Chapter 1

Raven's POV

I sat in the car watching out the window as the rain slowly pattered on the roof of the car in the cold still night. Right now, we were currently parked outside the front of a warehouse owned by one of the most influential men in the country. Don Tito Gonzalez, formerly the head and leader of the Gonzalez Cartel. A man whom I sought so much to destroy.

"Five minutes left now." Lucas said beside me. " You ready?"

"I was born ready." I replied him almost immediately.

Lucas nodded, and then picked up his burner phone from the dashboard. He dialed a number and after a few rings, it connected. The call was picked up by the other people in our group who were all stationed at various places around the warehouse.

"Five minutes left, get ready." He said and then cut the call. He then proceeded to dial another number and after a few seconds that too was picked up.

"We're going in, in five. How's things on your end?" Lucas asked.

"We're good to go, boss." A voice responded from the other end of the line. With that, Lucas put down the burner phone and then picked up his mask, which was also on the dashboard. After putting on his, he stretched out another one towards me.

"Here," he said, with a hint of urgency in his voice. I collected the mask from him and he quickly turned his attention to his wrist watch.

I stared at mine intently, as I carefully assessed the designs on it. The face of the mask was that of a skull, artistically printed all over the face area. The design was sleek and modern, with a slight tint to the lenses that seemed to be a combination of sunglasses and a face mask. The mask and our custumes seemed to be a perfect fit for the night's operation. Tonight wasn't just any night, this was a night of outmost importance.

Our entire fate as a group, soley depended on the outcome of the operation which we were about to carry out in the next few minutes.

"Here, you two." Franca said, stretching her hands from the back seat as she extended an open box with two tiny ear phones on it towards us. "I'm about to jam all communications devices available in the warehouse immediately you guys step inside. This will enable you communicate with me and the rest of the team, when that happens."

I took one of the ear phones and placed it in one of my ears, while Lucas took the other.

After putting on the ear phone in my ear I swiftly secured the mask over my face, feeling the soft material conform to my features. I glanced over at Lucas, who was already checking his watch for what felt like the hundredth time.

The plan was simple. We infiltrate the warehouse undetected, by going in through the east entrance, which we were parked in front of and currently staring at right now. According to Franca's intel, the security guards change their shifts every five hours each day. This will gives us room to move in as there is an additional time between each shift change by the security guards.

After carefully vetting this shift change system for months now, we discovered that the time between each shift change was five minutes at minimum. This was more than enough for us to get in and secure what we came here for.

And although, it was no easy task discovering this falter in his biggest and most priced warehouse security system, who would have expected Tito Gonzalez, to have a crack in his security system?

Tito was a very paranoid and cunning man. But his unwavering cautiousness was indeed something that needed to be studied. Even before going into hiding and aside from having the entire policing department on his payroll, he had been very security cautious making him an invisible target for his rivals.

Now his son Mario Gonzalez, an even more ruthless and calculating person with a cold and domineering persona, was the head and leader of the Cartel. While Tito, his father operated from the shadows, he was the front runner and face of his father's empire.

"Thirty seconds left, now." Lucas said once more as he glanced at his wrist watch again.

"How's that camera coming, Franca?" I asked.

"Oh, that? Piece of cake." Franca reaponded gleefully as she rapidly operated the keys on her laptop. "I'm in." She added, smiling.

"Contact the others, Lucas. Inform them that we'll be moving in soon." I said firmly, staring at the gaurds standing in front of the warehouse ahead.

Lucas picked up his burner phone once more and after a few taps on the screen he replied. "Done."

"We need to move quickly if we're going to make it in undetected." I said once more. "Franca, you will take point from here then move on to join Carter's truck."

"Noted." She replied,. "Ready to deactivate all cameras in the east wing of the building once you give the order."

I nodded, feeling a surge of adrenaline as I prepared for the mission.

Just then, the watch on my wrist beeped twice. Signalling that it was time for the shift change. Lucas and I glanced at each other, before shifting our gaze to the two men in front of the warehouse. It was time to move in now, and

One of the security guards stood there taking a smoke under the rain, heavily armed, while the other two security guards patrolled the surrounding area.

As I watched, the other two security guards who were previously patrolling the area left, leaving the one who was still smoking all by himself.

Taking him out wouldn't be a difficult task of course, but we— i couldn't risk any compromise, most especially not on this night. I glanced at the wrist watch on my left hand and the time read 00:03, and before I could even utter a word I heard Lucas's voice beside me.

"We can take him out, you know?" He asked, with a hint of impatience in his tone.

"No." I replied immediately, knowing that was the question he wanted to ask. "It's not worth the risk. Tell everyone to remain still."

Lucas picked up his burner phone and sent the message across once more, just as I had instructed.

I stared at the security guard through the car's windshield with contempt, as even I was becoming a bit impatient too. What the hell was going on? I thought. Why decide to take a smoke just now?

Just then, his gaze fell upon me. It felt as if he could see me through the glasses, clearly. And I in turn, didn't hold back; I returned the gaze. We both stared at each other for a while, his gaze threatening and interrogative.

He drew a hit from the cigarette he held on one of his hands, then squinted his eyes as if trying to pick us out from the dark. But to no avail.

You've probably got a family to fend for, you fool. I said inwardly as I stared at him from distance. Hurry up and don't get caught up in someone else's business.

"Five minutes past twelve o'clock." Lucas complained. "You know how much we've prepared for this, Rave."

I said nothing. I just remained silent, watching— if watching was the right word the right word to use, at the security guard.

Move for god's sake! I cried inwardly once again.

And then, as if he could hear my thoughts clearly. He slowly threw the cigarette to the far corner, some metres away from where he was standing. He slowly backed out and after a few foot, turned around and walked away.

Phew! I sighed inwardly again. That was close, too damn close. For a moment I thought— well it doesn't matter anymore, what matters right now is that we're going in.

"Kill the cameras." I said to Franca, almost immediately. "We're moving in."