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“Bullet graze,” Bruja reported.
“Join the fucking club,” Saint said dryly.
“I’m fine,” Pharaoh said, but Ryland heard the strain in his voice. “Bruja is the one who got stabbed.”
“Christ,” Tanner swore.
“We’re going to open the maintenance hatch and climb out of this tin can,” Pharaoh informed them.
“What the hell happened?” Tanner asked no one in particular.
The silence that greeted his question spoke volumes. Ryland knew they were all thinking the same thing. All had the same sinking feeling they’d been set up. It’s almost like Bashar’s men had known they were coming.
Pulling himself over the edge, Ryland dropped onto the roof and let the harness fall. He turned, offered his hand to Saint and hauled him over.
“How’s your arm?” Blood stained the upper sleeve of his jumpsuit.
“Fine,” he growled.
Things were far from fine, though, especially when Tanner came through his comms. “Rip, Saint, armed guards are heading up the staircases and elevators are all on lockdown. You guys need to get out of there pronto.”
The men exchanged a look. How the hell were they supposed to escape?
“Elevator shaft?” Saint asked and Ryland gave a sharp nod.
They didn’t have any choice and down was their only option. As they ran back outside to grab the window washer ropes and harnesses, Tanner’s voice crackled in Ryland’s ear. “I’m in the security office. It looks like I need a code to unlock the freight elevator.”
Which wouldn’t be a problem if they still had Banshee on the line.
“Roger,” Ryland responded. “We’re going to use the window washer ropes and go down the elevator shaft.”
“Copy,” Pharaoh responded. “See you at the rendezvous point.”
They quickly gathered up the heavy ropes, tossed them over their shoulders and carried the huge coils back to the elevator. With a grunt, Ryland dropped his rope on the floor and reached for the elevator door.
“Help me pry it open!” Both he and Saint stuck their long fingers into the narrow jam and began to pull, forcing the steel door open. Ryland leaned forward and squinted, trying to see down into the dimly lit shaft where the elevator cab sat motionless eighty floors below them.
“This op just keeps getting better and better.” Ryland and Saint tossed their ropes down into the darkness then edged over the side and began to descend down into the shaft. From that height, it looked bottomless.
“That thing better not fucking start up again,” Saint growled through gritted teeth, eyes on the cab below them.
“Don’t even say it.” Ryland lowered himself swiftly, using his fast-roping skills training. He’d done the same thing a million times and knew the proper technique. However, he was usually rappelling out of a helo and not down an elevator shaft.
“Cameras are back up,” Tanner hissed in their ear. “I’ve got eyes on Bashar.”
“Abort, Mayhem,” Pharaoh growled.
“He’s in the garage. I’m heading down.”
“Mayhem!” Pharaoh snapped. “Goddammit! I said abort!”
Shit.Ryland knew Tanner was going to try to bring Bashar down on his own. And he hoped like hell his friend got the bastard. Pharaoh wouldn’t be happy Tanner ignored his direct command, but if Tanner saw an opportunity, he would take it and get the job done. Mission fucking accomplished.
“Everyone to the rendezvous pointnow,” Pharaoh ordered.
Ryland and Saint were moving dangerously fast and when they reached the sixty-first floor, the door was still open where Pharaoh and Bruja had escaped. The men swung out of the shaft and their boots landed safely on the floor.
“That was fun,” Saint commented dryly.
