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“That’s right.” Ryker grinned as he found a bottle of bleach. He uncapped it and took a sniff. And made a face. “God, that bleach smell is strong.”

“God no!” Frank cried out. “Please don’t.”

Ryker chuckled and poured the bleach over the Ajax.

Shrieks and shrieks of pain and anger came from the can.

“Nolan, that won’t actually kill him, will it?”

“Nope.”

“Oh. Good.”

Ryker looked over at where Linc had the second man lying on the floor, dead. The cries of pain were now getting annoying, so Ryker put the lid on the garbage can. When he heard the elevator ding, he stood stock still.

“Don’t worry, it’s just Landon. He went to go get another garbage can for the other guy,” Nolan assured him.

“Hate to ruin your fun,” Gideon said. “We’re on a time crunch.”

Just like that, everything stopped being fun. Ryker thought of Amy, lying in that hospital bed. How was she doing? Was she all right?

He heard weeping from the can.

I don’t have time for this shit.

He opened the lid and reached down deep with his knife. Frank’s one good eye widened with fear. Ryker stabbed him in it. When his body stopped moving, he knew the man was dead.

26

When Amy opened her eyes, she looked around in a panic.

Where am I?

She covered her face, trying to save herself from the fire.

She couldn’t catch her breath and started coughing. Her throat was killing her.

“Amy, Honey, you’re okay. You’re safe.”

It’s Ryker!

“You’re safe.”

She whimpered.

He tugged at her arm, and she coughed some more. She felt herself rising up.

“Here, drink some water.”

She felt a straw pushed against her mouth. She lowered her other hand she greedily sucked down water.

“That’s a good girl.”

She felt Ryker’s hand brushing back her hair. She leaned into it, then opened her eyes as she finished drinking.

Ryker’s face was above her. His beautiful blue eyes, they looked so scared, almost tormented. “Are you with me, Honey?”

“Where am I?” she croaked out the question.