Chapter 7
Marcus snatched the document from the marshal's hand, his eyes scanning the official letterhead with mounting disbelief and fury.
“Federal custody? On what grounds? She is a minor undergoing emergency appendectomy!” Marcus roared, stepping so close to the marshal that their chests nearly collided.
The marshal didn't blink, his expression entirely devoid of human warmth.
“When a witness protection asset is compromised at a public facility, federal protocols dictate immediate containment of all blood relatives. The medical team operating on her has already been detained for debriefing. The girl is secure, but she is no longer at Mercy General.”
Leo let out a primal cry of anguish, shoving past his father and launching himself at the federal agent.
“Give me back my sister! You monsters! You took her while she was sleeping!” Leo pounded his fists against the marshal’s heavy tactical vest, tears streaming uncontrollably down his pale cheeks.
The marshal didn't flinch, gently but firmly grabbing Leo’s wrists to restrain him without hurting him.
“Kid, calm down. If we hadn't extracted her, the cartel hit squad that tracked your internet signal would have taken her from the recovery ward by dawn. We saved her life tonight, whether you understand it or not.”
Thomas pulled Leo back into his arms, burying his face in his son’s messy light brown hair, his own shoulders shaking with silent, helpless despair.
Clara stepped forward, her phone buzzing incessantly in her hand. The viral video had crossed fifty million views. Thousands of comments were pouring in every second, demanding answers about the sudden disappearance of the children from the hospital livestream.
“Look at this,” Clara whispered, holding the screen up toward Marcus and the marshal. “The livestream is being shared by major news anchors now. People are organizing protests outside the hospital. You can't just make a sick seven-year-old girl vanish into a black site without triggering a national insurrection.”
The marshal’s radio crackled to life with a burst of static, a distorted voice barking code words through the speaker.
“Alpha-one, we have movement on the perimeter. Unidentified vehicles approaching the black site transport route. It’s an ambush.”
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The marshal cursed under his breath, dropping his hand to his holster.
“Move! Everyone into the armored transport now! We’ve been compromised!”
