The afternoon seeped slowly into the house like a warm, thick liquid—slowing every movement, weighing down every sound. The air was heavy with anticipation, filled with a tense silence that no one dared to break. Today, there was no room for delays, for slipping minutes or improvisation. Today, everything followed the plan.
And that filled Sloane with a deep, quiet satisfaction.
The entire day had been about precise preparation. Not a single misstep. Breakfast had started on time, the tactical briefing didn't drag, and the training segments, medical routines, and recovery work all flowed seamlessly together like a perfectly choreographed routine. Lennox's focus had been razor-sharp the whole way through—never drifting for a second. And not just his: Marcus, Kenji, Diego, and Malik were a
