She examined that area and nodded. “You’re right about the stitches. Let’s hope Sarge didn’t do further damage during his work.” Violet paused. “Who’s Sarge?”
He inclined his head toward the body nearby.
Violet glanced at him, then turned back. “Nice work, Iona. What else, Elias?”
“I have a couple of molars on the left side that are loose.”
“They should be okay in a few days. From the size of Sarge, you’re lucky you don’t have a broken jaw.” Violet unzipped her mike bag, pulled out alcohol wipes, gauze pads and surgical tape. After a quick patch job on his shoulder, she tossed the remaining supplies back in her bag. “That’s all I can do for the moment.When we’re on the jet, I can replace the stitches, or you can let Sorenson do the work in Bayside.”
Elias grimaced. “Wait for that sadist to work on me? No, thanks. I’ll take my chances with you and your needle.”
She patted his knee. “As soon as we’re wheels up, I’ll take care of it.”
“Thanks, Vi.”
“Thirty seconds,” Seth said.
“We’re finished. You can help him to his feet. Be careful of his shoulder. I’ll have to work on it on the jet.”
“We’ll do our best, but the priority is getting him to safety,” Noah said. “That means taking him out of this compound as fast as possible.”
When Violet scowled and looked as though she intended to argue with her husband, Elias held up a hand. “He’s right, Violet. I’ll be fine. Let’s go before my father returns.” He had a feeling his father was waiting in the shadows to confront him.
Seth turned from the door where he’d been keeping watch. “Iona, you and Violet lead the way since Noah and I have Elias.”
“Copy that.” Iona slipped a comm device into Elias’ ear, then glanced at her medic. “Ready?” She received a curt nod in response.
Between them, Seth and Noah maneuvered Elias to his feet and draped his arms across their shoulders.
Pain ricocheted through his body as he was once again upright. It galled Elias to admit he would have hit the floor if not for his friends’ support. “Go,” he said, his tone grim. He wasn’t ready for the fight to escape his father’s compound. Still had to be done. Otherwise, he and Iona and their teammates would die. Not happening on his watch. Elias refused to allow his father to destroy the life he’d built.
“If the pain becomes unbearable, we can take a break,” Violet said, glancing over her shoulder.
One look at Seth’s and Noah’s faces told him stopping to rest wasn’t an option. So, he’d deal.
Iona took the lead, checking the corridor for signs of the enemy. When she gave the all-clear signal, the three men moved in sync into the corridor steps behind her. Each of them held a weapon in their hands, including Elias. He was determined to do his part to protect his teammates while they helped him back to the jet.
At the end of the corridor, Iona peered around the corner, but drew back quickly as bullets pummeled the wall across from her. She held up three fingers.
Great. Three bogies to take out. “Let me lean against the wall so you can take care of this,” he whispered to his teammates.
Noah glanced at Seth, eyebrow raised.
He nodded, and they eased Elias against the wall. From this position, he could watch their six with Violet.
Iona gave a hand signal. The other operatives closed their eyes and covered their ears. She tossed a flashbang into the corridor, and seconds later, the device exploded in a cacophony of sound and a blinding flash of light. Taking advantage of the enemy’s temporary disorientation and blindness, Iona, Seth, and Noah shot the enforcers standing between them and the door to the stairwell.
Once again, Seth and Noah draped Elias’ arms across their shoulders and followed Iona to the stairwell door. She peered inside, then gave the all-clear signal and stepped into the stairwell.
Gunshots were heard around the compound along with explosions, screams, and shouted orders. Elias scowled, recognizing his father’s voice above the others, commanding attention. “My father is out there.”
Seth glanced at him. “The team has orders not to kill him, Elias.”
“Don’t put those restrictions on them. Tell them to do whatever is necessary to protect themselves and us. My father made his choice. He can live or die with the consequences.”
Seth tapped his comm device. “You heard the man. Do what’s necessary.” He glanced at Iona. “Go.”
She opened the door a crack, then signaled the other operatives and pushed the door open wide. Using her shoulder to keep the door open for her teammates, she kept her weapon up and ready.
