CHAPTER THREE HUNDRED AND THREE – ALMOST CAPTURED

As they got out of the truck, the cabin's door opened. A tall, broad-shouldered man with graying hair stepped out onto the porch, a shotgun cradled in his arms. "About time you showed up," the man called out gruffly. "I was starting to think you'd gotten yourself killed, Silva." Silva chuckled, the sound surprisingly warm. "Not yet, old friend. Not yet." As they approached the porch, the man's eyes fixed on Jasmine, his expression unreadable. "So, this is the girl, huh? The one worth dying for?" Jasmine felt a chill run down her spine at his words. Silva placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Jasmine, meet Jack Hawkins. Former Navy SEAL, current pain in my ass, and the man who's going to help us bring down Collins and his whole corrupt operation." Jack's stern expression cracked into a wry grin. "Well, when you put it like that, how can I refuse?" He stepped aside, gesturing for them to enter. "Come on in. We've got a lot of work to do." As Jasmine crossed the threshold into