Back at CTU, Owen had barely finished unloading his gear when someone informed him that Jack was waiting for him in his office.
Glancing up at the transparent second-floor office, Owen could see Jack and Nina deep in conversation. He ran a quick mental check—what could Jack want? Nothing immediately came to mind, so he didn't overthink it. Instead, he took the stairs two at a time and knocked on the door.
Upon entering, both Jack and Nina looked at him.
Jack gestured for him to take a seat, then turned to Nina. "Tell him."
Nina nodded, then looked at Owen with a serious expression.
"NSA just confirmed—Brancato Montell has officially put a bounty on you. Two million dollars for bringing you in alive. If you end up dead, you're only worth one million. The same price applies to the surviving SWAT members."
Owen smirked. Bryan had been right. The Montell family was using this bounty to maintain their underground reputation. They wanted him alive so they could make an example out of him.
Two million dollars—what a joke.
From what Owen knew, hiring a professional hitman for a standard job cost between $10,000 and $30,000.
High-profile or difficult targets—such as politicians, cartel leaders, or government agents—would command a premium, maybe around $60,000.
But two million? That was unheard of. Even if someone just killed him outright, they'd still collect a million dollars—the Montell family was really flexing its wealth.
Of course, the previous $100 million bounty on Alex was in a league of its own—an anomaly in the underground world.
But this was different.
The Alex bounty had been broadcasted publicly, attracting too much attention. Most professionals had steered clear—no amount of money was worth becoming an international target of U.S. intelligence agencies.
But this new bounty?
It was strictly within underground circles.
Two million dollars was more than enough to lure top-tier assassins and mercenaries into the game.
"Did they mention our families?" Owen asked, his tone serious.
That was his biggest concern. If Montell extended the bounty to their families, things would get ugly fast.
"Not yet," Nina replied.
Owen exhaled in relief.
For now, Brancato Montell was focused on them alone.
Jack leaned forward. "Don't worry too much. For now, stay here at CTU. In the past two days, we've taken down multiple mercenary groups—word is spreading. The underground world now knows where we stand.
"Additionally, CIA will be making moves soon. They won't let this open bounty on U.S. counterterrorism agents go unchecked. But…" Jack paused briefly. "Their first attempt didn't go well. It'll take time before they act again."
Owen didn't say anything.
Jack either hadn't heard the full details yet—or he was deliberately holding back.
Not going well? The CIA team had been wiped out.
The next step was obvious.
They'd coordinate with the military—probably send in SEAL Team Six or another elite counterterrorism unit.
Jack's voice pulled him back to the present.
"Tomorrow, we're using you as bait—to see if we can draw some of these guys out. Be prepared."
Owen shrugged. "No problem."
There was no point in playing defense forever. His plan needed to accelerate.
Montell had to be dealt with soon.
That Night – Bryan's Safe House
The doorbell rang.
Owen opened it to find Ash, Monica, and Heatwave—dressed in civilian clothes.
After Owen had told Bryan about them, Bryan had immediately agreed to bring them in.
He knew about the FBI SWAT casualties—it had been all over the news. But that didn't mean these survivors were weak.
Even elite units like SEALs and Delta Force could be wiped out in a well-planned ambush.
Compared to those military units, FBI SWAT wasn't even designed for full-scale combat. They were urban specialists—but their skill levels were still top-tier.
And the mission ahead required both tactical skill and raw firepower.
Owen introduced both sides, then laid out his plan.
While the original idea had been his, the details had been refined by Bryan—who had far more experience.
As they talked, Owen noticed something surprising.
Ash hadn't come here to join his mission.
She had come to recruit him into hers.
"You're planning to go straight to Colombia and assassinate Alex's father?"
Ash's tone was a mix of disbelief and admiration.
She had expected revenge.
She hadn't expected this.
Colombia.
The heart of cartel territory.
It wasn't just about whether they could succeed—how would they escape afterward?
"Yes," Owen confirmed. "We have someone who knows the area well. These are the intel reports he's gathered."
He flipped the whiteboard around.
On the back were neatly organized intelligence reports, strategic notes, and an initial plan draft—meticulously mapped out with diagrams and connecting lines, resembling a detailed mind map.
If Ash and her team wanted in, they needed to see the plan first.
Owen wasn't worried about them betraying him.
Their goals were aligned.
And after what they had been through together, trust wasn't an issue.
If Ash didn't want to participate, she wouldn't interfere.
The three SWAT members studied the board.
Monica didn't care much about the specifics.
She wasn't a strategist—she was a fighter.
As long as she got to kill some cartel scum, she was in.
But Heatwave and Ash examined every detail carefully.
They questioned each step, analyzing the feasibility.
Owen patiently explained when he could. If a question was too complex, Bryan stepped in.
The deeper they went into the plan, the more Ash's skepticism faded.
The plan was risky.
But no mission was risk-free.
As long as the odds were high enough, it was worth the gamble.
More importantly—
Owen's decapitation strike approach resonated deeply with Ash.
She was an adrenaline junkie at heart.
Compared to sneaking into a prison to kill Alex, this was on an entirely different level.
It wasn't just revenge.
It was making history.
And the plan wasn't reckless.
Everything—infiltration, assassination, extraction, and post-mission cover-ups—was accounted for.
Timelines were down to the minute.
Ash glanced at Bryan—the older man who had orchestrated most of the plan.
Even with her years of experience, she had to admit—
This guy is a pro.
She exchanged looks with Monica and Heatwave.
A silent decision was made.
Ash turned back to Owen.
"I'm in."
_________________________
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