"Sir," Carlos said, his voice controlled but carrying a tight edge of urgency, "there is a distress call from base." Matteo did not respond immediately.
For a brief moment, the only sound inside the vehicle was the persistent beeping and the low vibration of the engine beneath them. Outside, the convoy maintained its speed, unaware or perhaps simply waiting for direction. Matteo's silence was not hesitation; it was calculation, and Carlos had worked with him long enough to understand that.
"Sir," Carlos added, slightly firmer this time, "it is marked as a Red Alert."
That was when Matteo spoke "Stop the car."
The words were quiet, almost effortless, but they carried absolute authority. The driver reacted instantly, slamming the brakes as the vehicle slowed sharply, gravel sca
