Chapter 6

CHAPTER SIX

LYNDSEY

Lyndsey sat at the edge of the dock, her legs dangling over the water as the sun began to dip towards the horizon, painting the lake in hues of gold and pink. The stillness of the evening was deceptive—an illusion of peace that did little to calm the turmoil inside her. She was too aware of Jake behind her, his presence like a shadow that refused to be ignored. He wasn’t happy with her, but Lyndsey couldn’t spend all of her time indoors. She had agreed not to venture out of eyeline from the cabin and Jake would keep watch. He was armed but Lyndsey was beginning to feel that Jake’s Glock was simply an extension of the man himself.

“You’ve been quiet,” Jake said, his deep voice cutting through the calm. He stood at the end of the dock, his eyes never stopped moving, scanning the area. His eyes darted back and fixed on her. “Not like you.”

Lyndsey glanced over her shoulder, offering a weak smile. “Just thinking.”

“About Marcus?” Jake asked, his tone casual but probing.

Her stomach tightened. “Why do you ask?”

Jake stepped closer, kneeling next to her. The proximity sent a ripple of awareness through her, but his expression was unreadable, his focus sharp. “Because I need to know who he is to you. Cerberus wouldn’t let just anyone talk to you on a secure line. Samantha had to convince King to go against protocol. Marcus has to matter to you. There has to be something more there than just a professional relationship.”

Lyndsey hesitated, staring down at the water. “He’s my mentor. He’s been part of my life since undergrad. He guided me through grad school and into my postdoc. He’s brilliant, one of the most intelligent people I’ve ever met.”

Jake’s eyes narrowed slightly. “That’s not all, is it?”

Her breath hitched, and she turned away, biting her lip. “It’s complicated.” Jake’s silence was unnerving, forcing her to fill the space with her words. “There was a time when... we were more than just colleagues. Lovers, briefly.”

His dark eyebrows lifted, but his expression didn’t betray much. “Briefly?”

Lyndsey nodded, the words spilling out before she could second-guess herself. “I broke it off. It wasn’t anything dramatic, but I was worried it might compromise my professional reputation. He understood—at least, he said he did.”

Jake leaned back slightly, his gaze piercing. “And now?”

“Now?” Lyndsey shook her head. “Now, he’s just Marcus. A mentor, a friend. That’s all.”

Jake studied her for a long moment, the air between them heavy with unspoken intensity.

“You trust him?”

“Yes,” she said firmly, meeting his gaze. “Completely.”

“And yet,” Jake said, his voice dropping to a lower, almost dangerous tone, “you didn’t tell me about your history with him until I asked.”

Heat rose to her cheeks, and she looked away. “I didn’t think it was relevant.”

“It’s relevant if it affects your safety,” Jake said, his jaw tightening. “And if someone in your past has motives you might not see, it’s relevant.”

Lyndsey’s head snapped back toward him, her eyes flashing. “Marcus would never hurt me.”

“Maybe not intentionally,” Jake allowed. “But people do desperate things when their backs are against the wall.”

The suggestion hit her like a slap. “You don’t know him.”

“I don’t have to. I know human nature,” Jake countered, his voice firm but not unkind. “And I know how easy it is to let your guard down with someone you think you can trust.”

Lyndsey’s breath came fast, her emotions warring inside her. Anger, fear, and something she didn’t want to name—not now, not with him so close. “Why do you care?” she demanded, her voice rising. “Why are you so interested in my past?”

Jake’s lips pressed into a thin line, his eyes locking onto hers. “Because it’s my job to keep you alive, and I can’t do that if you’re keeping secrets.”

The intensity in his gaze made her pulse quicken, and she hated how vulnerable she felt under his scrutiny. “You don’t understand,” she said, her voice quieter now. “Marcus has always been the one person who believed in me, who pushed me to be better. Whatever we had romantically, it’s over. It’s been over for years.”

“And you’re the one who broke it off?”

“Yes, but he agreed. There was no drama involved. We both agreed.”

Jake didn’t respond immediately, his expression unreadable as he stood. When he finally spoke, his voice was low, almost a growl. “Just remember—whoever you trust, they’re not the one standing here, risking their life to protect you. That’s me.”

Lyndsey stared at him, her heart pounding. “I didn’t ask you to.”

“No,” Jake said, stepping closer, his presence overwhelming. “But I’m here anyway. And I’m not going anywhere until this is over.”

The words hung between them, heavy and charged. Lyndsey wanted to look away, to break the moment, but she couldn’t. Jake’s gaze held her in place, a silent challenge she wasn’t sure she was ready to meet.

Finally, he exhaled, stepping back and running a hand through his hair. “We should probably get you back inside, Lyndsey. The sun is starting to go down. I want to make another patrol of the perimeter and then lock down the cabin for the night. Tomorrow, we can figure out our next move.”

