Boston’s jaw tightened, leg still bouncing as Rip’s stare lingered on him. Boston didn’t look back. “That’s not normal.”
“You’re right,” Viper said. “It’s deliberate.”
He glanced once toward the hallway—toward the bedroom Titus had left behind—then back to the group. Whatever was happening had already moved past waiting.
Rip straightened. “So, Titus went back into this place?”
“Yes,” Viper said. No hesitation. “And he didn’t do it alone. I have a feeling Vale called him.”
Law exhaled slowly. “Then we assume the situation’s already changed.”
Viper nodded. “Which means we don’t pile into the same mistake.”
He laid it out cleanly.
“Law, you’re with me,” Viper said. “We move to the estate—quiet, controlled, no heroics.”
Law nodded once. Done.
“Boston,” Viper continued. “You stay here with Sage.”
“I’m coming.” Boston’s eyes flared, but Viper was already shaking his head.
Rip cut in. “You’re too young.”
“Fuck you. That didn’t matter when I threw the grenade that tore apart Mickey’s compound, or in Las Vegas when I went in with Sage as bait to take down Franklin.”
“Boston—”
“No. Quit saying I’m too young. I’m eighteen and yeah, maybe I can’t legally drink, but I don’t like alcohol anyway.” He stopped when he realized everyone was watching him.
“Boston,” Viper said evenly, “I want eyes on everything—financial movement, comm spikes, exits lighting up. The second something shifts, I want to know why. I need you with Sage.”
“I’m no techie. I work better in the field.”
“That wasn’t a request.”
Boston bristled, ground his teeth, then threw up his arms. “Copy. I’ll keep Sage in line.”
Sage snorted but didn’t look up.
“Rip,” Viper said. “Take Memphis and Syx. You three stay mobile. Off-site. Float the perimeter. If anything breaks containment, you’re the hammer.”
A flicker of satisfaction crossed Rip’s face. “Copy.”
The room settled—not calm, but aligned.
Viper slid his weapon into the shoulder holster and picked up his jacket. “No one goes in blind. No one goes in loud. Titus doesn’t need backup—he needs us not to make it worse.”
Boston’s head cocked. “And if he already crossed a line?”
Viper didn’t answer right away. He thought of the bed. The coffee. The quiet that had felt like a warning.
“Then we adapt,” he said finally. “Same as always.”
He headed for the door.
The service corridor swallowed sound.
