For five long years, he'd been chasing the monsters known as the Hesse brothers across the globe. They were responsible for human trafficking — women and children, sold into slavery for labour and sexual exploitation.
Steve McGarrett held up a photo of Victor Hesse and his brother Anton, their faces burned into his memory like scars.
In the dense forests of North Korea, a convoy moved steadily through the undergrowth. In its centre sat a prisoner: Anton Hesse.
He and Victor were infamous — the go-to weapons dealers for any warlord or crime syndicate with enough blood money to pay.
"You're gonna tell us everything" Steve growled.
Both of you were born there, right? Anton counted Steve was caught of guard by this question
"Every buyer you've worked with, your traffic associates" as Steve was saying this anton was speaking over the top of him five years chasing us around the world, you think we did not do our homework? On you, how is the wife?
Suddenly Steves phone rang ID saying dad fear tore through his heart, what, how did how know.
You better get that you do not talk to them often enough Anton gloated
Taking a breath he picked up the phone " dad, Emma?"
"Champ" john responded confusing him his dad never called him that "you two alright?"
Mean while across the globe in Honolulu
Emma Kealani McGarrett drops off a box of malasadas on the counter, trading stories with John McGarrett in the kitchen. The sun filters through the open windows. It's peaceful. A normal morning.
Until the front door explodes open.
Victor Hesse and two armed men storm inside.
John moves for his pistol on the counter, but Hesse already has a gun trained on him.
"Don't," Hesse growls.
Emma stands frozen next to John, frozen in fear.
"Who the hell are you?" she demands, trying to keep her voice steady.
Hesse smirks when he sees her.
"Well, well. The famous Emma Kealani McGarrett. The SEAL's wife. I was hoping you'd be here."
John's eyes go wide.
"Leave her out of this."
Emma and John were quickly subdued leaving both with bruised a bloody faces victor smirked arrogantly and placed the phone to John's ear he quickly said " I don't know who these people are Ste- he was cut of
Hesse interrupted now I know where you get it from he is a tough man, you taught it your wife to.
He turns to Emma "well, well look who we have here." "Leave her alone she's got no part of this" they both shouted "Oh, she's very much part of this now," Hesse says. "See, I'm going to kill both of you"
Steves face froze "if you hurt them I will he started to say I wil f-
"That's not very nice Steve; can I call you Steve? my brother for your wife and father? He bargained
Steve motioned for a pad of paper and pen and began writing send HPD to my father's house then handing to the MP when he was finished
"Well, you know that's never going to happen, I thought you were smarter than that" Steve responded
Victor chuckled "isn't family everything?"
So you want to negotiate now? he chuckles I think you are in no position to negotiate he said as he the person next to him locked on to the convoy's location
One to ghost they are heading along high way three towards Uijeonbu ghost one said over the radio
Victor saw Steve feeling vulnerable "kill them, you get nothing" he stated aggressively
"Your old man and wife want to say something" he handed the phone over to john you get thirty seconds "listen to me champ /babe—Steve quickly interrupted I'm gonna get you out of this guys?
"We love you, just don't give it to them, promise us" don't give it to them Hesse quickly strikes johns making him fall of the chair landing with a thud, "Do that again and it wont be a hit it will be a bullet" he threatened.
As his whole ordeal is happening, and Emma sits on the floor of the living room, her wrists bound behind her back. One of Hesse's goons has a firm hand on her shoulder, holding her down as she struggles against the restraints, her heart pounding in her chest. being held back it all unfold. She feels hopeless, terrified for John's life and her own.
Through the phone, Steve's voice calls out, desperate and furious.
"Dad, Emma! I swear to God, if anything happens to them, I'll hunt you down!" Steve threatens.
Suddenly, a missile strikes out of nowhere, slamming into Steve's motor pool. The explosion is instant and brutal. Most of the soldiers are killed on impact, those who survive are quickly gunned down in a vicious firefight.
Steve, shielding Anton, manages to survive the initial blast. Anton seizes the moment, grabbing a fallen soldier's rifle and leveling it at Steve.
"Drop it!" he shouts his voice shaking with panic.
Anton fires first — but Steve is faster. Steves shot lands first, dropping Anton instantly.
Back in the house, Hesse hears the shot crackle through the phone.
"What happened?" he demands.
Steve answers coldly, his voice like ice.
"Anton's dead."
"Well... so is your father," comes the cruel reply.
Steve screams through the phone, "No!"
Victor smirks darkly into the phone.
"Oh — and your wife? Say goodbye."
"No! Please — leave her out of this!" Steve begs, his voice cracking.
As Hesse raises the gun, aiming it at Emma's head, she moves. Military wife or not, Steve taught her how to fight — how to survive. Through agony and terror, she remembers every move, every instinct he drilled into her.
The shot goes off — missing.
The bullet slams into the wall behind her as Emma throws herself sideways, grabbing for Hesse's wrist. Adrenaline drowns out the pain as she uses the self-defence moves Steve made her practice, twisting his arm, fighting with every ounce of fury and grief.
Her sea-blue eyes blaze with defiance. She grabs the nearest vase and hurls it at his face.
"Feisty one, are we?" Hesse sneers, wiping blood from his cheek.
"You'll have to kill me to stop me," she spits.
"I can see why Steve married you," Victor snarls. "Well — so is your father," he adds cruelly to the phone, making Steve's blood run cold.
Before Emma can react further, one of the gunmen turns toward her, raising his weapon.
"Let Steve fear for your life," Hesse orders. "Leave him a message."
The gunman fires — the bullet slamming into Emma's leg. She cries out, the pain blinding, her body buckling to the floor. But through it, she snarls defiantly, voice ragged.
"He'll find you... and he'll kill you."
Victor crouches beside her, whispering against her ear, "Give McGarrett my regards. Tell him he's already lost... and this is just the beginning."
YOU ARE READING
you're still my home
Non-FictionSteve McGarrett, a Navy-trained SEAL, has always lived a life in the shadows - but one secret he guards closest is his wife, known only to a trusted few. When the ruthless Victor Hesse murders Steve's father and leaves his wife clinging to life, Ste...
