Chapter 3 - The Ambush
Sparks rained down from the ceiling hatch as the blinding blue flame of the cutting torch sliced through the metal.
Lorenzo knew they were sitting ducks if the cartel thugs managed to drop into the confined space.
He ordered Nurse Claire to shield Sofia and the babies with the heavy medical cart.
He aimed his handgun directly upward, tracking the circular movement of the terrifying blue flame.
As soon as the metal hatch fell inward, Lorenzo fired three rapid shots into the dark shaft above.
A heavy body tumbled through the opening and crashed violently onto the elevator floor.
Lorenzo quickly climbed onto the fallen mercenary's back and hoisted himself up through the open hatch.
He found himself standing on the roof of the elevator cab in a pitch-black shaft.
Two more cartel soldiers were repelling down the heavy steel cables with automatic weapons strapped to their chests.
Lorenzo grabbed a heavy wrench left behind by the dead mercenary and hurled it directly at the nearest attacker.
The wrench struck the man in the face, sending him plummeting past the elevator into the dark abyss below.
The remaining soldier opened fire, sending a hail of bullets ricocheting off the metal walls.
Lorenzo dove out of the way, blindly returning fire until his handgun completely ran out of ammunition.
He dropped his empty weapon and lunged at the soldier, engaging in a brutal, hand-to-hand struggle on top of the swaying elevator.
Lorenzo managed to disarm the man and throw him forcefully against the concrete wall of the shaft.
He quickly climbed over to the manual emergency release valve and pulled it with all his remaining strength.
The elevator's hydraulic brakes released, and the heavy metal box slowly lowered itself the rest of the way to the basement garage.
Lorenzo slid down the cables, dropping back into the cab just as the doors painfully pried open.
They rushed out into the cold, damp air of the underground hospital parking structure.
A row of pristine white ambulances was parked completely unattended near the emergency exit ramp.
Lorenzo kicked Julian toward the closest ambulance, ordering him to get into the driver's seat.
Nurse Claire loaded Sofia and the bassinet cart into the back while Lorenzo grabbed medical supplies.
As Julian started the engine, Lorenzo noticed Nurse Claire standing strangely still near the rear doors.
She was rapidly typing a message on a sleek, black burner phone that she quickly hid in her scrubs.
Lorenzo narrowed his eyes, realizing that a simple hospital nurse should not own an encrypted tactical phone.
He climbed into the back of the ambulance and locked the doors, keeping a very close eye on her.
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As the ambulance sped out of the garage, Lorenzo checked the rear window.
Five black SUVs with heavily tinted windows were already pulling out of the shadows to follow them.
