The sound of crunching glass had him jerking around to see Ice, Buzzard, and Stump coming through the window.
Ice handed him a gun then took another from behind his back.
“Where’s Jackal and Fade?”
“They made it to the back of the bank with Casey. Everyone else managed to get to a room at the side of the bank,” Max quickly filled them in.
“I’m going to kick your ass for this, Max.”
“No shit,” Max answered, finally getting a bullet in X’s shoulder, but it didn’t stop him. At least he was backing off to try a different tactic.
The sound of the police bullhorn from the outside heralded the first time that Max could remember he was glad the cops had arrived.
“How are we going to let them know we’re not the ones who started this crap-fest?” Buzzard looked at Ice for the answer that would keep them alive.
Ice took his cell phone out of his pocket. “Never thought the day would come that I’d have to call the cops to explain myself,” Ice said ruefully, making the call.
Max listened as Ice told the dispatcher that Max had come into the bank and seen the robbery in progress then taken defensive action.
Max knew the dispatcher was questioning Ice about the cop lying on the floor when Ice’s cold gaze flickered to the unconscious man.
Max answered his unspoken question. “He’s alive.”
Ice relayed the information. “We’re not putting our guns down. Your men can come in the side window. We’ll cover them. Lady, if we put our weapons down, we’ll be dead before they can get their asses in position.” Ice released a frustrated breath before hanging up. “Not only are we in a standoff with the Bandits, but thanks to you, Max, we’re in one with the cops.”
“Could be worse,” Max said, shooting another round off.
“How the fuck could it be worse!” Ice snapped.
“I could be dead.” Max gave his president a shit-eating grin. “We’ve been wanting to give these pussies the treatment for a while. Now’s our opportunity.”
“I don’t mind killing the fuckers. I just didn’t want to do it with the cops at our back. One of these days, I’m going to kick your ass, Max,” Ice threatened.
“Can you do it later? I have four fuckers after it now. X is pissed off I put a stop to his withdrawal.”
Max leaned to the side of the desk, trying to find someone to shoot as the Bandits had all found hiding spots and were lying low. The constant blaring from the police outside was getting on his nerves.
“I’m going to go outside and shove that bullhorn up his ass if he doesn’t shut up.” Max shot someone’s foot that was peeping out from behind an overturned bench.
He smiled evilly when a loud scream filled the lobby.
“He won’t be doing any running anytime soon.” Buzzard laughed, shooting at the bench.
“Let’s get this shit-fest over.” Lifting his gun, Ice fired a round into the glass partition between Casey’s office and the one beside it. “Get ready. Stump, you go through there. You should be able to hit the one behind the teller’s desk. I’m going after X. Buzz, you take the one behind the bench. He might not be able to run, but he can still shoot.”
“What do you want me to do?” Max asked.
“I want you to get him out of here. The cops won’t shoot at you if you’re carrying one of their own.”
“I’m not going to miss taking X out.”
“Do what I tell you to do.” Ice’s sharp voice let Max know he didn’t want his orders questioned. “If he dies, the cops will have us all up on charges. None of us can carry him. He’s almost as big as you. Try not to get him shot on the way out.”
“Then make fucking sure you watch my back.” Max crawled closer to the downed officer, readying himself.
As Ice rose, preparing to rain hellfire at the Bandits, Max handed him his gun back. He wasn’t stupid enough to go outside with a gun in his hand, even with a cop hanging on his shoulder.
“Go!” Ice yelled. “And break that fucking bullhorn.”
Chapter 22
Casey felt herself lifted off the floor and placed on a gurney. Her head turned to the side to see Jackal and Fade talking to a police officer. The EMT pushed the gurney through the vault door and out into the bank where the lobby and the surrounding offices had been destroyed. Casey tried to rise to her elbows to see the devastation.
“Miss, you need to lie back. We’ll have you in the ambulance in a few minutes.”
“I don’t want to go to the hospital. I’m fine. Where’s Max? Is he okay?” Her hoarse voice came out as a strangled whisper.
“I’m here,” Max spoke from the head of the gurney.
“What happened?” Casey couldn’t miss the coroner’s van as they loaded a body inside.