Sam slid his gaze to Phoebe then pointed behind her. “She’s going to back up to that wall and start screaming bloody murder on my signal.”
Phoebe backpedaled to the wall and gave him a thumbs-up.
Tough young woman who would only get stronger if he could save her role model. “That a girl. As soon as you see Angel roll the flashbang, squat down and face the wall with your fingers in your ears. The light is blinding, and the noise will render you deaf for a while. Got it?”
“Yeh!” No hesitation when Phoebe snapped out her reply.
Hallene would be so proud of Phoebe.
Angel knelt on the left side of the door with two grenades beneath where his hand hovered. He gave Sam the okay nod.
Sam pointed at Phoebe. “Go.”
She opened her mouth and good grief what a pair of lungs. It sounded like someone was butchering her. If she’d yelled for help, the guard would have ignored her, but he was responsible to deliver both captives alive until W said otherwise.
He would have to investigate or face W’s wrath.
Heavy footsteps pounded up the stairs and hit the top landing.
Sam signaled Angel who pulled the pin.
Phoebe kept screaming.
As the guard stomped across what Sam had estimated to be a twelve-foot-long walkway, Sam counted down on his fingers three, two, one.
Angel rolled the grenade through the opening, flipped away, and covered his ears.
Sam had moved to shield Phoebe and mimicked Angel’s actions.
A deep voice yelled, “What is prob—”
Sam felt the concussive energy in his chest from the exploding grenade sounding like a bomb. Even with his eyes shut tight, bright light had glowed.
Angel quickly returned to the hand grenade he’d placed by the door, pulled the pin, and left it in front of the door. Then he raced across the room and rolled into a ball.
Sam swung around to cover Phoebe. She stayed tucked with her hands over her ears. He covered his, loving how working with FALCA team meant not having to spell out every detail.
That blast sent splintered wood flying everywhere. Pieces battered Sam’s back. No wooden spike drove into his body. He checked on Angel to find his team member knocking debris off his back and standing.
Sam hooked his hands on Phoebe’s shoulders and lifted her to a standing position. She opened her eyes and uncovered her ears. “Did it work?”
He turned her to see the blown door.
She gasped, a sound of excitement.
Sam warned, “Stick with Angel. Do whatever he tells you and you’ll be safe.”
She whipped around and grabbed Sam’s arms. “I will. Bring Hallene back, please.”
“I won’t come back without her.” That was the most honest answer he could give, but since Phoebe now believed he and his team were invincible, she nodded.
Sam walked over to Angel. “I’ll get the phone and clear the door. You get her out safely.” Then he raced out of the room to find the guard laying on his side with blood running from his face, arms, chest ... hell, everywhere.
Where was his fucking phone?
Rifling through the guard’s pockets turned up nail clippers, cash, and a small ring of keys, presumably one to the lock on their cell and maybe to a vehicle. He pocketed the keys and took his handgun to shove inside his waistband.
But no phone.
