wild star| ongoing

thirty

CHAPTER 30
December 23rd, 2015
• • •

The air at the harbour crackled with an electric intensity as Ace and his crew gathered, preparing to execute their meticulously planned operation. The night draped a shroud of secrecy over their clandestine activities, punctuated by the distant sounds of waves crashing as they moved through the container terminal.

Ace stood at the forefront, exuding confidence and authority. His eyes glinted with both anticipation and steely determination as he surveyed his surroundings. The container, an imposing steel structure, loomed like a fortress, its secrets concealed within.

His crew, a tight-knit group of trusted individuals, stood in readiness, each one a cog in the well-oiled machine that was their operation.

Ace's voice, firm and commanding, sliced through the night air. "All right, listen up, you know the drill. We've got precious cargo to unload and transport. No room for mistakes, no room for slip-ups. This is our game, and we play it damn well."

Stakes were high, and one mistake could cost them everything. It was bad enough that they had the cops on their tails, but getting caught wasn't an option. He had too much money riding on this operation for it not to go smoothly.

Ace signalled his crew to action, and they moved with a well-coordinated precision, each member carrying out their assigned tasks with practiced expertise. The heavy doors of the container creaked open, revealing the hidden treasure within. The soft glow of moonlight danced upon the tightly packed packages, shimmering like forbidden promises. The crew's hands, gloved and efficient, swiftly went to work, carefully unloading the cargo and passing it along the chain. He ran through Tony's instructions in his mind – unload the cargo, get it all in the truck, and drive it to the warehouse. Simple.

His senses honed to a razor's edge, he picked up on the subtlest of movements, the faintest of disturbances. His body became a finely tuned instrument, ready to respond at a moment's notice. The faint glow of distant streetlights cast elongated shadows, creating a shifting tapestry of light and darkness. Ace's keen eyes assessed every corner, every nook and cranny, searching for any hint of unwanted attention. He could almost taste the anticipation, the blend of danger and opportunity that hung in the air.

That was when he glimpsed it.

A flicker of movement caught Ace's keen peripheral vision, setting off an instinctive response deep within him. His hand moved with the precision of a well-trained predator, instinctively reaching for the comforting weight of his gun holstered at his side. The metallic click of the safety being disengaged echoed through the silent night.

His heart pounded in his chest, a steady rhythm of anticipation that propelled him forward. The cold steel of his gun felt reassuring against his palm, empowering him with a sense of control in the face of the unknown. With silent steps, Ace moved closer to the source of the disturbance, his senses attuned to every minute detail. His breaths came out measured and steady, his body a coiled spring ready to unleash its potential. His grip on the gun tightened, his fingers resting against the familiar contours of the weapon.

As he closed in on the intruder, a gust of wind rustled through the air, stirring the surrounding foliage. The shadows retreated, unveiling the figure that had dared to encroach upon their territory. Ace's features hardened, his steely gaze fixating on the familiar face before him.

"Put the fucking gun away. We need to talk."

Lowering his weapon, Ace released a measured breath, his eyes never wavering from Keith's gaze. His body relaxed slightly, the adrenaline that had coursed through his veins gradually subsiding. The night regained its stillness, as if the universe itself had held its breath during the brief encounter. His eyes scanned the surroundings once more, ensuring that no other unwelcome surprises awaited them.