Chapter 18

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

JAKE

The night was dense with apprehension. Both he and Reyna had been on dozens of ops similar to the one they were running tonight, but he’d never felt the strain the way he did on this one. The rhythmic hum of the SUV’s engine filled the silence as Jake navigated the darkened streets. The industrial site loomed ahead, an ominous shadow against the faint glow of the distant city in the rearview mirror. Beside him, Reyna was uncharacteristically quiet, her rifle resting across her lap. She stared out the window, her sharp eyes scanning for any sign of trouble.

“You’re awfully quiet tonight,” Jake said, breaking the silence.

Reyna didn’t look at him, her voice clipped. “Just thinking.”

Jake grinned, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye. “Thinking about the op or something else?”

She finally turned to him, her expression wary. “What else would I be thinking about?”

“Oh, I don’t know,” Jake said, his tone casual but laced with amusement. “Maybe about a certain FBI agent who’s been circling you like a wolf waiting for you to throw him a bone.”

Reyna rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest. “If you’re trying to start something, Sands, you’re going to regret it.”

Jake chuckled, enjoying the rare opportunity to get under her skin. “I’m just saying, Daniels isn’t exactly subtle. Guy looks at you like you’re the answer to all his problems.”

Reyna’s glare was sharp enough to cut steel. “More like all his problems rolled into one. We aren’t exactly copasetic. And what’s your point?”

“My point,” Jake said, his grin widening, “is that maybe you should cut him some slack. The guy’s solid. And let’s be honest, you could do worse.”

Reyna scoffed, her fingers drumming against the butt of her rifle. “Why should I settle for something or someone who isn’t just the worst I could do. I don’t have time for distractions. Especially not now.”

Jake shook his head, his voice dropping to a teasing drawl. “Come on, Reyna. You’re always telling me to loosen up. Maybe you should take your own advice.”

Reyna’s eyes narrowed, her tone dripping with venom. “Mind your own damn business, Sands.”

Jake’s grin didn’t falter. “Touchy, aren’t we? You know, for someone who loves dishing it out, you’re not so great at taking it.”

“Keep pushing, and I’ll show you exactly how much I can take,” Reyna shot back, her voice low and dangerous. “And just how much I can dish out.”

Jake held up his hands momentarily in mock surrender. “All right, all right. I’ll back off. For now.”

The silence that followed was heavy with a charged atmosphere, but Jake couldn’t help the satisfaction that curled in his chest. Reyna was a force to be reckoned with, but even she had her blind spots. He only hoped she’d figure it out before it was too late.

After a moment, Reyna let out a heavy sigh, her tone softening slightly. “You’re one to talk, you know. Acting like you’re not completely tied up over Lyndsey.”

Jake’s smile faded, and he focused on the road ahead. “What about Lyndsey?”

Reyna arched a brow, her lips quirking into a sly smile. “Oh, don’t play dumb. You’ve got it bad, Jake. Everyone sees it.”

Jake didn’t answer right away, his jaw tightening as he maneuvered the SUV through a sharp turn. “She’s... different.”

Reyna chuckled softly. “That’s an understatement. But different is not necessarily a bad thing, Jake. Just don’t screw it up.”

Jake’s grip on the wheel tightened, but he didn’t reply. He didn’t need Reyna to tell him how much was at stake—not just with Lyndsey, but with everything. And as they approached the industrial site, he could feel the strain of all of it settling heavily on his shoulders. This was no time for distractions, but he couldn’t deny the way Lyndsey had burrowed under his skin, making him want something he hadn’t dared hope for in years.

“Focus on the op,” he muttered under his breath, more to himself than to Reyna.

Reyna glanced at him, her sharp eyes glinting with something that might have been approval. “Don’t worry, Jake. I’ve got your back.”

Jake nodded, his focus sharpening as the site came into view. Whatever was waiting for them, he knew one thing for certain: they were in this together, whether they liked it or not.

Once inside the warehouse, Jake crouched behind a stack of crates, his Glock drawn and his senses on high alert. The air inside Lang’s hidden facility was filled with the scent of oil and sweat, the faint hum of high-tech equipment buzzing in his ears. Gunfire echoed through the cavernous space, interspersed with shouted commands and the sharp crack of Reyna’s rifle.

“Clear on the left!” Reyna’s voice rang out over the comms. She moved with precision, her rifle barking as she picked off a guard attempting to flank them. Jake didn’t bother looking back; he trusted her to handle it.

“Lyndsey, talk to me,” Jake barked into his earpiece. His voice was calm, but unease coiled in his gut.

Back at Cerberus headquarters, Lyndsey’s voice came through steady, though tinged with worry. “You’re almost at the server room. Daniels is leading the other team to the storage area. Once you’re inside, I’ll guide you through accessing the files.”

“Copy that,” Jake replied, signaling to Reyna. They moved as a unit, their steps silent despite the chaos unfolding around them.

The facility was a labyrinth of metal catwalks and reinforced walls. Lang’s paranoia was evident in every high-tech lock and camera they passed. Jake’s gaze flicked to the tablet strapped to his forearm, where Lyndsey’s real-time feed displayed the building’s layout.

