Chapter 78-79 - Adopted into a Modern Family

Chapter 78 – Ambush

The convoy sped along the narrow dirt road, leaving the UNICEF humanitarian base behind. The sun was already low on the horizon, tinging the sky with orange hues, while dust rose from under the tires of the vehicles. Grant was in the passenger seat of the lead SUV, his eyes fixed on the side mirror.

That's when he realized.

"We have a problem."

Grant's voice cut through the silence in the vehicle. He looked back, where two pickup trucks sped away, maintaining a consistent distance. Samir, the driver, glanced in the rearview mirror and frowned.

"I see. Those aren't ordinary places."

Grant picked up the radio and pressed the button, his voice cold and controlled.

"Everyone alert. We have two pickup trucks following us since we left the base. They're not just going in the same direction, they're following us. Don't make any sudden movements, but stay ready."

In the back seat, Gigi and Bella noticed the change in Grant's tone. Gigi looked at him, worried.

"What's going on?"

Grant turned his head and looked at them both, his features hardened.

"We have problems. Those men in the pickup trucks aren't just following us out of curiosity. They're Hamas."

Bella's blood ran cold.

"What? How do you know?"

"By the type of vehicle, the way they drive, the rifles I can see in the front seat. I've seen this kind of approach before."

Gigi took a deep breath.

"What do they want?"

Grant looked her straight in the eyes.

"You. They want to kidnap you."

Fear crossed the models' faces.

"Oh my God..." Bella whispered, holding her sister's arm.

Grant picked up the radio again.

"Listen. We're going to ambush them. We can't afford to leave these guys alive to try again later. When I give the order, accelerate and then stop abruptly at a strategic point. We're going to neutralize the threat before they have a chance to react."

On the other end of the radio, the voice of the leader of the second vehicle, a former Delta Force officer named Ryan, responded firmly:

"Understood. But first, we need approval. If we eliminate these guys, could that create a political problem for us?"

Grant picked up his cell phone and dialed an emergency number. His government contact answered on the third call.

"Grant, what's happening?"

"I have a problem. Two Hamas vehicles are trying to ambush us and kidnap Gigi and Bella Hadid. If we neutralize the targets, will that cause any diplomatic problems for us?"

The contact was silent for a moment before responding directly:

"Negative. If they're trying to kidnap American civilians, you have carte blanche. Do whatever is necessary."

Grant hung up and picked up the radio.

"The answer is no. We can neutralize them."

In the back seat, Gigi and Bella looked scared, but at the same time, Gigi clenched her fists.

"Grant... are you sure this is the only option?"

He looked at her, serious.

"Yes. If they get you, you know what will happen. I've seen what these groups do to hostages. I won't let that happen."

Bella nodded, the fear still present, but understanding in her eyes.

"Do what you have to do."

Grant picked up the radio.

"Samir, accelerate now. We're going to take a curve and then stop abruptly for the attack."

Samir nodded and floored it. The SUV's engine roared as the other vehicles did the same. The pickup trucks behind accelerated to keep up.

They rounded a small, sharp bend, and as soon as they were out of the pursuers' direct line of sight, Grant shouted:

"NOW!"

The three vehicles in the convoy braked sharply and opened their doors. Grant jumped out, rifle in hand. The other security guards, all former special forces, did the same.

The pursuers' pickup trucks appeared around the bend at full speed. When they saw the convoy had stopped, they tried to slow down, but it was too late.

Grant gave the order.

"Fire!"

The first shot came from Ryan, hitting the driver of the lead pickup truck. The vehicle lost control and crashed violently into a pile of rubble at the side of the road. The second car tried to swerve, but the security guards opened fire.

The men inside the pickup trucks tried to get out, some still wielding AK-47 rifles, but they didn't stand a chance. Grant and his team were precise and lethal.

In less than twenty seconds, it was all over.

Grant approached the vehicles, rifle pointed at any possible remaining threat. He looked at Ryan.

"Confirm that they're all down."

Ryan walked over to the bodies and checked them one by one. After a few seconds, he looked at Grant and nodded.

"We're done."

Grant took a deep breath, lowering his weapon.

He went back to the SUV and opened the back door. Gigi and Bella were sitting inside, their faces pale.

"It's over," he said.

Gigi looked at him, still trying to process everything that had just happened.

"If you weren't here..."

Bella held her sister's hand and looked at Grant seriously.

"Thank you."

Grant nodded.

"Let's get out of here before more show up."

They returned to their vehicles and drove off quickly, leaving behind the wreckage of what could have been a nightmare.

