Chapter 9

CHAPTER NINE

LYNDSEY

Lyndsey sat in the cramped van, the monitors in front of her glowing with live feeds from the building where Jake and Reyna were attempting their infiltration. Her hands hovered over the keyboard, her heart racing as the mission began to unfold. Jake’s voice crackled through the comms, steady and calm despite the danger they could all be facing.

“Approaching the service entrance,” Jake reported. “Reyna’s coming from around the back—just checking it out. Do you see anything on the feeds, Lyndsey?”

Lyndsey’s eyes darted between the screens. “All clear on your side. There’s some movement near the main entrance, but it looks like routine security.”

“Copy that,” Jake replied.

Reyna’s voice chimed in, tinged with amusement. “Relax, Doc. You’re doing great.”

Lyndsey exhaled slowly, her fingers tightening around the edge of the console. “Just get in, get the intel, and get out. I’ll be fine.”

“Oooh, ‘intel.’ You’re starting to sound like a Cerberus operative,” teased Reyna. She seemed to be having entirely too much fun.

REYNA

Jake and Reyna reached the service entrance, blending seamlessly into the shadows. Reyna swiped an electronic, universal keycard over the panel, the light flashing green as the door clicked open. They slipped inside, the sterile glow of fluorescent lights illuminating a narrow hallway.

“Headed to the conference room,” Reyna said, her voice low. “According to the intel, it’s on the third floor. Elevator or stairs?”

“Stairs,” Jake replied without hesitation. “Elevators are too risky. Too easy to get trapped.”

They moved quickly and silently, ascending the stairwell with practiced ease. Lyndsey’s voice came through the comms. “You’re nearing the third floor. I’m picking up some chatter on the building’s internal comms—security is being extra cautious tonight.”

Jake grinned, his voice laced with dry humor. “Good thing we’re cautious, too.”

When they reached the third floor, they encountered their first hiccup. A pair of guards stood in front of the double doors leading to the conference room, a clipboard in the hands of one. Jake and Reyna exchanged a glance before stepping forward, their expressions calm but alert.

“Name?” the guard asked, not looking up from the clipboard.

“I’m Brody, she’s Smithers,” Jake’s voice was smooth and authoritative. “Victor Lang sent us.”

The guard’s eyes narrowed, flipping through the pages. “You’re not on the list.”

Reyna’s smile was sharp and confident. “Try refreshing it. The boss is known for last-minute changes.”

The guard hesitated, then pulled out a tablet, tapping at the screen. “You’re right. The list hadn’t been updated. Why do they not ensure we have the updated info? We’d hate for Mr. Lang to feel his people weren’t welcomed properly.”

Reyna placed her hand on the guard’s arm. “He doesn’t need to know about this glitch.” She winked, and the guard visibly relaxed.

“Thanks.”

“Not a problem,” said Jake as he took Reyna’s elbow and headed inside.

Inside the conference room, the atmosphere was electric with a kind of concealed apprehension. Men and women sat around a long, polished table, their faces a mix of cold calculation and veiled malice. Jake and Reyna taking seats at the edge of the room., each of them recognizing several individuals immediately.

“Jake,” Reyna whispered, “We’re in illustrious company. That’s Sergei Ivanov on the far left. Weapons broker with ties to half the hostile nations on the planet. And the woman two seats down? Amal Rahimi. She’s on every terror watchlist.”

“Yeah, I saw,” Jake murmured, his gaze sweeping the room. “Lyndsey, keep an eye on the exits.”

Lyndsey’s voice was cool over the comms. “Already on it.”

Reyna’s pulse quickened as she watched the scene beginning to unfold. She lived for this kind of thing. She was known as being an adrenaline junkie, and usually only found peace within the secured clubs to which Cerberus was attached. The room was a who’s who of the world’s most dangerous players, and they were sitting right in the middle of it. King had been right to send her as backup.

A man at the head of the table cleared his throat, drawing the room’s attention. “Ladies and gentlemen, let’s get down to business. The item up for sale tonight is a prototype with the potential to change warfare as we know it.”

Reyna could hear Lyndsey’s breath hitch through the comms. This had to be hard for her. Everything she’d read about Lyndsey said the woman was dedicated to helping people, not harming them. Reyna’s gut twisted as a sleek metal case was placed on the table. The man opened the case and turned it around so everyone could see. Inside, nestled in protective foam, were vials containing what could only be nanobots.

