Deep End | Hyunlix

37

The tension from his interaction with Hyunjin still lingered in Felix's mind as he and his team prepared for the upcoming raid. He paced the compound, his boots echoing sharply against the concrete floor. Around him, his team was focused, checking weapons and reviewing intel, but Felix's head wasn't entirely in the game.

Hyunjin's voice echoed in his mind. "Don't make me regret this."

The bitterness in those words lingered like an open wound. Felix clenched his fists, forcing himself to push the thoughts aside. Now wasn't the time for distraction.

"Felix," Seungmin called, breaking his train of thought. "We've got confirmation. It looks like they're preparing to relocate."

Felix nodded, his professional mask snapping back into place. "Good work. Tell the team to gear up. We move out in 20."

As Seungmin left, Felix grabbed his phone and tucked it into his pocket, hesitating for a fraction of a second before turning back to the mission at hand.

Whatever was going on with Hyunjin, it would have to wait. But as Felix secured his gear and stepped out to lead his team into the night, he couldn't shake the nagging thought that Hyunjin was more than a distraction. He was a storm Felix hadn't seen coming, and one he wasn't sure he could weather.

The air inside the warehouse was damp and stale, thick with the acrid scent of motor oil and the faint, sickly-sweet aroma of something rotting in the corner. Felix moved in silence, his steps measured as his team fanned out behind him. The only sounds were the soft hum of the generators and the distant creak of the building's structure settling under the weight of the night.

He signaled with two fingers, and the team split, slipping into the shadows like phantoms. Felix's heart thumped steadily in his chest, his breathing controlled as his sharp eyes scanned the dimly lit space. Stacks of wooden crates lined the walls, some marked with foreign symbols, others with faded warning labels.

Near the center of the warehouse, a group of men huddled around a table cluttered with weapons, maps, and bundles of cash. The dim overhead lights cast harsh shadows across their faces, their expressions tense as they argued in hushed tones.

Felix counted them quickly...six. Armed. One leaned casually against a crate, a cigarette dangling from his lips, his rifle propped lazily against the table. Another sat sharpening a knife, the blade catching the light with each slow, deliberate stroke.

Felix crouched behind a stack of crates, holding up a closed fist to signal his team to hold their positions. He activated his earpiece, speaking in a low whisper. "Six targets in the central zone. All armed. Stay sharp."

A crackling confirmation came through his comms, followed by the faint rustle of movement as his team adjusted their positions.

"Move on my mark," Felix murmured, his voice calm but commanding.

The seconds stretched out, heavy with anticipation. Felix's eyes flicked to the far end of the room, where Chan and Seungmin were preparing to flank. He waited until they were in position before giving the signal.

"Now."

The warehouse exploded into chaos.

The sound of flashbangs shattered the tense silence, the bright white bursts blinding the targets and disorienting them. Felix moved swiftly, his pistol drawn and aimed with precision.

"Hands in the air!" Felix's voice was sharp and unyielding as he advanced, his weapon trained on the nearest man.

One of the targets, the smoker, recovered quickly, reaching for his rifle. Felix fired a single shot, the round tearing through the weapon's stock and sending it skittering across the concrete floor.

The others scrambled, their chairs toppling over as they reached for their weapons. Felix's team was faster. Gunfire echoed through the cavernous space as his agents neutralized the immediate threats with controlled precision.

Felix ducked behind a steel beam as bullets ricocheted off the crates near him. His pulse pounded in his ears, but his focus was razor-sharp. He leaned out just enough to fire twice, dropping another target with shots to the shoulder and leg.

"Target down, non-lethal," he called into his earpiece.

To his left, Chan grappled with a knife-wielding assailant, the clash of steel filling the air. Felix moved quickly, closing the distance and delivering a swift, calculated blow to the attacker's temple with the butt of his pistol. The man crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

"Clear left!" Seungmin shouted as the last of the targets were subdued.

Felix scanned the room, his weapon still raised as his team secured the scene. The warehouse was in shambles, overturned tables, scattered weapons, and splashes of blood against the concrete floor told the story of the brief but intense firefight.

"All targets down," Felix confirmed, lowering his weapon. "Sweep the area for additional hostiles and secure the evidence. I want everything cataloged and ready for transport within the hour."

As his team moved to carry out his orders, Felix stood amidst the chaos, his gaze drifting to the table at the center of the room. He couldn't ignore the unease settling in his chest, not from the raid but from the thoughts that had plagued him all day.

Hyunjin's words echoed in his mind, sharp and biting. "Don't make me regret this."

Felix clenched his jaw, pushing the thought away as he surveyed the scene one last time.

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