Midnight wrapped the city in cold silence as Sebastian walked toward the back alley behind the old Solace. The air smelled like rain and asphalt, the kind of night where everything felt heavier than it should.
Rocco and Tanner were already there, leaning against an old van. The alley was dim, lit only by a flickering streetlamp that cast long shadows across the cracked pavement.
Rocco nodded. “You ready?”
Sebastian didn’t answer. He just exhaled and looked toward the back entrance — the same door he used to unlock every morning when Solace was still his. When life still made sense.
Tanner gave a small grin. “Relax. We’re in and out.”
Sebastian forced a nod. “I’ll stay out here. Keep watch.”
He knew the layout better than anyone.
He knew the blind spots, back access, the weak points
