Twisted Obsession

43 - Infiltration

Athena Luciana Bianchi

"Ten minutes out," Elliot's voice crackled over the comms. "Stay sharp. When you reach the target zone, you'll need to follow my guidance precisely. The safe routes are limited, and one wrong move could compromise the entire operation."

"Roger that," I replied, my tone steady. "Bravo, Charlie, sound off."

"Yes, boss," their voices echoed through the channel, firm and in unison.

"Listen up," I commanded, my voice low and sharp. "Upon arrival at the mansion, we split into two units as planned. Bravo and Charlie teams form Delta. Your objective is to neutralize all personnel—no exceptions. I want no interference."

A brief pause, then I continued, "Alpha team is with me. We secure the diamonds. Time is critical. No deviations. Confirm."

"Understood, boss," came the clipped response from the teams.

I shot a quick glance at Federico, his grip on his weapon tightening, his expression unreadable. He gave a subtle nod—barely noticeable, but enough to signal his readiness. I turned to Carlos and Riccardo, catching their eyes already trained on me. "Switch with two of Delta's members and oversee them," I instructed, my voice steady. Without a word, Carlos gave a sharp nod, his focus unwavering.

"Elliot, status on perimeter intel?" I inquired, keeping my voice low.

"Guards on the eastern side are rotating every seven minutes," Elliot replied, his tone calm yet precise. "West gate has light coverage, but motion detectors are active. Your best entry is the south wall—shadowed and blind for two minutes every rotation. You'll need to move fast."

"Copy that. South wall breach is our entry point. Delta, be ready to sweep the grounds clean. Alpha, we hit the vault directly. Silence is key. No unnecessary shots." I double-checked my weapon and gear, the faint weight of the earpiece grounding me in the chaos to come.

Federico's voice cut through, quiet but commanding. "Anything out of line gets eliminated."

The operation was on a razor's edge, but the diamonds were close—close enough to taste. And failure wasn't an option.

The truck came to a jarring halt, the low growl of the engine fading into tense silence. The muffled pops of gunfire reached my ears, faint but unmistakable—a reminder that we weren't the only ones hunting tonight.

"On alert," I ordered quietly, my hand tightening around my weapon.

Federico adjusted his grip on his rifle, his mask still pulled over his face. "Sounds like someone's ahead of schedule," he muttered, his tone laced with irritation.

"Doesn't matter," I replied coldly, scanning the faces of Alpha and Delta teams around me. "We stick to the plan. No distractions."

The truck door groaned as one of his men unlocked it from the outside. The metallic clank echoed ominously, and a sharp gust of night air flooded in. I stepped out first, my boots hitting the concrete with a muted crunch. The others followed in perfect formation, silent shadows slipping into the mansion's shadows.

The mansion loomed ahead, its pale stone exterior illuminated by dim, flickering floodlights. The south wall lay in shadow, just as Elliot promised. I motioned with two fingers, and the Delta team peeled off, moving in a crouched line toward the perimeter guards. Their steps were light, disciplined, and soon they melted into the dark.

"Alpha, with me," I whispered into my mic. Federico and three others followed, staying close as we darted toward the south wall. As two other men joined from delta.