Bound by Shadows .jc

CHAPTER 61

Laying Out the Plan

The underground safe house was cloaked in a heavy air of tension. The dim light cast long shadows across the room as Seungcheol, Hoshi, Wonwoo, and Hansol leaned over a worn wooden table littered with maps, blueprints, and hastily scribbled notes. In the center of the table sat a laptop, its screen glowing faintly with Dino's face. Though confined to a hospital bed, Dino's voice carried a commanding confidence that steadied the nerves of everyone present.

"All right, hyungs, listen up," Dino began, his voice crackling slightly through the speaker. "Viktor's mansion is secure, but his systems are dated. That's his weakness. If I can breach his network, I'll disable the security grid long enough for you to get in, neutralize Viktor, and get out."

Seungcheol, the de facto leader, stood with his arms crossed, his expression grim but focused. He nodded, gripping the edge of the table as he spoke. "Good. We've got one shot at this. What's the plan?"

Dino's tone sharpened as he continued, each word precise and deliberate. "We split into two groups. Seungcheol and Hoshi will be the Strike Team. You'll go in hard and fast—straight through the front to keep Viktor and his men occupied."

Hoshi's lips curved into a confident smirk. He flipped a knife between his fingers, the blade glinting under the dim light. "Sounds like my kind of party."

Dino ignored the comment, his focus unwavering. "Wonwoo and Hansol will be the Support Team. Hansol, you'll monitor from outside, and Wonwoo, you'll run overwatch with me. I'll guide you through any changes in real time and handle the hacking."

Seungcheol frowned, his eyes narrowing as he looked at the laptop screen. "Won't that put too much pressure on you, Dino? You're still recovering."

Dino's reply was resolute, his tone carrying a weight far beyond his years. "I can handle it, hyung. This isn't just about you or the team—it's about everyone Viktor has hurt. I've already mapped his system. Once you're in, I'll cut the cameras and disable the alarms. But you'll only have about ten minutes before his backup systems kick in."

The SUV skidded to a stop near the mansion's service entrance, away from prying eyes but still close enough for a quick retreat. Seungcheol and Hoshi moved swiftly, their strides purposeful. Wonwoo and Hansol hung back, watching the perimeter and ready to step in if needed.

Through their earpieces, Dino's voice broke the tense silence.

"Hyungs, be careful. I just picked up encrypted communication from inside. Viktor might've caught wind of our plan."

Seungcheol's jaw tightened. "We figured he'd be ready. Doesn't matter. We finish this tonight."

Hoshi twirled his knife, the blade glinting faintly in the moonlight. "If he's ready, that means he's scared. Scared men make mistakes."

As Seungcheol and Hoshi pushed past the front gates, their approach was eerily quiet. Too quiet.

"Hold up," Seungcheol murmured, scanning the shadowed grounds. "Something's off."

Dino's voice crackled in their ears. "You're right. Heat signatures just lit up all over the property. Viktor has more guards than we thought."

Suddenly, gunfire erupted from the second-floor windows. Seungcheol and Hoshi dove for cover, rolling behind the stone pillars flanking the entrance.

"Stay down!" Hansol's voice snapped through the earpiece. He and Wonwoo opened fire from their position, picking off the snipers.

"Front's too hot!" Wonwoo shouted. "Go through the side entrance. Hansol and I will cover you."