Page 300 of Allegiance

“Copy.”

Well, that was one down.

“Gene, are you guys set?” she asked. Maura knew he was right down the street. They would be covering this building.

“I have seven inside,” he said. “The hooker is heading there now. She just passed our vehicle, and we have confirmation that she’s going to reach the door in a few.”

Maura’s stomach was queasy.

She began praying silently in her head.

This had to go perfectly, or the four men were in dire trouble. If she was wrong, Cruz could execute them on sight. Jagger was NOT wearing protection beyond some simple body armor.

He was a sitting duck.

“Okay, let’s get ready, and everyone cross your fingers. It’s about to get crazy.”

Oh, she had no idea.

But she was absolutely right.

As Merla approached, she tried to stay calm. There was a lot riding on this.

So much that she needed to be able to pull this off.

As she climbed the stairs and went inside, she bypassed the receptionist and headed right for the office she knew all too well.

She had to come here every other day to give Cruz Santiago sex or a blowjob.

Now, she had to betray Mikey O’ for a dirtbag. She didn’t want to do it, but the devil you knew. Had Mikey O’ given her any sign of interest, she would have hooked up to be his on-call girl.

But he hadn’t.

He must have been still mourning his dead wife.

Oh, well.

As she walked into his office, there were two guys with him, and he was surprised to see her.

Immediately, she went right to his side.

“You’re early for some cock, Honey. Are you in the mood?” he asked. “The three of us can take a break.”

Yeah, hell, no.

Either way, she was getting out of New Orleans, and she didn’t care who won the battle here.

She was honest.

“Absolutely, but first, Cruz, you have a problem.”

It was clear he wasn’t expecting that.

“What?” he asked, grabbing her ass.

She needed to do this and get away.

FAST.