"Can we access them without being detected?" Lucky asked.
"There's an entrance point half a mile from the quarry," Jay confirmed, highlighting it on the map. "Overgrown, probably forgotten. It doesn't appear on newer maps of the area."
"That's our way in," Blade declared. "We position our force underground, beneath the exchange point. When Jose springs his inevitable double-cross, we come up behind him, catch him in a crossfire."
"What about Marcus?" Lily asked. "How do we ensure his safety during the chaos?"
The room fell silent as they considered the problem. An exchange this volatile, with gunfire likely from multiple directions, put the hostage at extreme risk.
"We need someone on the inside," Savage said finally. "Someone close enough to protect Marcus when it all goes to hell."
"I could--" Lily began, but Blade cut her off.
"No. You're already the primary target. You can't divide your focus."
She wanted to argue but knew he was right. Her role was to draw Jose out, to be the bait that sprung the trap. Someone else would need to ensure Marcus's safety.
"What about me?" Makenzie suggested unexpectedly. All heads turned toward her. "Jose's looking for club members, patched brothers. He won't be suspicious of another little coming along for moral support."
Irish immediately tensed. "Absolutely not."
"Think about it," Makenzie persisted. "Jose sees Lily and me, two scared littles, no obvious threat. His guard will be down. I can stay close to Marcus while everyone focuses on Lily."
"It's too dangerous," Irish argued, but Lucky was already considering it.
"She's not wrong," the president said thoughtfully. "Jose's intelligence will have identified all patch holders. But the littles? They're largely invisible to him. Just extensions of their men, not threats in their own right."
"That's exactly why it will work," Makenzie insisted. "He'll underestimate me. They all will."
Irish looked like he wanted to object further, but Savage intervened. "It's actually tactically sound. The best insertion strategy is often the one the enemy never sees coming."
"I can train her," Trinity offered. "Basic defensive moves, how to shield Marcus when the shooting starts. It's not ideal, but..."
"But it might be our best option," Lucky finished.
Irish's jaw worked as he struggled with the idea of putting his woman in danger. Lily understood completely, if their positions were reversed, if Blade were suggesting putting himself at risk while injured, she'd be just as opposed.
But sometimes the logical tactical choice wasn't the emotionally comfortable one.
"I know how to shoot," Makenzie added quietly. "My father made sure of it."
That surprised Lucky, who turned to look at her with raised eyebrows. "You never mentioned that."
She shrugged. "Never came up. Being a little doesn't mean I can't also be my daddy's daughter."
The simple statement resonated with Lily. That was exactly it—the duality she herself was navigating. Being someone's little girl didn't negate her ability to be strong when necessary, to fight when required.
"If Makenzie is willing, I think it's a good plan," Lily said. "We'll look exactly like what Jose expects, scared women being sacrificed by their men. His guard will be down."
Irish still looked unhappy, but nodded reluctantly. "If she's protected at all times," he insisted. "Someone with eyes on her constantly."
"Me," Rampage volunteered immediately. "I'll be her shadow. First one through the tunnels, positioned directly beneath where the exchange will take place."
That seemed to ease Irish's concerns somewhat. If anyone could protect Makenzie, it was Rampage. He was the club's largest, most physically imposing member, a former Delta operator with a reputation for unstoppable force in combat.
“Never thought we’d see the day when we allowed littles to go into combat,” Blade said. “I don’t like it. I know everyone of our protective instincts is crying out to find another way. But–” He held up his hand before Lily could interrupt him. “If we have all of us together, working to protect them and keep them safe, and can’t come up with another plan… I have to concedethat although they are little, they are mighty and they are adult women and not helpless. I don’t like it, but I can tolerate it. Once. Only once. And I swear to God, Lily. If anything happens to you…”
"Alright," Lucky conceded. "So we have Lily and Makenzie on the surface, making the exchange. The rest of us come in through the tunnels, positioned to strike when Jose makes his move. What about extraction? Once it all goes down, how do we get everyone out safely?"
