Ethan gently disengaged from Alexandria, letting her take comfort from Victoria's weak attempts at reassurance. His mind was already miles away, locked onto the safehouse coordinates.

"Listen to me, both of you," Ethan said, his voice cutting through their despair. "We are leaving immediately. You both need to take a quick shower and change your clothes. Now."

Alexandria shook her head. "I can't leave her! We need to call the police, we need a plan—"

"You will see Emily soon," Ethan stated firmly, using the promise as motivation. "It would be better if you look presentable for your daughter. Go. Five minutes."

The directive, combined with the focus on Emily, worked. Victoria, leaning heavily on Alexandria, moved toward the small, dingy bathroom.

They emerged five minutes later, still traumatized but clean. Alexandria had put on the cleanest clothes she had, and Victoria was swathed in the largest, cleanest towel they could find.

They climbed into Alexandria's Mercedes. Ethan got behind the wheel, putting the car into motion instantly. He drove out of the lot and accelerated rapidly toward the location Jason had pinpointed—the heart of Celestial Garden's secured zone.

The secure phone rang immediately. It was Jason.

"Boss, the security ring is established, but the situation is escalating rapidly," Jason reported, his voice tight with alarm. "Falcon 12 just reported another van arriving. Wait, scratch that—it's not one van; it's a small convoy of large SUVs with many people. They are entering the building right now."

"Who are they? Are they more security or enhanced prisoners?" Ethan asked, speeding through an intersection.

"No, sir. They don't look like guards or prisoners," Jason said. "They look like guests—high-profile people, impeccably dressed. And they seem to be escorting an elderly, extremely powerful-looking man."

There was a sudden, horrified pause on Jason's end.

"Wait, wait... Oh, sh*t, Boss," Jason exclaimed. "More convoys just arrived. There are over twenty black SUVs and vans flooding the access roads. They just moved an entire army of high-level personnel into that compound. The situation just escalated to a whole new level. What do we do, Boss?"

Jason's panic was palpable even through the encrypted line.

Ethan felt a genuine spike of alarm. This wasn't a kidnapping; it was a summit. The stakes were astronomical.

Alexandria, watching his tense face and hearing the urgency in the muffled phone call, questioned him. "Ethan, what is it? What is happening?"

He briefly explained the new situation. "They brought everyone. High-level targets, security, money. There's no way to take Emily by force now; there are simply too many of them."

Alexandria's face went ashen, and she nearly fainted. "The police! Call the police now! They can't fight the police!"

"The police won't help us, Alexandria!" Ethan snapped, though quickly softening his tone. "They are the police. Or they control them. It has to be us."

Ethan focused back on the phone. "Jason, get Congressman Thompson on the line immediately. I need to know what the hell is happening inside that building."

Jason acknowledged the order and switched lines. Ethan waited, the silence punctuated only by the car's engine and Victoria's shallow breathing.

Suddenly, Jason was back on the line, sounding surprised. "Boss, Thompson just picked up. And... wait a minute. A black limousine just pulled up to the compound entrance, and Thompson is getting out of it right now."

Jason's voice shifted to a sharp, official tone directed at Thompson: "Where are you going, Congressman? What's with the suit?"

Thompson's voice, now faintly audible through the phone, was impatient. "Jason? Looks like you found out. It's not that I wanted to come, but things have changed. I was invited to an auction—a high-level auction—where things of the highest order will be discussed. Damn politics. What's the problem?"

"Don't go in!" Jason urgently commanded. "Wait there! Tell them you forgot something and turn back immediately!"

Thompson scoffed. "Don't interrupt me, Jason. I'm already late, and I have to get into this meeting no matter what, or I'll lose the governorship!"

"You'll lose more than that if you don't do exactly what I tell you!" Jason retorted, his desperation cutting through the phone.

Sensing the genuine urgency in Jason's voice, Thompson finally hesitated and obeyed. Jason heard Thompson bark an irritated command to his driver to reverse, pulling away from the entrance.

Jason immediately relayed the situation to Ethan. "Boss, he's back out. He obeyed. He's furious, but he's out."

Ethan slammed his hand on the steering wheel, a brilliant idea forming instantly. "You're a genius, Jason. That's my way in."

Ethan's voice was low, laced with absolute certainty. "I can go in with Thompson and not raise suspicion, but damn it, I don't have a suit." He looked down at his blood-stained shirt. "Give me a moment, I'll get one. Tell Thompson to pick me up at the next intersection. Give him the coordinates now."

It was late. The city was winding down, and most high-end shops were closed. As Ethan sped toward the intersection, he spotted a luxury tailor shop with the lights just being switched off.

Ethan slammed on the brakes, jumped out of the car, and sprinted toward the door, yelling. "Open up! I need a suit now!"

The shop attendant, already locking the door, peered out with an annoyed expression. "No, sir! We are closed! Come back tomorrow!"

"Open, damn it!" Ethan demanded.

Then he remembered the briefcase. He ran back to the Mercedes, grabbed several thick bundles of cash, and ran back to the door. He shoved the money through the small gap, hitting the attendant in the face with the heavy wad of bills.

"Open up, damn it, and give me a goddamn suit!" Ethan roared.

The owner, insulted by the lack of respect, was about to yell back, but he saw the thick stacks of cash—more than $10,000—and realized Ethan had more bundles clutched in his hand. This was not someone to trifle with.

The owner's demeanor instantly switched to that of humble subservience. He unlocked the door and guided Ethan inside as if he were a VIP.

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