Queen of Wild Cards novel Chapter 502

He had absolute faith in his protégé's skills. Heavy firefights weren't his specialty, and as an old man, he had no intention of slowing her down.

"Don't worry, Fenton. Find a place to sit and rest. I'll be out before you even finish your nap." He knew her better than anyone and trusted she wouldn't act impulsively.

In a matter of moments, Stella had devised two separate tactical plans for rescuing the hostages.

She briefed the four men on the strategy.

They nodded in understanding, fully endorsing her approach, and chimed in with their own tactical refinements.

A few minutes later, the five of them—with Stella taking the lead—were in total agreement.

They executed the plan flawlessly.

Stella led them through a rear restroom window to slip inside.

Both the front and back entrances were heavily guarded; this was the only access point that would bypass the sentries' notice.

She had discovered this window earlier while wandering around and using their facilities. From the outside, you couldn't even tell it was there since it was tucked into an obscure side alley.

Five against ten. Mathematically, each person only had to neutralize two targets. It sounded simple enough, but the reality was fraught with danger. The enemy was armed with submachine guns and surrounded by hostages.

Stella's original Plan A had been to walk right through the front door, earn Hawke's trust by convincing him Tiger sent her, and then systematically dismantle their defenses from the inside.

Now, the plan had shifted. It seemed simpler, but the stakes were drastically higher.

If the guards were provoked and opened fire on the hostages, the casualties would be catastrophic.

So, Stella decided she still needed to be the vanguard to win Hawke's trust. The four men would act as her backup, staying hidden and striking when she created the opening.

After slipping through the restroom window, the four men scattered into designated blind spots in the shadows.

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