As he turned and walked away, Lyndsey let out a shaky breath, her emotions swirling like the ripples on the water. The danger outside was real, but the battle inside her—between her past, her work, and the man she was beginning to trust more than she wanted to—felt just as perilous.

Lyndsey walked back to the cabin, heard the click of the lock on the door and began to make some kind of dinner. They’d fallen into an easy routine where one of them cooked and the other cleaned up the kitchen after they’d eaten. Earlier in the day Jake had caught and cleaned a couple of trout. Lyndsey brought two of the fillets out and began to prepare trout almondine. It might have been easier just to coat them in cornmeal and fry them, but she wanted to do something to show Jake she did appreciate all he was doing for her.

Jake was impressed by her efforts, and they ate companionably. After dinner as Jake did the dishes, Lyndsey leaned against the kitchen counter, her arms crossed, frustration written all over her face. She wasn’t upset or frustrated with Jake, but with the situation and the way the answers weren’t presenting themselves. Jake stood in front of the sink, rinsing the dishes and putting them in the dish rack, his eyes locked onto hers as though he could uncover the answers through sheer force of will.

“We’re going in circles,” Lyndsey said, exhaling sharply. “Doesn’t anyone at Cerberus have any leads.”

“Not yet,” Jake countered. “But we’ve narrowed the scope. Let’s revisit the basics: Is there a lot of money to be made with your nanotech?”

She hesitated, biting her lip. “There will be, once it’s perfected. But we’re not close to that point. It’s still in the research phase, and then comes the testing phase—there’s no commercial application yet.”

Jake tilted his head, studying her. “What about your team? Would they all share in that payday?”

Lyndsey stiffened, glancing away. “Not everyone. It’s complicated.”

“Uncomplicate it for me,” Jake pressed, his voice calm but insistent. “If someone stands to gain more than others, that’s motive.”

She sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. “The lead researchers—myself included—would see the biggest returns if the technology is licensed or sold. The junior team members would get recognition, maybe a bonus, but nothing substantial. That’s standard in this field.”

Jake’s jaw tightened, his gaze sharp. “So, you’ve got a team of people working their asses off for scraps while the leads get the glory. That’s enough to make someone resentful.”

“I don’t think anyone on my team would...” Lyndsey started, but Jake cut her off.

“Don’t,” he said, his voice low. “Don’t assume loyalty just because you want to believe it. I’ve seen people betray their closest allies for a hell of a lot less.”

Before Lyndsey could respond, the satellite phone buzzed on the table. Jake snatched it up, answering with his usual curt efficiency. “Sands.”

Lyndsey watched as his expression shifted, his lips pressing into a thin line. He turned away, pacing as he listened. “Keep digging. Cross-reference everything. I want a name.” He ended the call and set the phone down, turning back to her.

“Well?” she asked, her stomach tightening.

“Cerberus has been doing a deep dive on your colleagues,” Jake said. “So far, no glaring financial issues. But they’ve picked up chatter on the dark web—bits and pieces of your tech being sold.”

Lyndsey’s breath caught. “That’s impossible. The files are encrypted. There’s no way...”

“There’s a way,” Jake interrupted, his tone grim. “There’s always a way. Someone inside your team is leaking information.”

The words hit her like a punch to the gut. She sank onto one of the kitchen chairs, her mind racing. “A mole,” she whispered. “Someone on my team is betraying me.”

Jake crouched in front of her, his intense gaze steadying. “We’re going to figure out who it is. But we need access to more information—records, communications. Anything that can give us a lead.”

Lyndsey’s head shot up. “Then we need to go to my main lab.”

“No,” Jake said immediately, standing and shaking his head. “It’s too dangerous.”

“I can’t do this without the data stored there,” she argued, rising to her feet. “If someone’s been selling pieces of the technology, the lab records might show unusual access or downloads. It’s the only way to narrow it down.”

“We can send in a Cerberus team to retrieve what you need,” Jake said. “You’re not stepping foot in that lab.”

Lyndsey bristled, planting her hands on her hips. “And let strangers rummage through my research? Absolutely not. They wouldn’t know what to look for, and it would take them weeks to understand the system. I can do it in hours.”

“You don’t get it, do you?” Jake snapped, his voice rising. “You’re the target. They don’t care about the lab or the data. They want you. Walking into that lab is like painting a bullseye on your back.”

“And sitting here waiting for answers is doing nothing,” Lyndsey shot back, stepping closer. “I need to do this, Jake. You can protect me or not, your choice, but I’m going.”

Jake’s jaw clenched, his frustration evident as he stared down at her—the undercurrent of attraction only adding fuel to the fire.

“You’re impossible,” he muttered, running a hand through his hair. “Stubborn as hell.”

“And you’re overbearing and domineering,” Lyndsey countered, her eyes flashing.

“What do you expect from an experienced and practicing Dom?”

“Well, I’m not your submissive, and we both know I’m right.”

Jake exhaled sharply; Lyndsey knew that he knew she was right. Finally, he nodded. “Fine. But we do this my way. Full team support, tight security, and you stay glued to my side. No arguments.”