“Jake,” Lyndsey said, her voice trembling, “from the way they’re describing it, that has to be my work.”

Jake’s jaw tightened, his expression unreadable. “We’ll handle it.”

The auction began, the numbers climbing higher with each bid. Each time Jake and Reyna were outbid, they could hear Lyndsey’s reaction. The cold efficiency with which these people negotiated over technology meant to save lives had to be devastating to her.

“Stay focused,” Jake’s voice seemed to be a grounding force for Lyndsey. “We need names, faces, and as much intel as we can get. This isn’t over.”

They could hear Lyndsey’s fingers flying over the keyboard as she worked to capture every detail. She had to be tied up in knots—although Reyna wasn’t sure that might be the best thing for her. They were in the lion’s den, and one wrong move could cost them everything.

Reyna adjusted her earpiece as she scanned the room, her sharp eyes darting to every corner of the tension-filled conference room. The heavy oak table gleamed under the overhead lights, reflecting the faces of the syndicate members seated around it. She noted their expressions—calculating, guarded, and dangerous.

Reyna leaned slightly toward Jake, her voice barely above a whisper. “This crowd isn’t here for small potatoes. This is top-tier, Jake. They’re making moves.”

Jake didn’t look at her, his eyes fixed on the case at the center of the table. “Stay sharp. We need everything we can get.”

A man at the head of the table, whose tailored suit couldn’t mask the menace in his posture, began to speak. “Tonight, we are not simply discussing a product. We are talking about power. Whoever controls this technology holds the keys to the future.”

Reyna’s stomach tightened as she caught the flash of recognition in the eyes of Sergei Ivanov, seated two chairs down. The weapons broker had his hands folded, his expression neutral, but Reyna knew that look. He was interested.

“This is bad,” she murmured into her mic, her tone flat but urgent.

Jake’s jaw tightened. “Focus. We’re here to listen and observe.”

She hid her amusement at his stoicism. Cool under pressure—that was Jake all the way. But even he couldn’t ignore the electric charge in the air.

As the numbers climbed higher with each bid, Reyna scanned the others sitting at the table. As Rahimi raised her hand to double the previous offer, Reyna’s pulse quickened. These weren’t just buyers—they were power players in the global underworld. And each of them wanted to weaponize Lyndsey’s work.

Reyna glanced at Jake. His calm exterior hadn’t cracked, but she saw the tightness in his shoulders, the slight twitch of his fingers near his thigh. His hand brushed the edge of the table, his knuckles white.

“You’re thinking too loud,” she muttered, earning a sharp look from him. “Relax. We’ve got this.”

Jake didn’t respond, but his gaze flicked to Rahimi as she leaned forward, her voice carrying over the room. “And what guarantees do we have that this technology is as effective as you claim?”

The man at the head of the table smiled, his teeth white and even. “We don’t deal in guarantees, Ms. Rahimi. We deal in results.”

Reyna caught Jake’s subtle nod. Rahimi’s skepticism was a potential fracture point in the room. But as the auction continued, Reyna’s focus shifted. A guard near the door was speaking into his comm, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the room.

“Jake,” Reyna said softly. “We’ve got a problem. Back left. I think we’ve been made.”

Jake’s gaze barely moved, but his voice in her ear was calm. “We’re fine. Stay cool.”

Reyna bristled. “Easy for you to say. I don’t think he likes my face.”

The guard stepped forward, his voice cutting through the low hum of conversation. “Excuse me. Who are you with?”

Every eye in the room turned to them. Reyna felt the air shift, the collective suspicion of the syndicate members sharpening like a blade.

Jake leaned back in his chair, his expression casual. “Victor Lang. You have a problem with that?”

The name dropped like a bomb, and for a moment, the room was silent. Reyna held her breath as the guard hesitated, clearly weighing his options.

Before the guard could respond, the man at the head of the table spoke. “Enough. Lang’s interests are well-known. Let’s continue.”

The guard stepped back, but the damage was done. The room’s energy had shifted, and Reyna knew they were on borrowed time.

“Time to bail,” she whispered, nudging Jake’s foot under the table.

“Not yet,” Jake replied. “One more piece of intel.”

The next few minutes dragged like hours. Rahimi was outbid by Ivanov, who smirked as the final offer was accepted. The case was closed, and the man at the head of the table began to wrap up the meeting.

