Page 159 of Allegiance

“Who is hitting the locker?” he asked.

She smiled at him.

“Well, we’re putting a snake on each team. Adder, what’s your specialty,” Maura asked, already knowing, but she wanted the team to be aware.

“Killing.”

She laughed.

That was NOT where she was going with that.

“Other than that.”

“I’m good with tech. I can also blow things up. I can sneak into places, but Jinx was the one who was so much better at that. So, if you’re asking in a roundabout way if I can get a team into the police station, I can, but she’s going to be better at that.”

That was exactly what she’d been asking.

“I’m better utilized in a firefight. My reflexes tested higher than Jinx’s.”

Her friend shrugged.

“Not a lie. She is faster.”

Which was befuddling to all of them since they’d seen how fast Jinx moved.

Maura made up her mind.

“Well, then Jinx, you’re going to the police station with Rogue, Gene, and Tommy.”

Immediately, caught off guard, Gene began choking on his tea.

“What?” he asked, his eyes watering. “What do you mean Tommy? Why would he need to go? He’s fine here,” he said.

She stared at him like he was loco.

“Well, he knows what Tate West looks like, and you both know your way around the precinct. Rogue and Jinx are the thieves. They will get you in and out without a situation. He’ll handle the tech, and she’ll sneak you in.”

Oh, Jesus.

Tommy tapped his fiancé on the shoulder.

“I know you didn’t mean that to sound like it did, Honey,” he said. “Because that will make me cranky, and when I get cranky, I get mean.”

Gene closed his mouth.

Damn it.

He’d hoped this day wouldn’t come. It wasn’t that Tommy couldn’t defend himself. He was a cop, and he’d been a damn good one. It was just…

He was a caveman, and he’d lost Preston.

“I’ll keep my thoughts inside my head,” Gene said. “So you still let me sleep with you.”

He patted the couch, signaling the other option.

The message was clear when it came to where Gene would be sleeping if he did otherwise.

Maura kept going.