When Love is a Question Mark
Chapter 272: The Raid

Chapter 272: The Raid

The jet touched down smoothly, and the trio disembarked, wasting no time. A group of highly trained operatives stood waiting near the hangar, their faces grim and focused. Samuel adjusted his coat, his jaw set, while Timmy, ever watchful, instinctively stayed close to Lily.

As they approached the team leader, Lily’s commanding tone cut through the air. "What’s the current situation?"

The leader stepped forward. "Perimeter secured. No movement in or out of the mansion since we arrived. The guards are armed, but we’ve hacked into their security feeds. The hostages are confirmed in an underground facility, but it’s heavily guarded."

"Any sign of Frank?" Samuel asked, his voice edged with tension.

The leader shook his head. "No sign of him yet."

Lily exchanged a glance with Samuel. "This is it. We go now."

"Agreed," Samuel said. He turned to Timmy, who had been uncharacteristically quiet. "You good?"

Timmy nodded, though his eyes darted to Lily for a moment. "Yeah. Let’s just get this done."

The leader gave the signal, and the team moved into position.

---

The mansion loomed ahead, dark and foreboding under the night sky. Guards patrolled the perimeter, but they didn’t stand a chance against the operatives’ silent precision. One by one, the guards were subdued, their radios silenced to avoid raising the alarm.

Inside, the team moved methodically through the mansion’s hallways. Timmy stayed close to Lily, always positioning himself between her and any potential danger. It wasn’t the first time he’d done this—his protective instincts kicked in naturally when it came to her.

"Stay behind me," he whispered to Lily as they approached a corner.

"I’m fine, Timmy," Lily replied, though she allowed him to take the lead.

They reached the study, where the leader gestured toward a large bookcase. "The underground entrance is behind here. It’s locked."

"Blow it," Samuel ordered.

Within moments, the team’s technician had set up a small charge. The explosion was controlled but loud enough to set everyone on edge. As the steel door behind the bookcase was revealed, the team prepared to descend.

The stairwell led them into a cold, sterile underground facility. The air was thick, and the fluorescent lighting flickered ominously. The team encountered more resistance here, with Frank’s guards putting up a fierce fight. Shots rang out, and the sound of shouting echoed through the narrow corridors.

As they pushed through, the sight awaiting them in the main lab stopped them in their tracks.

"What the—" Samuel muttered, his voice trailing off as his eyes took in the room.

The lab was filled with images of James plastered across every wall. Monitors displayed endless loops of video footage showing James in different scenarios—walking, talking, smiling. Instructions were scribbled on whiteboards and walls, detailing how to mimic James’s movements and mannerisms.

"This... this is insane," Timmy whispered, his face pale.

In the center of the room, several men who looked strikingly similar to James were seated in rows, each wearing identical white shirts with numbers printed on them. Their expressions were blank, almost robotic, as if they had been drained of any individuality.

"They’re training them to act like him," Lily said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Every detail—down to the way he stands."

Timmy stepped protectively in front of Lily as they moved further into the lab. "This is more than I imagined," he muttered, his eyes darting around for any threats.

Samuel clenched his fists. "This is disgusting. They’ve turned him into a blueprint for... this."

But it wasn’t just the room with the duplicates. Another section of the lab revealed a larger room filled with more hostages—men, women, and children, including Bart and Billy’s families.

"These must be their families," Lily said, her voice tight with emotion.

A woman holding a young boy clung to him desperately, her tear-streaked face filled with fear. "Please," she begged. "Don’t let them take us back."

"You’re safe now," Timmy said, stepping forward to reassure her. He glanced at Lily, who nodded in agreement.

The leader’s voice cut through the tense atmosphere. "We need to get them out of here now. Frank’s not here, but we’ve neutralized most of his men. Move quickly!"

The team began escorting the hostages out, working efficiently to ensure everyone was accounted for. Timmy stayed close to Lily, his protective instincts on high alert.

As they reached the exit, Samuel turned to the leader. "Frank’s not here. Any idea where he might have gone?"

"Not yet," the leader replied. "But he won’t get far. We’ll track him."

Lily’s expression hardened. "This isn’t over. We must find him."

---

Moments before the raid.

The quiet hum of the car’s engine filled the silence as Frank leaned back in his seat, lazily swirling the half-empty glass of champagne he’d taken from the party. His mood was light, his thoughts still on the laughter and luxury he’d left behind, when the driver’s sudden change in demeanor caught his attention.

"Sir," the driver said hesitantly, his eyes flicking to the rearview mirror, "there’s activity near the mansion."

Frank straightened, his relaxed expression vanishing. "What do you mean?"

The driver pointed subtly ahead. Frank leaned closer to the window and saw them—dark figures moving in formation, surrounding his estate. They weren’t just random intruders; their movements were far too coordinated.

His grip on the glass tightened. "Stop the car. Turn off the lights," he ordered sharply.

The driver obeyed, easing the car to a halt several blocks away. Frank’s sharp eyes scanned the scene, his chest tightening with unease. He recognized the type of men these were—trained, precise, and on a mission.

"It’s either Samuel’s men or someone equally bold," Frank muttered, setting the glass down on the seat beside him.

The driver shifted nervously. "What should we do, sir? Do we head back to the city?"

"Not yet," Frank said coldly, his mind racing. "They won’t get far, not with the way I’ve designed this place. Even if they find the lab entrance—which they won’t—they’ll never figure out how to access it."

He sat back, though his fingers still drummed against the armrest, betraying his irritation. "They think they can outmaneuver me? Let them try."