Page 85 of Allegiance

And that hurt.

As he faced her, Maura’s silence said it all. Jagger continued.

“Me, Zayn, and Dakota, if he ever fixes his mess, are the best three. If we have to add a fourth person, then Boone. We’re the best men for this job.”

Her heart hurt.

Because she was the Major, and you didn’t ask anything of your team that you weren’t willing to do, she tried.

“I can…”

Oh.

Hell.

No.

Jagger shut that train of thought down immediately. There was no way.

“NOT HAPPENING.”

She tried again.

“Jagger.”

He laughed, and not a good laugh.

“You’re asking me to let my wife, who I just happened to watch get raped by El Gato’s guerillas, do this? Did you hit your head today? Did the sex knock the sense out of you? Because you’re testing my tenacity with volunteering. I’ll legit cry, Mar.”

She knew he was going to say that.

“But I’m the target.”

He stopped her.

In fact, he hopped out of the chair, pulled her against him, and found her mouth with his. It wasn’t so much to silence her but to get that bone-chilling fear to let go of him.

As she held onto her husband, the kiss said it all.

It was hot.

Scorching.

Oh, and proprietary.

When he broke it, he stared into her eyes and was honest with his wife.

“You’ll have to do the hard part,” he said. “You’re going to have a far more difficult time than we will. Focus on that, and leave the rest to me.”

She wanted to cry.

Even putting him in danger, or the rest of the family, terrified her to no end.

She’d had to watch and listen countless times as the men who served under her were tortured, abused, and hurt because of their mission.

That was one of the reasons she’d gladly gotten out to guard Oracle.

It was safer.