Chapter 5

CHAPTER FIVE

LYNDSEY

The early morning light filtered through the curtains, casting golden streaks across the wooden floor of the cabin. Lyndsey sat cross-legged on the sofa, the laptop Jake had secured for her balanced precariously on her knees as she typed. She was glad of the fact that she had a secure storage area on the Cloud. It wasn’t as good as having her own laptop, as some information was on her desktop, but it was better than nothing. The hum of the satellite phone on the table in front of her drew her attention, the blinking light signaling an incoming connection.

Jake stepped into the room, coffee mug in hand, his sharp eyes immediately catching the light on the phone. “That’ll be Cerberus,” he said, setting his mug down and moving to check the connection.

“Or Marcus,” Lyndsey said, sitting up straighter.

Jake glanced at her. “You expecting him to call?”

She nodded. “I sent him an encrypted message last night. He’s the only person who fully understands the scope of my work. If anyone has answers about why my research is suddenly life-or-death, it’s Marcus.”

Jake tapped a few buttons on the satellite phone. A moment later, the secure line connected, and the voice of Marcus Vance, Lyndsey’s mentor, filled the room.

“Lyndsey? Are you there?”

“I’m here, Marcus,” she said, leaning closer to the phone. “I’m okay.”

“That’s a relief,” Marcus said, though his voice was tight with concern. “When I heard what happened at your lab and then outside of that lifestyle club, I feared the worst. Are you safe now?”

Lyndsey glanced at Jake, who leaned against the wall, his gaze fixed on her. “Safe enough. I’m in a secure location, and I’ve got someone watching my back.”

Jake raised an eyebrow at her description but said nothing.

“How’d you manage that?” Marcus asked.

“A friend of mine is connected to Cerberus—the security firm. She told her husband, and he pulled in one of his best men to provide… what is it you call it?”

“Close cover,” Jake answered.

“Right. I’ve been assigned close cover.”

“Good,” Marcus replied. “But you need to stay vigilant. The implications of your research have grown far beyond what we initially discussed.”

“What do you mean?” Lyndsey asked, her stomach twisting.

“Lyndsey, your work on the nanobots—especially their potential for regenerative medicine—has attracted significant attention. Not just from legitimate organizations but from groups who see it as a way to gain power or money. Do you realize what could happen if this technology were weaponized?”

She swallowed hard. “Weaponized? Marcus, that’s not possible. I designed the program for cellular repair, but at this stage of development, I suppose it could be used for a lot of things I didn’t intend.”

“It is now,” Marcus said gravely. “But if someone were to reverse-engineer your work, they could potentially reprogram the bots to target healthy tissue instead of repairing it. Imagine the devastation that could cause.”

Lyndsey’s hands trembled as she gripped the edge of the sofa. “That wasn’t what this was meant for. This research is supposed to save lives.”

“I know, Lyndsey,” Marcus said, his tone softening. “But not everyone sees it that way. Some would rather destroy your work entirely to prevent anyone else from using it.”

“That’s why they’re after me,” she murmured, as the realization settled over her. “It’s not just about the research. It’s about ensuring no one else has it.”

Jake stepped forward, his voice calm but firm. “What do we need to know about the people after her?”

“Cerberus might have more intel than I do,” Marcus admitted. “But I’ve heard whispers of a private contractor with ties to a rogue biotech firm. They’ve been acquiring patents and prototypes for years, usually through questionable means.”

Lyndsey pressed her fingers to her temples, her mind racing. “This is bigger than I thought.”

“It always is,” Jake said, his voice steady. He looked at her, his eyes full of reassurance. “But you’re not alone in this.”

Marcus hesitated on the other end of the line. “Lyndsey, I need you to promise me something.”

“What?” she asked softly.

“Promise me you’ll do whatever it takes to stay safe. Your work is important, but your life matters more. If it comes down to it... walk away.”

Lyndsey’s throat tightened, her gaze dropping to the floor. “Marcus...”

“Promise me,” he pressed.

She glanced at Jake, who gave her a subtle nod. “I promise.”

The line went silent before Marcus spoke again. “Good. And Lyndsey? If you need me, you know how to reach me. Be careful.”

“I will,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Lyndsey stared at the satellite phone, her knuckles white as she gripped it tightly. Marcus had just hung up, but their conversation still buzzed in her ears. Across the room, Jake leaned against the counter, his arms crossed, his eyes fixed on her.

“Hand it over,” he said evenly.

“What?” Lyndsey blinked, clutching the phone tighter.

“The phone,” Jake repeated, his tone calm but insistent. “You hung up before I had a chance to speak to Marcus.”

She hesitated before sighing and handing it over. “Don’t antagonize him,” she warned. “He’s just trying to help.”

Jake’s lips twitched into something that wasn’t quite a smile. “Helping and doing what’s necessary aren’t always the same thing.” He dialed the secure line, his gaze steady on hers as he waited for Marcus to answer.

“Marcus Vance,” Marcus’s voice came through the speaker, cool and measured.

“Dr. Vance, Jake Sands here. I’m the one providing close cover to Lyndsey.”

“I assume this isn’t a social call.”

“No,” Jake replied, his tone firm. “I wanted to clarify something. Lyndsey’s safety comes first. Above the research, above everything else.”

“And you think I don’t know that?” Marcus shot back. “Do you think I’d put her in harm’s way?”

