After the hearty breakfast, laughter and warmth lingered in the dining hall. Even Armando allowed himself a rare smile as he watched the lighthearted banter between the men and the women. Jessica caught his eye from across the table, her playful grin softening the weight of the night before. Sierra was teasing Dante about his inability to relax, while Natasha, perched next to Alex, nudged him about always being so stoic. For a moment, the danger outside their gates seemed a world away.
But moments like this couldn’t last long in their world.
As the plates were cleared and the room began to quiet, Armando stood. His presence, commanding as ever, instantly shifted the atmosphere.
“Enough,” he said, his voice firm but not unkind. “The night is over. It’s time to focus.”
The air in
