Chapter 10

10

Jason eyed the weight rack with a mix of determination and trepidation.

Mac had informed him it would take a couple hours to arrange a flight back to Redemption Creek, and Jason had too much adrenaline flowing to sit around. His muscles ached for action, but the dull throb in his side warned of limitations. He reached for a light dumbbell, his movements slow and deliberate. As he did so, he couldn’t help but marvel at the state-of-the-art equipment surrounding him. RAVEN’s headquarters was a far cry from the makeshift gyms he was used to in the field.

“Easy there, Army,” Alex called out, her eyes flicking up from her computer screen. “We’re not equipped for a relapse.”

Her voice sent an unexpected jolt through him. Despite her prickly exterior, Jason found himself increasingly drawn to the woman’s strength and intelligence. He admired how she ran her team with precision and care, even if she tried to hide it behind a tough facade.

Mac chimed in, his fingers never pausing on his keyboard. “Yeah, my sewing days are over. You rip out those stitches, you’re on your own.”

Jason grinned, a bead of sweat already forming on his brow. “What, no Florence Nightingale act? I’m crushed.” He appreciated the easy camaraderie of Alex’s team, the way they balanced professionalism with genuine concern for each other. It reminded him of his own unit, a thought that brought both comfort and a twinge of homesickness.

He lifted the weight, feeling the familiar burn in his bicep, accompanied by an unfamiliar tightness in his side. The pain was there, a constant reminder of his brush with death, but he pushed through it. No more meds, he’d decided. He needed a clear head, especially in this high-tech environment where every decision could have far-reaching consequences.

As he exercised, he found his gaze continually drawn to Alex. Her focused determination, the way she commanded her cutting-edge setup—it all impressed him more than he cared to admit. He couldn’t shake the feeling that they made a formidable team. One he wasn’t quite ready to leave behind.

Gravy wandered toward him, slice of toast in hand, eyeing the weights with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. He reached for one of Jason’s dumbbells, his skinny arm shaking under the strain.

“Whoa there, champ.” Jason grabbed the weight before Gravy dropped it on his foot. “Let’s start you off with something a little more your speed. Like a feather. Or maybe a marshmallow.”

Gravy’s face flushed red. “I’m stronger than I look!”

He used to be. Physically, the guy had been special forces material back in the day. But mentally … he couldn’t hack the discipline. Or kick his drug habit without serious rehab.

“Grab those twenty pounders and join in,” Jason urged him.

As they settled into a rhythm, Jason casually steered the conversation where he needed it to go. “So, Gravy, your old man. He must be worried sick about you.”

Gravy snorted, nearly dropping his weight. “Yeah, right. He’s probably more worried about his golf score. Plus, he disappeared, remember?”

Jason raised an eyebrow. “Not exactly Father of the Year material, huh? What’s he into these days? Besides golf, I mean.”

“Dunno,” Gravy shrugged, wincing as he completed another rep. “It’s not like I see him ever. Politics, I guess. He’s all about climbing the career ladder. Boring stuff.”

Jason’s ears perked up, but he kept his tone casual. “Something must be up if he gave you that phone and the instructions to contact RAVEN. Guys into power don’t just drop out of sight.”

Gravy rolled his eyes. “I guess. He’s been checking up on me more lately. He’s got this idea that somebody’s kinda after him.” He paused. “Maybe so, since he ran off and everything.”

“But he never said who?”

Gravy made a noise. “Like he’d tell me? Mr. Super Top Secret Security?”

“Fair enough.” Jason set down his weight. “But him planning your disappearance is pretty extreme, don’t you think?”

Gravy scratched his chin. “For sure. And not ideal. My winter bowling league is red hot this season. I’m letting them down. All I can say is he’d better have a good reason for all this.”

Jason didn’t bother pointing out that the attack on them at the airport would be an excellent reason. Except Jason wasn’t at all certain the attackers had been sent for Gravy.

The blonde, Liv, hurried back into the main room, car keys in hand. “I’m going to run supplies over to the airfield. I’ll be back in an hour,” she announced.