Now, they just needed to get out of there alive.

Chapter 79 – The Images Leak

The morning was peaceful at Claire and Phil Dunphy's house. The aroma of fresh coffee hung in the air as the family gathered in the spacious kitchen for breakfast. Cam and Mitchell sat together, chatting about the new flowers Cam had planted in the garden. Jay and Gloria were nearby, with Manny distractedly fiddling with his phone. Haley and Alex discussed a new fashion trend while Luke filled his plate with bacon.

It was a normal day, until the TV, tuned to a news channel, caught everyone's attention.

— "Breaking news. Shocking images of a shooting involving supermodels Gigi and Bella Hadid have just leaked. Warning: the following content may be disturbing to some viewers. If there are children in the room, we recommend that they leave."

Silence filled the kitchen. Everyone turned to the TV.

— "What?" — Claire frowned, grabbing the remote and turning up the volume. On the screen, shaky images, captured from a distance, showed a dusty road in the Middle East. Three SUVs stopped in the middle of the road, two pickup trucks further ahead, completely destroyed. Suddenly, the camera zoomed in unsteadily and there, in the middle of it all, was him.

Grant.

Mitchell jumped to his feet.

"My God."

The scene showed Grant and a group of armed men getting out of the vehicles with rifles in hand. One of them signaled something, and soon shots were fired at the Hamas vehicles. Bodies fell to the ground, and then Grant's team cautiously advanced.

"What the hell is going on?" Jay asked, his expression growing more serious with each passing second.

The transmission continued. Now, Grant and the others were checking the bodies. One of the men on the team picked up weapons and placed them on the ground, while another took photos of the fallen militants.

Cam put his hands to his mouth, shocked.

— "This can't be real..."

— "It is real." — Jay murmured, his gaze fixed on the screen.

The journalist continued her narration:

— "Sources claim that supermodels Gigi and Bella Hadid were on a humanitarian mission in Gaza when they were targeted in a kidnapping attempt by Hamas. What wasn't clear until now was who protected them. But, from the images, we can clearly see that one of the men involved is Grant Tucker-Pritchett, a highly decorated former military officer and current high-level private security guard. The same Grant who has worked for Beyoncé, Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, and even Mark Zuckerberg."

Hailey's eyes widened.

— "Okay, but since when does my cousin star in action movie scenes in real life?"

— "Since he became a highly trained fighting machine." — Manny commented, still looking at the TV.

The story continued.

— "The images are being widely discussed on social media, with experts analyzing the tactics used in the confrontation. Let's hear from a military expert on the subject."

The scene cut to a gray-haired man in a suit sitting in a studio.

— "Clearly, we're dealing with highly trained operators. The way they move, how they establish perimeters and deal with threats, is not something you see in ordinary private security. These are special forces techniques. As far as we know, Grant Tucker-Pritchett served in a Tier One unit, and his combat experience is evident here. They knew exactly what they were doing."

Mitchell looked at Cam, completely speechless.

— "Our son... taking out terrorists on live TV..."

Phil, who was stunned, suddenly spoke:

— "Look, I know the situation is tense, but... he looks incredible in this. Like, look how he moves! He looks like a superhero!"

— "This isn't a movie, Phil!" Claire exclaimed nervously. The report continued:

"What we still don't know is how these images leaked. Some sources indicate that nearby security cameras captured the action, while others suggest they were captured by drones in the area. What is certain is that Grant Tucker-Pritchett has just become one of the most talked-about names at the moment."

The camera returned to the studio.

"Now the question remains: how will this leak impact his career? He's already being called 'The World's Deadliest Security Guard'."

Mitchell took a deep breath and ran his hands over his face.

"This can't be happening..."

"Well..." Jay said, crossing his arms. "At least we know he can take care of himself."

"Yes, but now everyone knows he's a former Tier One!" Claire retorted. "That could put a target on his back!"

"Claire, if anyone wants to try their luck against him, good luck," Jay said, with a small, proud smile. Hailey looked at Alex.

"Does that mean Grant is like... a real-life John Wick?"

Alex sighed.

"Worse than that."

Cam, still trying to process everything, murmured:

"He didn't even tell us he was going to Gaza..."

Mitchell nodded.

"Because he knew we'd freak out."

Luke, who until then had only been observing spoke:

"I have to admit, that's the most badass thing I've ever seen in my life."

Jay picked up his coffee and took a sip, glancing at the TV where the news report was still playing. He shook his head, a slight smile on his lips.

"That's my grandson."

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Chapter 40 - Chapter 78-79