Page 64 of Oliver

Then at Oliver.

“What should we do? I don’t want anyone to get hurt. We need to burn that bastard down.

He smiled, slow and dangerous. “I hoped you’d say that.”

47

Oliver

Northern Mexico – Five Miles from Langston’s Compound

We moved under the cover of night, the dust clinging to our boots and the heat rising even after sunset. Langston’s hideout was buried deep in cartel-controlled territory—land where favors were bought with blood, and secrets were currency.

“Thermal’s picking up twelve heat signatures,” Cyclone whispered, peering through his scope. “Two vehicles. Reinforced steel. No markings.”

“Private security,” Oliver muttered. “Langston’s not trusting government muscle anymore.”

Raven nodded. “He knows we’re coming.”

We crouched behind a crumbled stone wall, the compound rising like a fortress in the distance. Tall fences. Watchtowers. A drone looped in wide, slow circles overhead.

“He’s prepping to run,” I said. “Fuel trucks on standby. Satellite dish still warm. Someone’s making contact.”

Oliver glanced at his watch. “We move in five. Quiet entry. Disable surveillance. Capture Langston alive.”

Emery’s voice echoed in my head.Burn him down.

Oh, we would.

But first?

We needed someoneinside.

Raven’s communication crackled. “We’ve got a problem,” he said, eyes narrowing.

He handed me his earpiece, and I heard the words that made my blood turn to ice.

“They have Gage.”

Oliver froze.

“What?”

Cyclone checked his communications. “Repeat that.”

The voice came again—one of our field scouts. “Gage went dark three hours ago. He was tracking Langston’s convoy before they reached the compound. Now his signal’s inside.”

“They took him,” Raven said flatly.

Cyclone looked at me. “New plan?”

I nodded. “We go in hot.”

“No,” Raven said. “We go in smart. Langston’s expecting fury. Let’s give himprecision.”

Inside the Compound– Gage

The ropes bit into my wrists, but I didn’t move.

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