Page 50 of Hardline Torque
The team teased and laughed as they maneuvered into their assigned positions to breech the compound.
The safe house sat on a broad estate tucked into the low hills, wrapped in greenery and distance.It had a long sweeping driveway with good natural sightlines.It was the kind of property that had been designed for privacy rather than defense—money buys space, not security.Too much land.Too many blind approaches.
And way too familiar to the team.
Black Tide used to live near there.Not on this property, but close enough that they all knew the roads instinctively—the way the land rolled, where the trees thin, the places where sound carries farther than it should.Old habits surfaced without invitation.They knew where the wind would shift at night and which fence lines were older than they looked.
“They picked it because it’s quiet,” Luca had said that afternoon when they had been preparing, pulling up layered overlays on a map.“No neighbors close enough to hear trouble, and locals mind their business.It’s a private estate that is owned by three shells corporations that appear clean on paper.”
Through his scope, Victor saw heat signatures bloomed.
There were a number of vehicles tucked under cover and power generators disguised as landscaping features.A small cluster of men who moved like professionals pretending they weren’t, were gathered near the back wall of the property, watching something on a screen one held in his hand.
“It’s not surveillance,” Luca said.“It’s tonight’s football match.Chiefs are up if anyone cares.”
None of them did.Then Niko asked what tactical approach they were going to take.
Torch let out a low whistle.“Big house.Big yard.And there are not a lot of neighbors nearby.”A beat.“We could level it.An explosion or three and everything goes bye-bye.”
Victor didn’t say anything, but he kind of agreed.That move meant less chance of one of them getting hurt, so he was all for that.
“Fastest solution,” Keanu added mildly.
“And loudest,” Niko replied.
“Always my go-to.”Torch said, then his tone shifted, losing its edge.“But this is our neighborhood.Ourohana.We do this right.”
The words settled.
Victor drew his rifle back for a moment and looked over at Tane.“They’d never stop for that.Collateral damage or the potential risk of it wouldn’t slow them down.”
Tane turned his head slightly, meeting his gaze.“Which is why it does slow us down.If we win like them, we lose anyway.”
No one pushed back or argued.Victor held still for a second, then nodded.“Agreed.”
Victor lifted his rifle once more, the familiar ritual grounding him.There was no tension in his chest—only focus.This was the work he did and what he was good at.
“Positions,” Kael murmured across comms.
“Set.”
“Ready.”
“Specter, Wraith,” Tane said.“You’re up.”
Victor ghosted forward with Drew at his shoulder, the two of them slipping through the outer perimeter like they belonged there.Drew glanced sideways at him and grinned.
“After you,” he murmured.
Victor smirked.“Try to keep up.”
They waited at the service entrance, Torch already working the secondary lock, hands fast and sure.
“Quiet breach,” Torch said.“Because apparently we’re being classy tonight.”
Luca snorted softly.
The door opened.
