The Deadly (Part 3 of the Syndicate Series)

Chapter 17- Drop Off

Allegra:

"Fuck," I hissed, glancing at the door as it shook against the frame. "I'm not alone."

I alerted my team through the earpiece, but I was already grabbing my bag so that I had easy access to my gun if needed. With any luck, the person on the other side of the door was just a guest looking for a quiet room of their own to mess around in. Of course, luck wasn't on my side, and the hammering on the door suddenly became more aggressive. It was a man's voice that I heard yelling from the hallway, something about how there wasn't supposed to be anyone in the private rooms. I thought he might be stalled for a moment, but then I heard the sound of a metal key turning in a lock.

"They're coming in, standby. Keep downloading."

I heard Nyoka and Daitan quickly devolve into a rapid fire conversation between the two of them about what information should be a priority, but I only had a split second to decide how I was going to play off my presence in the office. I kept my bag and gun nearby, but decided to play it off if possible, and minimize the possibility of violence. No one needed to start shooting if it could be avoided.

I leaned across the chair in front of the desk, trying to look haphazardly drunk like the rest of the party guests. It was just in time, as the door swung open, I laid myself out like I was halfway out of my mind with booze. The man that walked in seemed to falter as he took in my prone position and the way that my dress was hitched as high as possible, practically letting an entire leg fall out of my dress. I tried to act a little startled and flirtatious as I looked him up and down.

"I have a friend that stepped out for a drink.... she'll be back in just a moment," I tried my best to give him a sultry look. "She would just love to meet you. Care to stay and join us for some time alone here?"

Nyoka could make fun of my flirting all that she wanted, but most mafia men, in my experience, were practically helpless once you offered them sex. It seemed to work in my favor again, the man seemed to let down his guard slightly. He was some sort of security based on the gun strapped to his hip, but he wasn't very good at his job- the moment he got a flash of some leg, he was distracted. It was almost comical.

His eyes trailed up my thigh, and I wondered if he might even be able to see the edge of my underwear. Just to chalk up the act even more, I pulled my shoulders back and pushed my chest forward. His mouth dropped slightly, he even took a step towards me as if he was in a daze. I was so close to completely playing him off when the computer behind me switched screens, letting a brick flicker of light play across the wall behind me. It seemed to snap the man out of his stupor enough to bring him to his senses.

I blinked and his gun was aimed at me. He tapped his watch and spoke into it with his free hand, "breach confirmed in the office."

"Well, fuck," I sighed, knowing this was about to get messy. I had been ratted out, and it wasn't going to be a clean exit.

The first thing I could grab was a lamp- I threw it hard enough that the cord snapped from the wall and it slammed into the man. He obviously wasn't prepared for an assault from the furniture, and he ducked. It gave me just enough time to rush him, throwing my shoulder into his stomach and knocking him back against the door. It dazed him enough that I could grab his wrist and twist it, forcing him to release the gun. While it clattered to the ground, I used my free hand to turn the lock on the door again, hoping to keep out any other guards that may hurry our way.

He recovered quicker than I expected, sweeping my feet out from underneath me. I hit the floor and rolled back onto my feet quickly, reaching for the discarded gun as I rose. I was about to take the first shot when I remembered that there was no silencer on the weapon. Instead, I charged again and grabbed for his neck, trying not to leave myself exposed to his hits, but he managed to get a couple in before I could get a grip on his neck, swinging over his shoulder and behind him until I could anchor him in a headlock.