Jake’s jaw tightened. “Intentions don’t matter if the outcome is the same. If there’s a choice between saving her or saving the research, I’ll choose her. Every time.”

There was a pause on the other end, then Marcus’s voice softened. “We’re on the same side, Sands. But Lyndsey’s work has the potential to save millions of lives. That’s not something we can dismiss lightly.”

“I’m not dismissing it,” Jake said, his voice like steel. “But I’m not gambling with her life to protect it, either.”

“Perhaps you’re too close to this,” Marcus suggested. “It’s understandable, given the circumstances, but...”

“I’m close enough to keep her alive,” Jake interrupted. “That’s all that matters.”

Lyndsey watched the exchange with growing unease, her gaze flicking between Jake and the phone. She felt torn, her admiration for Marcus clashing with the growing trust she’d started to feel toward Jake.

Marcus sighed audibly. “You’re a difficult man, Sands.”

“So I’ve been told,” Jake replied. “But I get results. Let me do my job, and we’ll all get through this.”

Another pause, then Marcus said, “Keep her safe. That’s all I ask.”

“That’s the plan,” Jake said before ending the call and setting the phone on the counter, leaving the cabin in heavy silence. Jake stepped closer, his presence grounding her.

Lyndsey crossed her arms, a mixture of frustration and gratitude simmering beneath the surface. “Did you have to be so—so Jake about it?”

He raised an eyebrow. “So ‘Jake’?”

“You know what I mean,” she said, exhaling sharply. “Marcus isn’t the enemy here.”

“No, but he’s not in the clear, either,” Jake replied, moving past her to the stove. “It’s easy to have theories about what’s best when you’re not the one pulling the trigger.”

She shook her head. “I can’t—I won’t—believe Marcus had anything to do with any of this. I’ve known him since my undergrad days. He’s more than just a mentor, he’s almost like family.”

Jake snorted. “Whatever.” He looked at her closely, “You okay?” he asked, his voice softer now.

“I don’t know,” Lyndsey admitted, her gaze meeting his. “Marcus has always been the steady voice of reason in my life. Thinking about him like this... it’s frightening.”

Jake knelt in front of her, his hands braced on his knees. “You have every right to be scared. But fear’s not the enemy. Complacency is. You’re smart, resourceful, and tougher than you think.”

Lyndsey managed a faint smile. “Was that another compliment, Sands?”

“Don’t get used to it,” he said, but there was a warmth in his tone that hadn’t been there before. “I’ve never been fond of the praise kink.”

“What do you prefer?”

Jake shrugged his shoulders, “Control, discipline, seeing that a sub can be the best version of herself. Just remember, you’re not in this alone. As long as I’m here, nothing’s going to happen to you.”

The intensity in his gaze made her shiver inwardly, but it wasn’t fear this time. It was something else entirely, something that made her heart race and her breath hitch.

“Jake...” she started, but the words caught in her throat.

He held her gaze before standing and looking away, his jaw tightening. “Take it easy, Lyndsey. We’ll get through this.”

As he turned back to the stove, Lyndsey exhaled shakily, her thoughts a jumble of fear, determination, and the growing awareness that Jake Sands might be the only person who could keep her safe—in more ways than one.

She opened her mouth to argue, then closed it again, realizing she didn’t have a real response. Instead, she leaned against the counter, watching as he picked up a skillet and began plating something that smelled... amazing.

“What’s that?” she asked, tilting her head.

“A version of Shakshuka,” Jake said, his tone lightening slightly. He slid a plate across the counter to her. “Eggs poached in a spicy tomato sauce. I add diced potatoes. It’s one of my favorites.”

She blinked, momentarily taken aback. “You cooked breakfast?”

“Even bodyguards have to eat,” he said with a grin

Lyndsey stared at the plate, the vibrant reds and yellows of the dish bright against the white ceramic. “It looks... incredible.”

“Try it,” Jake said, sitting down across from her with his own plate.

She picked up a fork and took a tentative bite, her eyes widening as the flavors hit her tongue. “Wow. This is... really good.”

“Told you,” Jake said, his tone smug but not unkind.

Lyndsey took another bite, the warmth of the dish cutting through some of the strain that had built up over the morning. “So, what’s the story behind this?”

“Learned it from a friend overseas,” Jake said, leaning back in his chair. “It’s simple but satisfying. Kind of like me.”

She snorted, unable to suppress a laugh. “You’re impossible.”

“Maybe,” he said, his gaze softening as he watched her. “But I’m good at what I do.”

The sincerity in his voice struck a chord, and Lyndsey felt her defenses weaken just a little more. As much as she hated to admit it, she was starting to feel like she could rely on him—not just as a protector, but as someone who genuinely cared about her safety.

“I mean it,” Jake added, his voice quieter now. “You can trust me.”

She met his gaze, the air between them charged with unspoken tension. “I know.”

For a moment, the danger inside the cabin seemed to fade, replaced by something equally intense but far less frightening.

“Eat up,” he said, his tone returning to its usual gruffness. “You’ll need your strength.”

“For what?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

“For surviving,” Jake replied, glancing at her over his shoulder. “And for finishing whatever you’ve started.”

The gravity of his words settled over her, but instead of fear, Lyndsey felt a spark of stubbornness. She wasn’t done yet—not with her work, and certainly not with Jake Sands.