Chapter 22

22

The first rays of sunlight filtered through the curtains as Jason’s eyes snapped open. Old habits died hard. Years of covert ops had him trained to wake at first light. He lay still for a moment, listening intently to the quiet safe house before slipping out of bed.

As he moved silently through the rooms, his thoughts drifted to Alex. He’d been wary of working with a partner at first, especially one as headstrong as her. But over the past few days, he’d found himself appreciating her quick wit and analytical mind. She brought a different perspective to their operations, one that complemented his more tactical approach.

He paused by her closed door. A small smile tugged at his lips. Despite her initial bravado, Alex had proven herself capable and adaptable in the field. More than that, he was surprised to find he enjoyed her company. Their banter kept him on his toes, and her determination matched his own.

He shook his head, trying to clear the thoughts. Getting too attached was dangerous in their line of work. Still, as he made his way to the kitchen to start the coffee, he couldn’t deny the growing sense of trust and camaraderie between them. It had been a long time since he’d had a partner he could rely on this way.

“Focus on the mission,” he muttered to himself, but even as he said it, he knew something had shifted. Working with Alex was becoming more than just a necessity—it was becoming a partnership he valued.

Coffee going, he headed back to his room, reaching for his secure phone to check for updates from his contacts. A notification caught his eye—a new message from an unknown number. His brow furrowed as he read the cryptic text:

There’s a snake in your garden. Open your eyes. Link expires in 10 minutes.

Below was a URL, leading to an encrypted file share. Jason’s thumb hovered over the link. It could be a trap, a virus, any number of things. But if it wasn’t ... if it contained vital intel ...

Curiosity and training warred within him. Finally, he tapped the link.

His blood ran cold as images filled the screen. Alex—unmistakably Alex—shaking hands with a man he recognized as a high-ranking Seven-Five operative. Another photo: Alex accepting an envelope, her expression grim and businesslike. The timestamp made his stomach lurch. Just days before he and Gravy met up with her in the desert.

He scrolled quickly, accessing file after damning file. Financial records showed large deposits into offshore accounts linked to Alex. Transcripts of intercepted communications discussed “the asset” and “maintaining cover.”

Jason set the phone down, his mind reeling. He paced the small room, trying to process what he’d seen. Every instinct screamed that this had to be a setup, a clever ploy to drive a wedge between them. Alex had risked her life for their mission multiple times. She’d saved him in that shootout. How could she be a double agent?

But doubt gnawed at him. In his line of work, he’d seen the unthinkable happen too many times. Good agents turned. Loyalties shifted like sand. The evidence was compelling—professional-grade, not some amateur photoshop job.

He ran a hand through his hair, frustration building. He needed more information, but how to get it without tipping his hand? If Alex was compromised, alerting her to his suspicions could be disastrous.

The sound of movement from Alex’s room snapped him back to the present.

Showtime.

He schooled his features into a mask of normalcy. Whatever the truth was, he’d get to the bottom of it. Too much was at stake to take anything at face value.

He headed back to the kitchen, prepared to face her. He couldn’t help watching her every move as she poured them both coffee. She looked tense. Guarded, even.

“Sleep okay?” he asked.

“Absolutely. You?” She gulped her coffee.

“Middling.” He stared into his cup while he watched her with his peripheral vision. If she was tense when he walked in, she vibrated now.

Something was definitely up.

She sucked down the last of her coffee. “I need to head into town,” she announced abruptly, not quite meeting his gaze. “We’re low on supplies.”

“Give me a sec and I’ll come with you.”

“No,” she protested, too quickly. “I mean, it’s a simple run. No need for both of us to go.”

The hairs on the back of his neck stood up, his instincts screaming that something was off. Alex’s body language, her rushed words, the way she avoided eye contact—it all pointed to deception.

Keeping his voice casual, he said, “Great. I want to do some more research anyway.”

He tossed her the car keys. That tracker he’d installed after he drove off the used car lot had seemed like a prudent precaution at the time, not a tool to spy on his partner.

Good thing the Unit had pounded paranoia into him early.

As Alex caught the keys, their eyes met for a brief moment. Jason searched her gaze, looking for any sign of the woman he’d come to trust. Was there a flicker of remorse there? Or was he just seeing what he wanted to see?

“Thanks,” she murmured, grabbing her jacket. “I’ll ... I’ll be back soon.”

As the door closed behind her, Jason let out a long breath. He moved to the window, watching as Alex drove the car down the driveway. His hand reached for his phone, pulling up the tracking app that would let him follow her every move.

The guilt hit him like a physical blow. He’d just betrayed her trust, all based on evidence that could be fabricated. But if she was innocent, why was she acting so strangely?

Jason stared at the blinking dot on his screen, representing Alex’s location. He’d crossed a line, and he knew it. But as he settled in to monitor her movements, he couldn’t shake the feeling that in this dangerous game they were playing, trust might be a luxury he couldn’t afford.