Chapter 43 – Breaking News
Dunphy House – Sunday Afternoon
The sun was shining over Los Angeles, and at the Dunphy house, everyone was gathered. Jay and Gloria, along with Claire and Phil, Mitchell and Cam, Haley, Alex, Luke, Manny and Joe, and of course, Lily and little Sophia, were spread out across the living room and kitchen.
It was one of those rare times when the whole family could get together, and the mood was light and cheerful.
Phil was preparing a barbecue on the porch, while Cam and Mitchell argued over the best method for grilling ribs.
"I told you, Mitchell, the secret is in the marinade. Three hours before you grill it!" Cam insisted, gesturing with a piece of meat in his hand.
Mitchell sighed, reaching for a glass of wine.
"Cam, just grill it before this turns into a three-hour culinary debate."
In the living room, Claire and Gloria were sitting on the couch while Jay watched a football game on TV.
Suddenly, the broadcast was interrupted by an urgent news alert.
—"Breaking News!"
The CNN logo appeared on the screen, and the anchor's tone was serious.
"We interrupt our programming for an important update directly from the Pentagon. We will now proceed to the press conference."
The mood in the room changed instantly. Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned their attention back to the television.
Jay frowned, slowly lowering his beer. Claire grabbed the remote and turned up the volume.
The image changed to a conference room in Washington, D.C. A Pentagon aide in a dark suit and glasses stood before a group of reporters.
He straightened his papers on the table and began speaking.
— "Good afternoon. We are here today to confirm that, in the last 48 hours, United States forces have captured several suspects involved in the 2012 attack on the American consulate in Benghazi."
The room fell completely silent.
Haley, who was on her cell phone, looked up immediately. Luke straightened on the couch, and Alex, who was next to his mother, adjusted his glasses.
Mitchell and Cam hurried into the room.
"Wait... what?" Cam muttered, still holding a barbecue spatula.
The Pentagon aide continued:
"These individuals were found and detained in an operation conducted with precision and efficiency on foreign territory. They are currently in US custody and will undergo interrogation to provide more information about extremist groups in the region.
Gloria placed her hand on her chest, looking at Jay.
"That... That was Grant's team?"
Jay remained silent, his eyes fixed on the TV.
Claire crossed her arms, visibly tense.
"They'll never say. But..."
The CNN journalist appeared on the screen again, analyzing the information.
"Unofficial sources suggest this operation was conducted by an elite unit of the US Army. The level of precision and execution of the mission suggests special forces were involved, possibly Delta Force, known for its high level of secrecy.
Mitchell looked at his father, who still hadn't said a word.
"Dad... What do you think?"
Jay finally took a deep breath and said, in a low but firm tone:
"If I had to bet, I'd say it was Grant."
The room was silent for a few seconds.
Lily looked at her grandfather curiously.
"If it was Uncle Grant, why don't they say his name?"
Claire turned to Mitchell's daughter and smiled softly.
"Because Grant's work is secret, honey. He does missions no one can know about." But if he was involved... He did something very important."
Jay nodded.
"And something that needed to be done."
The news was still playing on the television, showing images of drones flying over Libya and a map of the area where the operation took place.
Luke leaned forward.
"That's incredible! They finally caught the guys who attacked the consulate!"
Alex, ever analytical, crossed her arms.
"It's funny how they never confirm anything about these operations. But the way the press is speculating... It seems like it was very well planned."
Phil, who had remained silent until then, blinked a few times and said:
"Guys... Does this mean Grant might be involved in all this?"
"Probably," Claire replied, still staring at the TV.
Haley grimaced.
"But he's okay, right? If something had happened, we would have heard something, right?"
Jay, ever pragmatic, replied:
"If something had happened, we'd have a call from an Army officer by now."
Gloria closed her eyes for a moment, relieved.
"Then he's okay."
Mitchell sighed, running a hand over his face.
"You know, sometimes I forget how dangerous his job is. But then news like this comes along, and I remember everything."
Cam nodded, holding his husband's hand.
"Me too. He's like a real hero"
Phil clapped his hands.
"Exactly! He's a real action soldier! Like those guys in the movies, only in real life!"
Claire looked at her husband with a half-smile.
"Yes, Phil. But in real life, it's much more dangerous."
While everyone was buzzing about the news, Jay remained silent, staring at the TV screen, which now showed reporters discussing the possible political ramifications of the operation.
Gloria noticed and touched his hand.
"Are you okay, Jay?"
He blinked a few times and nodded.
"Yeah... I'm just thinking."
Manny, who was standing next to them, asked:
"About what?"
Jay took a deep breath and looked at his youngest grandson, Joe, who was playing with a toy car on the carpet, not fully understanding what was happening.
He then looked around at everyone.
"Grant is different from any of us. He was born for this. He always had that fire in his eyes, that determination."
Claire, hearing her father speak, smiled softly.
"Yes, he's always been like that."
Jay continued:
"But knowing he's out there, risking his life for something so big... It makes me proud. Even though I'll never know the details."
Gloria squeezed his hand affectionately.
"He knows you're proud of him, Jay."
Jay nodded, his eyes still on the screen.
"Yes... He knows."
The news continued on TV, but the conversation in the room finally began to disperse.
Cam picked up a bottle of wine and raised his glass.
"Well, since we can't say officially... Let's toast unofficially to Grant, wherever he is."
Phil raised his beer.
"To the unsung heroes!"
Everyone raised their glasses.
"To Grant!"
Jay raised his a little higher.
"To my grandson."
And while the world debated the identity of the soldiers who captured the terrorists, only one family in Los Angeles knew, deep down, that one of them was their own flesh and blood.
