Chapter 11

11

Paige's heart raced as she stood in Mason's safe house, her fingers drumming an anxious rhythm against her thigh. The room was dimly lit, shadows dancing on the walls as the team huddled around a makeshift workbench. The scent of gun oil and leather mingled with the faint trace of fear-induced sweat, creating an atmosphere thick with tension.

Tai and Bridger's voices faded into background noise as they discussed voltages and technical details. Their words floated around her, technical jargon blending into a low hum, but one phrase cut through her distraction: cardiac arrest.

"Looks like 50,000 volts should fry the chip," Tai muttered, his brow furrowed in concentration. "But we're walking a fine line here."

Bridger nodded, his voice grave. "Any higher could stop his heart. We can't risk it."

She glanced at Cody, who waited, determination and fear in his eyes. The sight sent a confusing swirl of emotions through her—concern, admiration, and a lingering distrust that she couldn't quite shake. What if they miscalculated? What if this killed him?

"Not gonna be fun," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I'm aware." Cody caught her gaze, offering a small, reassuring smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "It's okay, Paige. I'm ready for this. The chip's the only thing at risk here."

Bridger's authoritative voice cut through her thoughts. "Alright, we've got the settings dialed in. Everyone out. I'll handle this. The Taser's only dangerous to Cody, but there's no need for an audience."

Before Paige could process the order, Tai snatched the device from Bridger's hand. "Hold up, big guy. You're a dad now, dude. Not gonna happen. Get outta range."

Bridger's protest died on his lips as Tai continued. "Look, Jane will kill me anyway if I come home without her brother. So I might as well take one for the team, right?"

The tension in the room shifted, a nervous chuckle rippling through the group. Paige felt a surge of affection for her team, their loyalty and dark humor a comforting constant in the chaos.

But this was her fight.

She yanked the Taser from Tai's grasp. The device felt heavy in her hand, its potential both a promise and a threat. "He's my responsibility. I got this. Get out. All of you."

The team's eyes darted between her and Cody, a silent conversation passing between them. Cody gave a small nod, his jaw set in determination. Reluctantly, they filed out, the door closing with a soft click that echoed in the sudden silence.

Paige gripped the device tightly, willing her hands to stop shaking. "You ready?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Cody swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing visibly. He reached for the Taser, his fingers brushing against hers. "Paige, there's no need for you to take this risk. I got it."

Paige pulled back, her voice firm despite the tremor in her hands. "Not gonna happen."

"Paige ..." His voice was pleading now, tugging at something deep inside her. The way he said her name, soft and familiar, brought back a flood of memories—late nights studying, shared laughter, then the bitter sting of betrayal.

Cody ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident in every line of his body. "Look, I can handle this. I got myself into this mess, I should be the one to get myself out."

Paige shook her head, her voice softening despite her resolve. "You're too valuable to risk right now."

He waggled his eyebrows. "Glad you think so."

She pulled a face. "To the team, Hotdog. I could do without this little forced reunion, believe me."

"Still mad, huh?"

Paige shrugged, aiming for nonchalance but feeling the old hurt bubble up. "Disgust is probably closer to the truth."

Now came the trademark smile, the effortless grin that made every woman she knew weak in the knees. "You don't mean that," he said, his voice full of bravado.

"Yeah. I do. You spent years messing around with the Consortium. And now you're in so deep you need an exit strategy involving a Taser and a prayer."

She paused, weighing her next words carefully. The room felt smaller suddenly, the space between them charged with unspoken words and shared history. "Whether you're really Consortium or not, I believe you want out. But if you're going to work with Redemption Inc., you need to learn we don't do things alone. We're a team."

She held up the Taser. "I'm doing this."

A heavy silence fell between them. Cody's gaze never left her face, as if he was trying to read the truth in her eyes. Finally, he nodded, his shoulders sagging slightly in acceptance. "Fine. Get it over with. But if you die ..." A ghost of a smile played at his lips. "I'm going to kill you."

A surprised laugh bubbled up from Paige's chest, breaking the tension. "Deal."

She moved closer, the Taser hovering a foot away from his neck. The device hummed softly, a reminder of the danger they were both facing. Almost instinctively, she began to pray, her voice a soft murmur in the quiet room. "Lord, please guide my hand and protect us both ..."

To her surprise, Cody joined in, his voice low and sincere. "... and give us the strength to face whatever comes next. Amen."

Paige's eyes snapped to his face, hope fluttering in her chest. "You're Christian?"

He nodded, a small smile softening his features. "Born and raised. Lost my way for a time, though. Let's just say the Almighty and I are … reconnecting."

Joy surged through her, warm and bright. For a moment, she saw a glimpse of the Cody she used to know—the sincere, kind guy she had trusted with her heart.

But then doubt crept in, cold and insidious. He might have been sincere and kind once. Now, he was a trained spy who'd spent over a decade working for the enemy. Could she trust anything he said?

Steeling herself, she sent up one last silent prayer, for both of them, and activated the device.

The room filled with the sharp crack of electricity. Cody's body jerked, his face contorting in pain. Then he went still, collapsing back with a dull thud.

Paige's breath caught in her throat as she waited, seconds stretching into eternity. The silence in the room was deafening, broken only by the sound of her own ragged breathing.

Her fingers trembled as she reached out to check for a pulse, fear and hope warring within her. Hard and strong.

He'd live.

On with the game.