The war room inside Kingston Estate was unusually quiet.
Maps covered the walls.
Satellite images of Blackridge flickered across three large screens.
Every entrance.
Every road.
Every security tower.
Damien stood at the front of the room with a laser pointer.
“This is what we know.”
He pointed to the compound.
“Three perimeter fences.”
“Thermal cameras.”
“Rotating patrols every twelve minutes.”
He clicked to the next image.
“Estimated personnel?”
Victor asked.
“Between forty and sixty.”
Lucien folded his arms.
“And civilians?”
Damien hesitated.
“Unknown.”
That single word settled heavily over everyone.
⸻
Lily sat quietly in a corner of the room.
Coloring with crayons one of the housekeepers had found for her.
She looked completely at peace.
As though she hadn’t jus
