Page 293 of Broken Oath

And if death was coming, they deserved to meet it on their feet.

Wade stepped to the wall and knocked three times.

The old signal.

Prepare for contact.

Silence followed.

Then three knocks answered from Grant’s cell.

Another came from farther down.

Dawson.

Then another.

Miller.

Another.

Hale.

Wade’s throat tightened.

Five of them.

Five men still alive after entering the mountain with a team of eight.

Five men who had protected one another through years of hell.

Wade rested his hand against the concrete.

“They’re going to kill us,” he whispered into the vent.

The corridor remained silent.

No one questioned him.

No one panicked.

Every man understood what had changed.

Grant answered first.

“How?”

“Transport to the eastern ravine.”

“Guards?”

“At least three per prisoner. More on the trucks.”

Dawson spoke next. “Weapons?”

“Find what you can. They open the doors, we hit them before the restraints go on.”

“You think we can take the corridor?” Hale asked.