The shift happened fast and it didn’t ease. The yard turned from tension into preparation as weapons came out and plans started forming without hesitation.
No one laughed and no one wasted time.
This wasn’t pressure anymore and this wasn’t noise. This way something sharper and heavier that sat under every movement.
I stood near the edge of it and watched at first. I didn’t interrupt and I didn’t ask questions because I wanted to see how they moved when things matters.
Crates were opened and checked. Guns were cleaned and loaded. Knives were passed and tested.
Routes were talked through in low voices that didn’t carry far but carried enough.
“They’re not playing anymore.” I said as Drake stood beside me.
“They never were.” Drake replied as I looked over at him.
“You held bac
