The doors of Central City Bank slid open. The last normal moment of the day vanished behind them.
A.D. walked in first, silent as always. Hoodie up. Eyes alert but unreadable. He moved to the far seat near the windows and sat, unmoving, scanning the space. No one gave him a second look.
Inside the van across the street, Ray Donovan watched the live feed from A.D.'s hidden camera.
"Inside clear. Eight civilians. Two staff. One guard," Ray said. "Noah, keep an eye on A.D. Ethan, you're still lead. Twelve minutes, clean run."
Ethan Black, already inside near the front desk, adjusted his glasses. He didn't respond to Ray at first. His jaw clenched as he glanced at the quiet figure by the window.
"I still don't trust that kid," Ethan muttered. "He doesn't talk, he doesn't respond. He's a risk."
Ray's voice came firm through the earpiece. "He's not a risk. He's a weapon. You just don't know how to use him."
Beside the exit, Noah Briggs stood disguised as a utility worker, coiling fake cabling. Calm, experienced, and quiet, Noah spoke softly:
"A.D. sees everything. He doesn't need to talk. He listens better than most of us."
Inside the bank, Chloe Carter, Jade Summers, and Marcus Cole took their positions. One sat near the ATM, another posed as a customer in line, and the last leaned against the employee hallway.
2:59 PM.
Ray's voice: "On my count… now."
Noah gave A.D. a short look and a single nod.
A.D. moved. One step, then another. His silent presence made the customers uneasy, though they didn't know why. He wedged the door shut just as a girl entered, laughing with her friend.
Her name: Emily Hale.
Inside, Ethan stepped forward, voice rising just enough.
"Everyone listen! This is a robbery. Do not scream. Do not run. Sit down. You'll be safe if you do as told."
No gunfire. No panic—yet.
Chloe snapped the camera breaker. Marcus sealed the hallway. Jade secured the blinds.
A.D. approached the guard like a ghost—calm, slow. He made no sound. He didn't have to. His stare was ice. The guard's hand froze on his belt. He dropped the radio.
Ray watched from the van.
"Stage One complete," he said.
But then Ethan's voice came through, tight and annoyed. "I don't care what Ray says. I don't trust that freak."
Noah looked over at A.D. again—who now stood between two hostages, watching, analyzing, silent.
"He doesn't trust you either," Noah said quietly.
And from the van, Ray froze as he recognized the girl now crouched near the ATM.
"