I paused long enough to register it, but I didn’t question it—not that day.
The event the night before probably wore him out.
“Alright,” I replied, dismissing the thought. “I’ll need mine brought to me as well. I’ll be in the surveillance room.”
She nodded. “Of course.”
I grabbed an apple from the counter, then picked up the cup of coffee she’d already set aside for me. Then I headed straight down the hall toward the one room I’d be in for the next twenty-four hours at least. I wasn’t trippin’ because everything I’d need was in there, including a bathroom and a couch that I hardly used.
Before turning the corner, I slowed, debating whether to stop and check on Alejandro on the way, but if he wanted space, I’d give it to him. He’d talk later.
When I glanced at my watched it showed 6:05 A.M.
Perfect.
I pulled up the feed for Car 47, which was assigned to Ajori.
There she was, sitting in the driver’s seat, hands clasped, and eyes closed.
She was praying.
Ajori didn’t get much sleep the night before; the shadows under her eyes made that clear. But even tired, she was beautiful.
And yeah, I’d told Marcos exactly how to deliver the message to her. I wasn’t trying to scare her for the hell of it, but she needed to understand the seriousness of that run. That client was known to be ruthless, unpredictable, and too rich to care if a mule didn’t make it safely. So Ajori needed to be on her shit. I hated that she was out there at all… but hopefully not for too long.
She adjusted the mirrors, turned on the engine, and pulled off.
I leaned back in my chair, chewing the apple down to the core.
A thought came to my mind.
I grabbed my phone and called the guy Ajori was going to drop the product off to.
The line rang once before he answered, tension already in his voice. “Something wrong?”
“Nah,” I said, calm as ever. “Everything is still on. She’s en route.”
“Then why the call?”
“I need a small favor.”
I smiled slowly, because the favor I was about to ask was the kind that changed the entire tone of the drop.