Chapter 44 – The Hunt for the World's Most Wanted Man
Darkness covered the arid landscape of northwestern Syria. The wind blew lightly over the ruins of war-torn villages, where time seemed to have stood still. But that night, a mission was about to make history.
Grant, now a Delta Force Sergeant, was inside an MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter flying over hostile territory. He adjusted his night vision and double-checked his equipment. His team, part of C Squadron, was focused, each checking their HK416 rifles, ammunition, and explosives.
The target of that mission was the world's most wanted man: Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, leader of ISIS.
CIA intelligence, in cooperation with local informants and drone surveillance, indicated that Baghdadi was hiding in a fortified compound in the village of Barisha, near the Turkish border. It was the chance the US had been waiting for years.
Inside the helicopter, the mission commander, a veteran Delta Major, radioed the final details.
"Team, this is our best chance. The target is in the compound with several fighters. We can't allow him to escape. Our priority is to capture him, but if he resists, we have authorization to eliminate him."
Grant listened intently, adjusting the sling of his rifle.
"I repeat: we're dealing with an extremely dangerous target; explosives may be on site. Move quickly, eliminate the threats, and ensure he doesn't make it out alive if he resists."
Grant exchanged a quick glance with his closest companion, "Red," a seasoned operator he'd served with for the past two years.
"This is going to be big," Red murmured, tightening his tactical vest.
Grant nodded.
"If it wasn't, we wouldn't be here."
The team received the countdown on the radio. They were about to enter enemy territory.
The Black Hawks swooped down on the target, while MQ-9 Reaper drones monitored the area in real time.
BOOM!
The first team blew up one of the compound's entrances, while military dogs advanced in front to detect traps or threats.
Grant and his team stormed the courtyard, immediately encountering enemy fire.
"Contact to the right!" Grant warned, firing his HK416 with precision.
Bullets slashed through the air, and the ISIS fighters tried to retreat into the compound. But Delta was already advancing with speed and surgical precision.
"Clearance! Clearance!" echoed over the radio, confirming that the first rooms were clear.
The operators continued advancing, checking every corridor. It was a maze of rooms, some locked.
Suddenly, a fighter emerged from behind a door and fired.
"DOWN!"
Grant reacted quickly, landing a well-aimed shot in the enemy's chest.
The tension was extreme. They knew Baghdadi was there, but the ISIS leader had not yet been found.
The team advanced into the underground part of the compound. Intelligence indicated that Baghdadi might be hiding in a tunnel.
Grant looked at the mission commander, who gave the signal to continue.
"Red, flashbang grenade."
"Launching!"
BOOM!
The team quickly entered.
Baghdadi was there, cornered. He was wearing a suicide vest and holding a detonator. He was surrounded by two women and three children.
The operators tried to persuade him to surrender.
"Drop the detonator! Now!"
But he wouldn't listen. Shouting in Arabic, Baghdadi sprinted toward the tunnel and detonated the explosives.
BOOM!
The tunnel collapsed with the explosion, killing Baghdadi instantly.
Dust filled the area, and the operators ducked, shielding themselves from the impact.
"Target neutralized. I repeat: target neutralized."
The radio went silent for a second before confirmation came from the command.
"Roger that. Job well done."
Grant took a deep breath. The mission was a success.
American forces quickly collected DNA samples and scanned the wreckage. The reconnaissance confirmed: Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was dead.
The mission was complete, and the operators withdrew from the site before any enemy reinforcements could arrive.
Inside the evacuation helicopter, Grant looked at his comrades. They were all covered in dust and sweat, but there was a shared sense of quiet accomplishment.
Red lightly punched Grant on the shoulder.
"Dude... We got the son of a bitch."
Grant nodded.
— "Yes... We got it."
The radio then rang with a message from high command:
— "Team, congratulations. This was a historic mission. The world will know what happened tonight."
Grant leaned back in the helicopter seat and closed his eyes for a second. He knew this mission would be remembered forever.
As Grant and his team returned to base in the United States, the president was about to make a historic announcement.
At the Dunphy house, the family gathered again to watch TV.
This time, there was no doubt.
The president stepped to the podium and addressed the world:
"Tonight, on my orders, U.S. special forces conducted a high-risk counterterrorism operation in northwest Syria. ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has been killed."
The entire room erupted in reaction.
"Oh my God!" Claire exclaimed.
Jay smiled slightly, crossing his arms.
"I knew it."
Phil blinked, trying to comprehend what he had just heard.
"Does this mean... that Grant was in on it?"
Gloria covered her mouth with her hand.
"Oh my God..."
Mitchell and Cam looked at each other.
"If it was Delta, then..."
Luke shook his head, impressed.
"This is the stuff of movies!"
The TV continued broadcasting. The president detailed the mission, stating that Baghdadi died like "a coward, running away and detonating his own explosives."
Haley took a deep breath.
"My brother really is part of history..."
Alex adjusted his glasses and commented, more seriously:
"And no one will ever be able to officially know."
The room fell silent for a moment.
Jay took a sip of his beer and looked around.
"He doesn't need public recognition. He knows what he did. And we know."
Everyone nodded.
And while the world celebrated the end of one of the greatest terrorists in history, only one family in Los Angeles knew, deep down, that one of their own was among those responsible for this victory.
[email protected]/SHADOWGHOST07
DO NOT subscribe to my Patreon through the iOS/Apple Store. Not only will they charge you 30% more, but they will also hold the funds for 75 days before releasing them to me, which is very detrimental to me. If you're reading this on an iPhone, please contribute via browser/PC