Page 1 of Echo’s Secret

Chapter 1 - Echo

The Vipers' clubhouse sits dark and quiet three hundred yards ahead.

I watch it through my rifle scope from the rooftop across the street, my breathing slow and even despite the adrenaline beginning to build in my veins. 0158 hours. Two minutes until Phoenix gives the signal. Two minutes until we turn this war into history.

My earpiece crackles. Phoenix's voice: *"Sound off."*

"Judge, east wing, ready," comes the first response.

"Canvas, west approach, ready."

"Brick, front breach, ready."

"Diesel, power station, ready."

One by one, each brother confirms position. When it comes to me, I key my mic once. They know what that means. Echo is always ready. Echo doesn't waste words when a click will do.

"Two minutes," Phoenix says. "Stay sharp."

I settle deeper into position; the rifle stock pressed firmly against my shoulder. I've been watching this building for nine days straight. Know every window, every door, every blind spot in their security. Logged patrol patterns, shift changes, delivery schedules. Found the gaps. There are always gaps if you're patient enough to wait for them.

Right now, we're in the biggest gap. Shift change. Half their guards are tired, the other half are still waking up. Demon thinks his fortress is impenetrable. He's wrong.

The night air is cool against my face. Clear sky, half moon, perfect visibility. I can see two guards at the front entrance, three more on a smoke break near the east wall. Another patrolling the fence line, bored and slow. They're not expecting us. That's their first mistake.

Their second mistake is thinking the Iron Phoenix makes empty threats.

You come after our families, we burn your world down.

My phone buzzes in my pocket. I ignore it. Nothing matters right now except this shot, this moment, these brothers depending on me to see what they can't.

Movement in a second-floor window catches my attention. I track it through the scope. Male, mid-thirties, Viper cut, carrying what looks like an AR-15. He pauses at the window, scans the street below. Doesn't think to look up. They never do.

I mark his position mentally. Target three if things go loud before Phoenix wants them to.

"One minute," Phoenix says in my ear.

My heart rate stays steady. Breathing unchanged. I learned a long time ago how to keep my body calm when everything around me is about to explode. Growing up at Sacred Heart Orphanage taught me that: never let them see what you're feeling. The moment someone knows what matters to you is the moment they can take it away.

What matters right now is making sure my brothers get home alive.

I scan the perimeter one more time. Count guards. Seven visible, probably another six to ten inside. The Vipers are down to maybe thirty patched members. Tonight we're going to reduce that number to something that can't threaten us anymore.

"Thirty seconds," Phoenix says.

I watch Diesel's shadow move near the electrical box on the corner. He's our mechanic, but he can build things and burn things with equal skill. Right now, he's about to plunge this entire block into darkness.

The guard on the fence line yawns. Checks his phone. Has no idea he's living his last minutes.

"Ten seconds."

I slow my breathing even more. Finger rests gently on the trigger. Not tense. Just ready.

"Five."

The world narrows to what I can see through the scope.

"Four."