I pulled up Dimitri’s number. “You’re going to call Dimitri and tell him what’s going on and that we need people here. Can you do that?” I placed the phone in her hand, taking the weapon from her, checking the magazine. There was just enough to get by. “That’s his number.”
“Yes, of course.” The moment I placed my hand on the door, we both heard a sound. “That’s a code blue.”
Furious, I took a deep breath. “Stay right here. I mean it. Do not go out of this room. Can you do that for me?”
“Okay. But I’m a doctor on the floor.”
“Not tonight. Get into the bathroom. Make the call and stay hidden.”
Another sound and she seemed perplexed. “There’s another emergency. What is going on?”
“A goddamn smokescreen. I’ll be back.”
“You better.”
I gave her a harsh glare, pointing to the cracked door.
She did as I asked, although begrudgingly. Only after she was safely tucked away inside did I open the main door a crack, immediately noticing a team of hospital personnel running by with a cart.
More of the staff flew in the opposite direction. There was no sign of my men or anyone appearing suspicious. I stepped into the corridor, avoiding being run over by a nurse.
I moved across the hallway, scanning both sides.
A loud crash came from a room somewhere close. Then a shout. What the hell? With the weapon in both hands, I stayed close to the wall, trying to keep my hospital room door in my sights as long as possible. As usual, this was just another trap and if I had to guess, I’d say the two emergencies had been started to create chaos.
It was working.
More people were coming out of the woodwork, a few employees moving from room to room trying to calm the patients. I moved quickly, keeping the gun low as I looked for anyone I’d consider suspicious.
When the room was out of sight, I hissed, turning in a full circle. There were no personnel at the nurses’ station, legitimate situations ongoing, but I also sensed more confusion building.
I noticed another supply room, the door open in such a way to indicate something was blocking it. I found out why.
Both Dante and Cormac were down, Dante’s foot caught in the door. “Shit.” I moved in, crouching down, immediately searching for a pulse. Fuck. Cormac was dead, a clean slash crossing his throat. That meant the killer had gotten close.
Either one of Dimitri’s men had come for a shift change or hospital personnel had made an appearance the men believed they could trust. Either way, Cormac had lost his life because of me.
And the goddamn Ghost.
Fuck. The asshole had been one step ahead the entire time. That was going to change.
I grabbed their weapons, pulling Dante in to keep him safe. “Don’t worry. I’ll get you some help. Stay with me.” The last thing I’d want to need to tell Kazimir was that his brother-in-law, the man who’d helped keep his first son, Sasha safe while his wife endured the torture of her own father for several years had died on my watch.
Damn it.
Returning to the corridor, I headed down the hall just as a literal smokescreen hit the floor. Smoke filled the corridor, likely from a smoke bomb. Within seconds, it was tough to see anything.
I had to push my way through people, fighting my way to try to locate the bastard. Footsteps. I heard them everywhere. This was a goddamn nightmare.
Another crash and I snapped my head back to the direction where I’d come from. No. There was something wrong. Suddenly, the emergency lights popped on and several people were yelling.
“Clear the floor. Clear the floor!”
A suspected fire, which would create complete chaos. Which was exactly what the Ghost wanted.
For one reason.
Vivian.