“Jake,” Reyna said sharply, “we’ve got enough.”

“We don’t have the tech itself.”

“And we’re not going to be able to get it now. Let’s take the intel we have and go.”

He nodded, and they both stood, their movements deliberate and measured. But as they approached the door, the guard from earlier stepped in front of them.

“You’re not going anywhere,” he said, his hand on his weapon.

Reyna sighed, her lips curving into a wry smile. “Why do you guys always have to make it difficult?”

Without warning, she struck, her fist connecting with the guard’s jaw as Jake disarmed him in one fluid motion. The room erupted into chaos, voices shouting as chairs scraped against the floor.

“Move!” Jake barked, grabbing Reyna’s arm as they bolted for the exit.

The halls blurred as they ran, the sound of footsteps and shouting behind them. Reyna’s heart pounded, adrenaline surging as they burst through the service entrance and into the alley. From the alley, they ran toward the parking lot.

“Lyndsey,” Reyna barked into her mic, “we’re coming in hot. Be ready.”

“Moving now!” Lyndsey’s voice crackled through the comms, tense but steady. “Hurry!”

They rounded the corner as Lyndsey pulled up; Jake and Reyna sprinted toward her. The door slid open, and they dove inside, the van peeling out before the door even closed.

“Drive!” Jake shouted, his voice edged with urgency.

“I’m driving!” Lyndsey shot back, her hands gripping the wheel as the van sped through the narrow streets.

Reyna grinned, her breath coming fast as she looked at Jake. “You seem to pick the most interesting women as friends.”

Jake shot her a glare, but his attention quickly shifted to the rear window. “We’re clear?”

“Not yet,” Lyndsey said, her voice tight. “Hold on.”

The van swerved sharply, narrowly avoiding a large freight truck so she could lose the pursuing SUV. Lyndsey’s focus seemed razor-sharp as she navigated the winding roads, her commitment as fierce as any operative Reyna had ever seen.

Finally, the pursuing vehicle disappeared from view, and Lyndsey exhaled shakily. “We’re clear.”

Reyna leaned back, catching her breath. “Remind me to never underestimate the doc again.”

Jake didn’t respond, his eyes on Lyndsey. Whatever this was between them was palpable, a silent acknowledgment of the danger they’d just escaped—and the connection that seemed to grow stronger with every moment they spent together.

Reyna grinned, her voice breaking the heavy silence. “So, what’s next, boss? A romantic getaway, or do we get back to work?”

Jake’s glare was sharp, but Reyna only laughed. The mission wasn’t over, but for now, they had survived. And Reyna couldn’t help but feel that whatever came next, this unlikely team might just have what it took to win.

LYNDSEY

Lyndsey’s hands were steady on the wheel, her eyes scanning the road ahead as the van sped away from the chaotic city streets. She navigated the turns with precision, taking them down a series of winding back roads that she knew would lose any potential pursuers. While waiting for Jake and Reyna in the van, she had mapped out several escape routes in case something went wrong. The van hummed smoothly under her control, and for the first time in what felt like days, she felt a flicker of triumph.

Reyna, sat in the backseat, chuckled as she wiped a smear of dirt off her cheek. “Not bad, Doc. For a civilian, you’ve got moves.”

Lyndsey shot her a quick grin in the rearview mirror. “I told you I could handle it.”

Jake, who was in the back, said nothing, his sharp eyes fixed on the side mirror, watching for any sign of pursuit. His silence wasn’t unusual, but Lyndsey could feel it each time his gaze flickered over to her every few minutes. It was equal parts assessing and something else—something warmer, softer.

“Jake?” she ventured after a stretch of silence. “You okay?”

“Fine,” he said curtly, his tone giving nothing away.

Reyna leaned forward, her grin widening. “He’s sulking because you saved the day. He’s a big, bad Dom and has trouble when somebody else plays hero—or heroine in your case.”

Jake shot her a glare. “Shut up, Reyna.”

Reyna laughed, leaning back and kicking her feet up on the console. “Don’t worry, big guy. Your secret’s safe with me.”

Lyndsey’s laugh bubbled up, surprising both she and Reyna who joined in with laughter of her own. Lyndsey wasn’t sure if it was the adrenaline or the thrill of having outrun danger, but she felt alive in a way she hadn’t in a long time. Maybe ever.

“I can’t believe we actually pulled that off,” she said, her voice bright with excitement. “That was... insane.”

