre not the only ones. Several other factionsâmercenaries, rogue intelligence groups, even some foreign agenciesâare swarming the jungle, all after Jamie."
Bethâs grip tightened around the coffee mug. "Then David and Jamie are better off staying missing."
Ryan nodded grimly. "Thatâs exactly what I wanted to tell you. If David reaches out to you, donât tell me. Donât tell anyone. The moment he makes contact, heâs as good as dead."
Silence fell over the room, the weight of his words settling like a suffocating fog.
For the first time, Beth felt true fearânot just for David and Jamie, but for what would happen if they were found.
---
The Hunt
Victoria Langley stood at the center of the Brazilian military base, her ice-blue eyes scanning the holographic map of the Amazon jungle in front of her. Her elite unitâclad in cutting-edge tactical gearâmoved with mechanical efficiency, loading weapons, checking drones, and reviewing satellite feeds.
And yet, after days of searching, they had nothing to show for it.
"Status update," she commanded.
One of her operatives, a tall man with a scar running down his cheek, stepped forward. "We've engaged hostile forces twiceâone was a local cartel trying to get their hands on the girl, the other was an unknown mercenary group. Both were eliminated."
Victoriaâs jaw tightened. "And Lancaster?"
"Still no sign. Either he's dead in the jungle, or heâs better at hiding than we expected."
Victoria wasnât pleased with that answer. David Lancaster was a skilled soldier, but he wasnât invincible. Eventually, exhaustion, injuries, or sheer bad luck would catch up to him. The problem was, every time they cleared an area, another faction would appear, slowing their progress.
They were fighting on multiple fronts, chasing ghosts while vultures circled their prize.
And then, finally, a breakthrough.
A scout rushed in, saluting sharply. "Maâam, weâve encountered a local militia force. Their leader, General Esteban Morales, has surrendered. He claims to have vital intel on Jamie Lancasterâs location."
Victoria smirked. "Well, isnât that convenient? Bring him in."
---
The Prisoner
General Esteban sat in the makeshift interrogation room, his hands cuffed to a metal chair. He was a grizzled veteran of the jungle, his body covered in scars that told stories of past battles. Despite his situation, he grinned, his teeth stained from years of tobacco and violence.
Victoria entered the room, flanked by two operatives. She took a seat across from Esteban, folding her gloved hands on the table.
"You surrendered rather quickly," she said, her tone cold. "Most warlords fight to the last breath."
Esteban chuckled. "I know when Iâm outmatched, lady. Your men? Good soldiers. Armed to the teeth. Iâve got no illusions about how that fight wouldâve ended."
Victoria tilted her head. "Then letâs skip the pleasantries. Where is Jamie Lancaster?"
Esteban exhaled, his smile fading slightly. "One of my men, Carlos, took her. Ran off into the jungle with her over his shoulder. That was the last I saw of either of them."
Victoria's eyes narrowed. "And what about David Lancaster?"
Esteban shook his head. "Didnât see him. Maybe heâs dead, maybe not. But I can tell you this..." His grin returned, eyes glinting with amusement. "You're underestimating someone."
Victoria raised an eyebrow. "Who?"
"Solomon Kane."
One of her operatives scoffed. "The mercenary?"
Esteban laughed, shaking his head. "See, thatâs your problem. You military types think because he ainât got a uniform, heâs not a threat. But let me tell you something..." He leaned forward, his voice dripping with confidence. "Solomon Kane is worth ten of your best men in a jungle like this. He doesnât fight like a soldier. He fights like a ghost. And if heâs still breathing, then Carlos, Jamie, and even your entire search party? Theyâre just pieces on his chessboard."
Victoria didnât even blink. "You give a mercenary too much credit."
Esteban smirked. "Then you havenât met the right ones."
The operative to Victoriaâs right, impatient with the warlordâs arrogance, slammed the butt of his rifle into Estebanâs face, sending him sprawling to the ground. Blood dripped from his nose, but the warlord only chuckled, wiping it away.
"You donât like hearing the truth, huh?" he taunted.
Victoria sighed, standing up. "Weâll see just how dangerous your mercenary is." She turned to her men. "Get ready to move. If Carlos is still out there, we find him. If Lancasterâs alive, we kill him. And if Solomon Kane gets in our way..." She smirked. "Weâll deal with him too."
As she left the room, Esteban chuckled again, shaking his head.
"Good luck, lady. Youâll need it."
---
The Shadow of Solomon Kane
Far from the chaos of Victoriaâs search, in the deepest part of the jungle, a lone figure moved through the trees like a ghost. Solomon Kaneâs breathing was steady, his grip firm on his rifle as he followed a set of barely visible tracks.
Carlos thought he had vanished into the jungle with Jamie.
But Solomon Kane was already hunting him.
And he never lost his prey.
---