Alex’s cousin, the pale nerd-guy looked up from his tablet. “I’ll join you,” he announced and bounded to his feet with an energy Jason would have doubted the skinny kid possessed.

The blonde shrugged. “Sure. You can help me load the Rover.”

But Alex’s reaction was far less cool or sanguine or something. She was hiding something.

“What?” he asked quietly.

She shook her head, a sharp denying motion. “My cousin’s radar for women is completely defective.”

“He likes her.” Why wouldn’t he? The woman was stunning. And seriously talented. Dangerous, too. Another highly attractive trait.

And far out of Gabriel’s league.

Alex stared at the door they’d left through. “Gabe’s been following Liv around like a puppy ever since we started RAVEN. I’m not sure he’s ever going to get the message.”

“Maybe she’ll let him down easy.”

“Maybe.” Alex seemed to shake off her concerns and get back to work.

She turned to Gravy. “You’re an outdoor guy, right?”

Gravy puffed up his chest. “Yeah, I am.”

“You can run a kayak rental shop on a beach in Kauai, or a guide service in Alaska that specializes in Northern Lights tours. No pressure, but you’ve got to decide now.”

“Right now?” Jason interjected, aghast. “You’re talking about his future here.”

“We’re talking about saving his life,” Alex countered, then softened slightly. “Whichever choice you make, you’ll have to live with for a year. Maybe two. Then if you want something different, RAVEN will accommodate you.”

Gravy scratched his head. “Well, on one hand, beaches are awesome. Chicks in bikinis, you know? But then again, the Northern Lights are like, cosmic. And Alaska’s got bears. That’s pretty cool. But then again?—”

Mac’s sharp whistle cut through Gravy’s rambling. “Boss. We got activity on the upper decks.”

The room fell silent, tension crackling in the air like static electricity. Jason’s eyes locked with Alex’s, both of them poised for whatever came next.

Jason followed Alex to the bank of monitors, his eyes widening as he took in the sprawling mansion above them. Manicured lawns stretched out in every direction, dotted with ornate fountains and what looked like a private tennis court. A sleek sports car gleamed in the circular driveway.

“Wow,” he whistled low. “The disappearance business must be pretty lucrative.”

Alex ignored him, her focus locked on a lumbering phone company truck parked just beyond her neighbor’s driveway.

Mac’s short laugh broke the tension. “It’s not the business, dude, it’s the background.” He jerked a thick thumb at Alex. “Genuine trust fund baby through and through, this one.”

“At least I put my silver spoon to good use, you overgrown cabbage patch kid,” Alex shot back, her tone laced with affection.

Their banter died as two men exited the truck in crisp, blue uniforms.

“That’s weird,” she muttered.

Jason tore his gaze from the opulent grounds. “What’s weird?”

She tapped the closest screen. “This whole street has underground fiber optic lines. The phone company doesn’t service this area.”

Mac glared at the footage. “Nice try, jerks.”

Jason moved closer to Alex. The scent of her citrusy shampoo momentarily distracted him. He scrutinized the men’s uniforms. They looked legit at first glance, but ... He tapped the screen. “Their shoes are all wrong. Running shoes, not steel-toed work boots.”

“They’re dressed for speed and stealth,” Alex agreed, her voice tightening. She pointed at one technician’s arm as he shifted a utility tote. “That’s interesting.”

The man’s sleeve rode up, revealing a tattoo—seven tally marks in a distinctive pattern. The hairs on the back of Jason’s neck stood up. They’d just run out of time.

“Seven-Five,” he breathed.

His body tensed, instincts kicking into high gear as he reached for a sidearm that wasn’t there. “How did they find us?”

“They haven’t. Not yet. But they’re close.” Alex activated an intercom. “Mac, stall them. Tell them you need to verify their work order. And get ready for lockdown procedures. Then contact Liv and Gabe. Tell them to stay on their toes and stay away until they hear differently.”

She turned to Jason, her eyes hard with determination. “Let’s get you a weapon.”

“Copy that.”

His heart raced, a mix of adrenaline and something else—excitement, maybe even anticipation. As they moved swiftly through the high-tech lair, he realized that despite the danger, there was nowhere else he’d rather be.

Game on.