“No arguments,” she agreed, her voice softening.

Their eyes met, the heat between them simmering just beneath the surface. Whatever this was that seemed to be brewing between them, it was gathering momentum like an avalanche tumbling down a mountain.

“Lyndsey,” Jake said quietly, his voice almost a warning.

“What?” she whispered, her breath hitching.

He shook his head, stepping back and breaking the spell. “You’d better turn in…”

“You don’t get to send me to bed like a five-year-old.”

“I do if you want to go to your lab. Tomorrow, we go hunting for a mole, and I need you at your best.”

Lyndsey watched him walk away, feeling a mixture of anticipation and dread. The danger outside was real, but whatever it was that was growing between them was something else entirely—and she wasn’t sure which was more terrifying.

The cabin’s stillness was unnerving, a quiet so heavy it felt like it might shatter under the weight of their conversation. Lyndsey sat on the edge of the sofa, her elbows resting on her knees as she tried to process Jake’s words.

“You’re sure?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Jake stood by the window, his dark silhouette outlined by the faint glow of the moon. “I wouldn’t have insisted if I wasn’t.”

Jake snorted, and she grinned at him. Returning to the lab was dangerous. Lyndsey knew that. But the promise of answers—of narrowing down the list of suspects—was too compelling to ignore.

“It has to be done,” she said, her fingers twisting together. “I worry that going back might be walking into a trap, but this is the only way to find who’s behind this.”

Jake turned to face her, his gaze steady. “We’ll do it on my terms. Covert entry, minimal exposure, and a quick extraction. You’ll stay in the safe zone.”

“I’m not staying in some safe zone,” Lyndsey argued, standing abruptly. “You don’t know what to look for. I do.”

Jake’s lips pressed into a thin line, but he didn’t argue. Instead, he nodded. “Fine. But you follow my lead. No exceptions.”

She exhaled shakily, the gravity of their plan settling over her. “Okay.”

Jake moved closer, his presence grounding. “Lyndsey, this isn’t just about retrieving data. We’re going to find out who betrayed you. But you need to prepare yourself.”

Her throat tightened. “You think it’s someone on my team?”

“I think it’s someone with access to your research,” Jake said, his voice even but firm. “And that list isn’t long.”

Lyndsey dropped her gaze, her mind racing through the names and faces of her colleagues. “I’ve worked with most of them for years. They’re brilliant, dedicated. I can’t imagine any of them...”

“Someone did,” Jake interrupted gently. “And until we know who, we can’t rule anyone out.”

Lyndsey nodded, forcing herself to focus. The betrayal cut deep, but the truth was undeniable.

Hours later, they moved silently through the darkened halls of the research facility. The lab felt eerie without the hum of activity Lyndsey was used to. Jake led the way, his Glock drawn, his movements fluid and precise. Lyndsey followed close behind, her heart pounding in her chest.

“Stay close,” Jake murmured over his shoulder. His voice was low, but it carried the authority she had come to rely on.

They reached her office without incident, and Jake immediately began scanning the room, his sharp eyes catching every detail. “Clear,” he said finally, motioning for her to enter.

Lyndsey slipped past him, her focus narrowing as she powered up her computer. The familiar glow of the monitor was a small comfort, but it didn’t alleviate the feelings of dread and apprehension she was experiencing.

“Anything out of place?” Jake asked, standing guard by the door.

“It doesn’t appear to be,” Lyndsey replied, her fingers flying over the keyboard. “But if someone accessed the files, there should be a log.”

Jake nodded, his attention shifting to the hall. “Work fast. We don’t have much time.”

Minutes passed in a taut kind of silence, the only sound the soft clicks of Lyndsey’s typing. Finally, she froze, her eyes widening as she leaned closer to the screen.

“What is it?” Jake asked, stepping toward her.

“Unusual access patterns,” Lyndsey said, her voice trembling as she pointed to various data. “Someone’s been pulling encrypted files from the server at odd hours—files that shouldn’t have been accessed without my authorization.”

“Who?” Jake demanded, his tone sharp.

Lyndsey scrolled through the logs and pointed to a name. “I have no idea who that is.”

Jake leaned over her shoulder, his gaze narrowing. “Unfortunately, I do.”

“Who is it?” Lyndsey asked, her voice cracking.

Before she could finish, a loud crash echoed through the facility. Jake’s body tensed instantly, his gun snapping up as he moved to shield her.

“Stay down,” he ordered, his voice low but urgent.

“Jake, what...”

“Stay down,” he repeated, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Lyndsey hid behind the desk, her heart racing as the sound of footsteps grew louder. Jake positioned himself near the door, his gaze locked on the hallway, every muscle in his body coiled and ready.

The footsteps stopped just outside the office, and Lyndsey held her breath as a shadow passed under the door.

Jake raised his hand, signaling for her to stay silent.

The door handle turned.