“Two guards ahead,” Lyndsey’s voice warned. “They’re patrolling the hallway leading to the server room.”

Jake nodded at Reyna, who peeled off silently, her rifle at the ready. Moments later, two muffled shots echoed, and her voice came over the comms. “Guards down. Hallway clear.”

They moved quickly, Jake’s heart pounding as they reached the heavy steel door to the server room. He pulled a small device from his belt, attaching it to the electronic lock. The device’s screen blinked as it worked to override the system.

“Thirty seconds,” Jake muttered.

Behind him, Reyna held her rifle trained on the hallway. “Make it twenty,” she said, her tone dry but focused.

The lock clicked, and the door slid open with a soft hiss. Jake and Reyna slipped inside, the room’s sterile glow illuminating rows of humming servers.

“I’m in,” Jake said, crossing to the nearest terminal. “Lyndsey, patch in.”

“On it,” she replied, her fingers flying over her keyboard back at headquarters. Jake watched as the terminal’s screen flickered to life, displaying lines of encrypted data. Lyndsey’s voice was calm but firm as she guided him. “Plug in the drive I gave you and let the program run. It’ll decrypt the files automatically.”

Jake did as instructed, his gaze flicking to Reyna, who was still watching the door. The seconds dragged as the program worked, each beep of progress sounding painfully loud in the tense silence.

“Jake,” Lyndsey said suddenly, her voice sharp. “I’m seeing movement on the exterior cameras. Lang’s reinforcements are on their way. You’ve got maybe five minutes.”

“Understood,” Jake said, his jaw tightening. “Reyna, be ready to move.”

“Always am,” she replied, her tone clipped.

The program beeped, signaling its completion. Jake removed the drive and slipped it into his vest pocket. “We’ve got it,” he said. “Lyndsey, confirm.”

There was a pause as Lyndsey analyzed the files from her end. “It’s my work,” she said, her voice trembling with anger. “They’ve adapted it for surveillance and sabotage. This is exactly what we needed.”

“Good,” Jake said. “Now we just need to get out alive.”

“Not funny,” murmured Lyndsey.

“Sorry,” said Jake.

As they exited the server room, the sound of approaching footsteps grew louder. Jake and Reyna exchanged a glance before falling into step, moving with the practiced efficiency of seasoned operatives. The first wave of guards came around the corner, and Jake fired, his shots precise and deadly. Reyna took out another with a well-placed shot to the head.

“Keep moving!” Jake barked, his voice cutting through the chaos.

Daniels’ voice came over the comms. “Storage area secured. We’ve got hard copies and samples. Heading to the exfil point.”

“We’ll meet you there,” Jake replied, his focus steadfast as he covered their retreat.

The team’s progress was slow, the narrow hallways forcing them to fight for every inch. Jake’s pulse pounded in his ears as he ducked behind a crate, reloading his Glock with practiced ease. He glanced at Reyna, who was taking down another guard with grim precision.

“Almost there,” she said, her breath coming in sharp bursts.

Jake’s earpiece crackled, and Lyndsey’s voice came through, stressed but steady. “Jake, you’ve got reinforcements coming from the east entrance. Three vehicles just pulled up.”

“Damn it,” Jake muttered. “We’ll never make it to the exfil point in time.”

“What’s the plan?” Reyna asked, her eyes sharp.

Jake’s mind raced as he assessed their options. “We split up. Daniels and his team take the main exit with the evidence. Reyna and I will draw the heat and meet them at the fallback point.”

Reyna nodded without hesitation, her rifle already up. “Let’s do it.”

Jake tapped his comms. “Daniels, you copy?”

“Copy,” Daniels replied. “See you at the fallback.”

Jake glanced at Reyna. “Ready?”

She grinned, her grip tightening on her rifle. “Born ready.”

They moved as one, their gunfire cutting through the chaos as they drew the guards’ attention. The sound of shouting and the crack of bullets echoed around them, but Jake’s focus never wavered. Every step was calculated, every shot deliberate.

“Lyndsey,” Jake said through the comms, his voice steady despite the bedlam. “We’re heading to the fallback point. Keep Daniels updated.”

“Be careful,” Lyndsey replied, her voice tight with worry.

“Always,” Jake said, a faint smile tugging at his lips despite the danger.

As they reached the facility’s perimeter, an explosion rocked the ground, sending debris flying. Jake shielded his face, his ears ringing as he pushed forward. The escape was messy, the odds stacked against them, but they pressed on, the importance of the op driving them forward.

When they finally reached the fallback point, Jake scanned the area, his breath coming in sharp bursts. Daniels’ team was there, the evidence secured, but there was something Jake felt wasn’t quite right, as if they’d missed something.

“We’ve got what we came for,” Daniels said, his voice grim. “But Lang’s going to come after us hard for this.”

Jake nodded, his jaw tightening. “Let him try.”

Despite their success, Jake couldn’t shake the feeling that the fight was far from over. Lang wasn’t just a step ahead—he was preparing for something bigger. And as the team regrouped, Jake’s resolve hardened. Whatever came next, they would be ready. They didn’t have any choice.