Jake finally turned to look at her, his expression softening just a fraction. “You did good,” he said quietly.

The words sent a warm flush through her, and she tightened her grip on the wheel to keep her hands from trembling. “Thanks. I mean, I know I wasn’t in the thick of it like you two, but...”

“You weren’t just watching,” Jake interrupted, his tone firm. “You were part of the team. We couldn’t have done it without you.”

Reyna grinned. “Don’t let it go to your head, though. You still have to work on your comms timing. You’re a bit chatty under pressure.”

Lyndsey rolled her eyes but couldn’t stop smiling. The banter, the camaraderie—it felt good. Like she belonged. So much of her life had been spent in her scholarly and practical research.

As the city lights faded behind them and the dark stretch of forested highway loomed ahead, Lyndsey’s focus returned to the road. She followed the route Jake had mapped out earlier, keeping an eye out for anyone trying to follow their trail back to the cabin.

After what felt like hours, the familiar sight of the secluded cabin came into view. Lyndsey parked the van, her heart still pounding with residual adrenaline. She killed the engine, the sudden silence ringing in her ears.

“We’re here,” she announced, turning to face Jake and Reyna.

Reyna gave her a mock salute. “Well done, Captain. Safe and sound.”

Jake opened his door, his movements deliberate as he stepped out. “Let’s secure the area.”

Lyndsey followed, her boots crunching on the gravel as she joined them outside. The cool night air wrapped around her, but the chill did nothing to dampen her mood. She felt almost giddy, a lightness filling her chest that she hadn’t experienced since the danger began.

Reyna disappeared into the shadows to scout the perimeter, leaving Lyndsey and Jake alone by the van. Lyndsey turned to him, her smile widening. “I don’t think I’ve ever felt this… alive.”

Jake studied her, his dark eyes unreadable. “Adrenaline will do that.”

“It’s more than adrenaline,” Lyndsey said, stepping closer. “I mean, I actually helped. I wasn’t just a bystander. I was part of something bigger.”

“You were,” Jake said, his voice low. “But don’t let the high cloud your judgment. We’re not out of danger yet.”

Lyndsey’s smile faltered, but she recovered quickly. “I know. I just… it feels good to know I can do more than just sit on the sidelines.”

Jake’s gaze softened, and the feeling between them shifted into something warmer, more intimate. “You did more than I expected,” he admitted. “And you kept your head under pressure. Not everyone can do that.”

Lyndsey’s heart swelled at the compliment. “Coming from you, that almost sounds like high praise.”

Jake’s lips quirked into the faintest hint of a smile. “Don’t get used to it. I think you could probably do with more discipline than praise. I suspect you get enough of the latter in your professional life. I think you would probably do better with a partner to balance that with the right kind of discipline and pleasure.”

Lyndsey was shocked. She was pretty sure that was the most words she’d heard from Jake in a single exchange. Before she could respond, a sharp whistle cut through the night. Reyna reappeared from the shadows, her expression serious. “All clear. But we need to move. I don’t like sitting out in the open.”

Jake nodded, motioning for them to head toward the cabin. Lyndsey followed, her earlier excitement tempered by the reminder of the danger still lurking in the shadows.

As they reached the cabin, Lyndsey paused on the porch, glancing back at the dark forest surrounding them. The thrill of their escape lingered, but so did the burden of everything they were up against. She turned to Jake, who stood close by, his eyes scanning the tree line.

“We’ll get through this, right?” she asked softly.

Jake’s gaze met hers, steady and unflinching. “We will.”

The certainty in his voice settled something inside her, grounding her in a way she hadn’t expected. As they stepped inside, Lyndsey couldn’t help but feel that no matter what came next, they were stronger together.

As the door closed behind them, cutting off the outside world, a low, almost imperceptible hum filled the air. Jake froze, his hand going to his weapon as his eyes darted to the far corner of the room.

“Stay behind me,” he ordered, his voice a sharp whisper.

“What is it?” Lyndsey asked, her pulse spiking.

Jake didn’t answer, his focus locked on the faint red light blinking from a device tucked into the corner. He stepped closer, crouching to examine it. When he straightened, his expression was grim.

“Someone’s been here,” he said, holding up a small black transmitter.

Lyndsey’s blood ran cold. “What does that mean?”

Jake’s jaw tightened. “It means they know where we are.”