He gave a subtle signal to his crew, signaling them to keep an eye on Jolie.

Without delay, he tasked Shawn with a sweep of the ship's occupants.

In no time, Shawn came back with news about a cameraman from the TV crew who had taken a leave. Rushed and short-staffed, the team had quickly filled the vacancy with little vetting.

While combing through the vessel for the stand-in cameraman, the crisp hum of an engine cut through the silence of the sea.

Their backup was too far out to arrive this swiftly, tipping them off that these were not allies.

Without wasting a beat, Holden and Mitchel leapt into action, bolting toward the deck. There, they spotted a figure clad in black, masked and hatted, slipping into the lifeboat. Beside the mysterious figure was a dark bag, ominously shaped as though it harbored a captive.

Holden's usually calm demeanor shattered as he sprinted to the helm, seizing control of the yacht to chase down the escaping lifeboat.

The yacht, more accustomed to leisurely cruises than high-speed chases, lagged behind the swift lifeboat. With each moment, the distance between them grew, and Holden's anxiety spiked. He knew that if things didn't change, the lifeboat would vanish from view.

Spotting another lifeboat, Holden didn't hesitate. He jumped aboard, with Mitchel right on his heels.

The two skipped their typical bickering and focused solely on the chase.

Holden navigated the waters with an urgency that ignored the rough waves.

The figure in black, now aware of Holden's chase, couldn't help but mutter, "They must be crazy!"

In a swift maneuver, Mitchel and Holden gained ground and, after a tense confrontation, boarded the adversary's lifeboat. Once the struggle ended and the man in black was subdued, Holden immediately reached for the ominous black bag.

In a startling twist, as Holden unzipped the bag, a hand shot out towards him. Quick reflexes spared him from the blow, revealing that the captive wasn't Ariana. It was another man in black!

It turned out Holden and Mitchel had been tricked.

Fury surged through Holden, veins pulsating on his forehead as he shouted, “Where is she?"

The man in black who had been previously in the bag scoffed, launching himself into a ferocious brawl with Holden.

Meanwhile, the man subdued by Mitchel broke free, plunging the scene into chaos as all four clashed in a whirlwind of combat.

Still, Mitchel and Holden gained the upper hand. Despite his medical background, Mitchel had learned how to fight.

As the fight drew to a close, another boat surged into view, breezing past them with an air of smug superiority. Its occupants, two more men in black, jeered and whistled mockingly at Mitchel and Holden.