The sky was still bright when the SUVs pulled up outside the base of operations. There was a chill in the air that hadn't lifted, and the weight of anticipation settled over the convoy like an uncomfortable second skin. Inside the lead vehicle, Marcus strapped on his vest, his fingers steady but his jaw tight. Every movement was rehearsed and automatic. But beneath it, adrenaline churned.
He turned to the tactical team assembled in front of him. Kevlar, radios, and surveillance jammers were slung over shoulders. The tension in the air was electric as the men piled out. Tommy was the last to come out, having driven there in a different vehicle.
"This is a hostage extraction," Marcus said, voice cutting through the silence. "Not a shoot-to-kill. You see anyone armed, you disarm. You see her, you protect. She comes out alive, or this is pointless. Understood?"
No one spoke. They just nodded, their eyes sharp behind goggles.
Tommy was at the edge of the circle, shoulders stiff.
