Page 13 of Deadly Holiday
Chapter Four
True to Ronni’s word, the hallway was clear of guards when Mitch and Cooper stepped out of the cafeteria with the entire group in tow. Normally, Cooper would be clearing the building, not leading those in attendance deeper inside, but the children were worn out from the ordeal, the patients in the group no longer able to even walk. Amber and Olivia helped staff members snag as many wheelchairs as they could quietly find, while the rest of the children were carried by their parents.
Ronni and Thomas had gone on ahead to the oncology floor to make sure the patient rooms were clear. The plan was to move everyone out of harm’s way with Thomas and Ronni standing guard until the hospital was threat-free.
Gun in hand, Mitch led the way down the hall while Cooper brought up the rear, eyes alert for any sign of trouble. An occasional whimper rustled the group, but for the most part, everyone remained quiet, well aware of the danger they were still in.
Where is that SWAT team?
Rounding the corner into the back hall, they stopped outside the service elevator doors, squeezing as many people into the tight space as would fit. Due to the bulky wheelchairs, it wasn’t nearly enough, and tension rode Cooper’s shoulders hard. He hated being so exposed. Anyone coming around the corner would spot them for sure, and if they decided to apply deadly force, they were screwed.
Finally, the cell phone at his hip vibrated with a message, and he breathed a little easier when he saw Ronni’s thumbs up text. “We’re good to go.”
Mitch pressed the button for the service elevator to bring it downstairs. They loaded the first group in as tight as they could fit before Mitch squeezed himself inside. “Be right back.”
The doors slid shut, the silence that followed deafening. Already on edge, Cooper jumped at the slightest noise, keeping a wary eye on the hallway.
Seconds ticked by and became minutes.Come on, Holden. Get your ass back down here already.
A few more agonizing seconds passed, then finally the light over the doors lit up, indicating the elevator was returning.About fucking time.
“Miss me?” Mitch asked when the doors slid open.
Cooper had never been so happy to see Holden’s ugly mug, but there was no way he was going to tell him that. His man card would get revoked.
“About as much as a toothache,” Cooper lied, hustling people inside.
Holden chuckled, squeezing in between a wheelchair and a nurse. “That’s what they all say.”
He winked as the doors slid shut, and the silence returned. Fucking guy lived for this kind of risky shit, but that’s what made him perfect for the taskforce.
It took them several more tense-filled trips, but they finally managed to get everyone upstairs. Ronni and Thomas worked quickly to get the children settled into their rooms again, helping the nursing staff in any way they could. For the guests who didn’t have a patient room to hang out in, they were put in the family lounge down the hall. Doors were locked. People were safe.
Relief flooded him. He caught Thomas’s eye and waved him over to where he and Mitch stood, ready for the next phase. “Are you guys good here? Holden and I need to book it to surgical.”
“Sure you guys don’t need a hand?” Thomas didn’t look happy about being left behind, not that Cooper blamed him. He and Thomas were cut from the same cloth, and sitting idle was never a good thing. Being forced to babysit a group of uneasy partygoers? Yeah, that definitely fell to the bottom of the list.
Still, much as he was tempted to have Thomas tag along, Cooper decided against it. If any of Ortega’s men decided to do a sweep, Ronni would need the extra firepower. It might suck to stay behind, but these people needed protection.
“Nah, we’re good. We’ll holler if we need backup.”
“Ten-four.” Thomas shrugged, conceding he was stuck. “I guess being left behind could be worse.” His eyes roamed over Ronni’s bedraggled length, and she plopped a hand on her hip, lifting an eyebrow.
“Don’t even think about it,” she said in a low voice that sounded more breathy than an actual warning.
Something unspoken passed between them, and Cooper stepped back, pretty certain that was his cue to go. “Good luck.”
They found the back staircase and took the stairs two at a time to the third floor, pausing on the top step. There was no window on the door to see onto the surgical unit floor, which meant once they opened it, they would be walking in blind. If he got shot, Celina was going to kill him.
“What do you think, slap and tap?” Mitch suggested, and Cooper grinned. Why hadn’t he thought of that? The slap and tap was a technique employed when they were trying to draw out an enemy. He and Holden had used it on more than one op assignment and it had always served them well. Why not now?
“Absofuckinglutely.”
Mitch slapped his bare palm on the door, followed by a tap from the end of his gun. He and Cooper then stood on either side of the doorframe, waiting with baited breath to see who might open it.
Waiting. Seemed like he’d been counting the minutes all night. When he couldn’t take it any longer, he nodded at Mitch.Get the show on the road.
Slowly, Mitch opened the door while Cooper flanked his rear, gun raised and ready. The door opened across from a storage room with a solid bare wall to their right. To the left, the hall led to a nurses’ station, which thankfully was empty. The coast was clear. Soundlessly, they left the stairwell.
