Chapter 53: The Calm Before the Ambush
Liam
Everything was in place. While Amara was still healing, the brothers and I had spent the past few days meticulously refining a foolproof plan. Reggy had worked tirelessly, hacking into the security systems of Killian’s compound. After much persistence, he had finally cracked it. We could now access the outside as well as parts of the inside layout of the building. Killian had invested heavily in security, but we were about to take it all away from him.
I was focused, energized, and ready for the storm ahead. Ready to rattle his cage, to get under his skin, to make him crack. He wouldn’t be able to hide any longer. Tonight, I would change the game. I would turn the tables on him and make him feel the sting of losing control. This was the night we would take his guns, his treasures, and his grip on power away. The big boys were out to play, and with Amara’s knowledge and our combined skills, nothing could stop us.
My brothers were satisfied with the intel she provided. Some of them still grumbled about using her knowledge more aggressively, but they didn't know the whole story. They didn’t know what she truly meant to me. They didn’t understand the pull she had on me, how she made me feel things I thought I had long buried. We all grew up knowing that love was a weakness. It was something we swore to avoid, something we vowed would never touch us. But with her, it felt different. I didn’t know what it was, but I couldn’t shake it. Maybe it was the connection, the bond, the way she understood me. She had a way of making me feel alive, despite all the darkness in our lives.
None of us left that hellhole unscarred. We all carried the weight of our past, the lessons we were forced to learn. We watched the destruction, the cruelty, the evil that Killian unleashed on anyone who crossed him. And yet, I still couldn’t let go of the feeling that this was personal. He was beyond redemption. His fate was sealed, and tonight, we would make sure he paid.
I arrived at our meeting point, where we’d go over the final details with the men. We couldn’t afford mistakes, not now, not when everything hinged on tonight. This was our shot at taking down Killian and ending his reign of terror.
"Liam!"
"Hey, brother," I nodded.
"We’re just waiting for John," one of them said.
"Alright," I said, "Since he already knows the plan, Thomas, why don’t you explain the details to the men?"
"Why don’t you do it?" Thomas shot back.
I gave him a look, and he huffed before climbing up on top of his car.
"Alright, listen up, you bunch of misfit morons," Thomas yelled. "You better be paying attention because if I get a bullet in my ass because you fucked up, I’ll be pissed. Today, we’ve got a small group. We’re not going in guns blazing. Fuck up, and I’ll fuck you up. Got it?"
I chuckled, and Reggy nudged me in the side.
"You know he hates public speaking," he said with a grin.
"Of course," I said. "But it’s too much fun watching him squirm."
"Alright, split into your groups," Thomas continued. "If you don’t know your group by now, go the fuck home. We don’t need dumbasses with guns."
I raised an eyebrow. "How many times do you think he’s going to insult them?"
"A lot," Reggy laughed.
"Let’s wager," I said. "I bet eight more insults."
"Fifteen," Reggy countered.
We shook hands, and I walked up to Thomas, handing him my flask. "You cheap son of a bitch. That's cheating!"
"No, it’s not!" I yelled back.
"Will you two stop playing around?" Thomas grumbled. "You want me to teach these numbskulls or what?"
"Sorry, brother," I said, "Take a drink."
Thomas glared at me and swigged a few large gulps.
"Alright, Team A," Thomas began, "You’ll be here at this spot." He pointed to the map. "Stay put. Don’t leave this spot, not for anything. Not for your mama, not for anyone. Got it?"
"We won’t leave," they responded in unison.
"Good," he said. "If you fuck this up, I’ll be convinced you should’ve been swallowed. In your car, there’s a transmission device that lets Reggy make us invisible on those cameras. I better find your bodies before I find out you’ve left that spot."
"Team B," he continued, "you’re with me. We know Killian has six men stationed on this side. We’ll go in first, quietly and quickly. Take them out, we’ve got three minutes to do it. If we don’t plug into the mainframe by then, Reggy won’t be able to mask us. You think you’re tough enough for that?"
Some of the men mumbled, but most were clearly paying attention.
"Once we’re in, we’ll radio Team C," Thomas said. "Reggy will give the all-clear, and then Team C, led by John, will move in and clear the upper left. Got it?"
"Got it," they answered.
"Good. Hopefully, your aim is better than your brains."
"Team D," Thomas continued, "You’re with Liam. Enter through the front with him on his go. Your job is not just to protect your leader, but also to kill anyone in your path. Clear the way and meet us in the middle. If any of you screw this up and get one of my brothers hurt, there will be hell to pay."
"Got it."
"Lastly, we’ve got Klaus, entering from the top. He’ll assist each team as needed and take out men from above. And if any of you idiots expose him by looking up, I’ll shove this boot up your ass."
"Team E, you’re with Ricky. You’re the distraction team. We know his men come up here every two hours to check on things, so you guys are going to keep them busy. You think you can handle that?"
"Yeah, boss, we got it."
"Alright," Thomas said. "You cocksuckers got it? Or do I need to explain it again to the two idiots in the back who aren’t fucking listening?"
"We got it!" they replied, sounding more in unison now.
"Alright," Thomas grinned. "Let’s get to work, then."