Page 83 of Cold Ignition

Night wrapped around them—humid, heavy, carrying the scent of salt and rust and oil. The facility loomed ahead, a spread of low industrial buildings, dim security lights casting long shadows across gravel and cracked concrete.

“Perimeter team, move,” Kael ordered.

Shapes peeled off into the dark as Victor and Drew moved to get into position. Others moving like ghosts along the edges of the structure, eliminating sight lines, clearing angles.

Keanu stepped out last, boots hitting the ground without sound. He took in the layout in a single sweep—entry points, blind spots, potential choke positions.

“East side clear,” Victor murmured.

“North secured,” Drew added.

Kael’s voice cut through, low and absolute. “Stack on breach.”

Keanu moved with them, slipping into position just behind Kael. Rangi to his right. Alexios to his left.

The door ahead was reinforced. Locked.

Kael held up a hand. Three ... two ... one.

The charge blew with a controlled concussion—sharp, contained—just enough to break the entry without lighting up the entire compound. They were moving before the echo died.

Keanu crossed the threshold, and everything in him shifted. He cleared the first two men without breaking stride.

“Primary targets?” he snapped.

“Second level,” Luca replied immediately. “Glass office—north side. Three heat signatures. Stationary.”

Rangi didn’t even look back. “Somewhere away from the entrances, safe. That’s them.”

Kael’s voice cut through, sharp and final. “Leadership first. Move.”

The shift was instant.

This was a strike.

Keanu pivoted left, tracking the layout Luca fed them in real time, boots hitting metal stairs two at a time as he pushed for elevation. Rangi was already ahead of him—of course he was—moving like he’d been waiting for the excuse to break something.

Alexios stayed level with Keanu, not rushing, not lagging—perfect alignment.

“Door ahead,” Alexios said.

Locked and reinforced.

Keanu didn’t slow. “Stack.”

Rangi hit position on one side, Keanu the other, Alexios just behind—angles covered, timing locked.

“One,” Keanu said.

Rangi’s grin flashed—feral. “Two.”

Alexios adjusted slightly. Ready. “Three.”

The door gave under the breach—sharp, violent, controlled.

They went through it like a single movement.

Inside—there were three men. Not scrambling. Not panicking. Waiting.