Chapter 12

CHAPTER TWELVE

JAKE

T he morning sun was fully above the horizon by the time the SUV’s tires hit the smooth asphalt of the main road. Jake cast one last glance in the side mirror, scanning for any sign of pursuit. The forest loomed behind them, dense and foreboding, but the vehicles that had been tailing them were nowhere to be seen.

“I think we lost them,” he said, his voice steady despite the adrenaline still coursing through his veins. “For now.”

From the driver’s seat, Lyndsey exhaled, her grip on the wheel loosening slightly. Her eyes stayed fixed on the road ahead, but her knuckles were still white. She’d driven like a pro back there, navigating the chaos like someone who’d been doing this for years, not a scientist thrown into a nightmare.

“You did good,” he said, glancing at her. “Better than good.”

Lyndsey’s lips twitched into a faint smile, but she didn’t look at him. “Thanks. I think I might’ve just used up all my courage for the day.”

“You’ve got more in reserve,” Jake replied, his tone softer. “I can tell.”

Reyna snorted from the backseat, breaking the moment. “Look at you, handing out compliments like candy. Who knew Jake Sands had a softer side?”

Jake shot her a look in the rearview mirror. “Keep talking, Reyna, and I’ll let you walk to Chicago.”

Reyna barked a laugh but didn’t push further, turning her attention to reloading her rifle instead.

Jake reached for the encrypted satellite phone clipped to his belt and dialed Cerberus headquarters. The call connected after a single ring. “This is Sands,” he said, his tone shifting into the no-nonsense cadence of a field operative. “We’ve lost our immediate tail, but it won’t be long before they’re back on us. I need a new rendezvous point for extraction.”

Kingston Coltraine’s deep voice came through the line, calm and authoritative. “Understood. We’ve got a secure location prepared. You’ll rendezvous with a chopper in an open field about twenty miles south of your position. Coordinates are being sent now.”

Jake glanced at the dashboard as the GPS lit up with the incoming data. “Got it. But, King, we’ve burned through several safe houses already. If this one doesn’t hold, I’m taking Lyndsey off-grid. No comms, no contact, until I know she’s out of Lang’s reach.”

There was a pause on the other end, and when King spoke again, his voice was firm. “Understood, but that won’t be necessary. This next location is locked down tight. You have my word.”

“You’ll forgive me if that doesn’t mean as much as it used to,” Jake said, his tone edged with frustration.

King didn’t take the bait. “You’ve got the best team we can spare on this, Sands. Focus on getting her to the chopper.”

Jake ended the call without another word, sliding the phone back onto his belt. He glanced at Lyndsey, who had been listening silently, her expression a mix of apprehension and steely focus.

“We’re heading south,” he said, his voice gentler now. “The chopper will take us to the next location. King assures me we’ll be safe there.”

She nodded, her gaze steady despite the rigidity of her jaw. “And then what?”

“Then we regroup. Figure out our next move,” Jake replied. His hand brushed hers on the console, a brief touch that sent a jolt through him. “One step at a time.”

For a moment, their eyes met, and Jake felt everything that had been left unspoken between them. The danger, the fear, the pull he felt every time he looked at her—it was all there, unsaid but undeniable. He wanted to tell her that he’d do whatever it took to keep her safe, that the world could burn as long as she was okay. But the words felt too big, too real, and now wasn’t the time.

Reyna cleared her throat loudly from the backseat, and the moment shattered. “Hate to interrupt you two staring longingly at each other…”

“We weren’t staring longingly…” barked Jake.

“Jake, Reyna is just teasing you.”

When had she become the voice of reason? Isn’t that my job? Get a grip!

“You two are so much fun to watch,” said Reyna. But we need to get a move on.”

Jake nodded, his focus snapping back to the task at hand. “Lyndsey, take the next right. We’ll hit the coordinates in twenty minutes if we keep this pace.”

Up ahead, the open field stretched out before them, a patch of green surrounded by dense woods. The whirring of helicopter blades cut through the air as the chopper descended, its dark silhouette sharp against the bright sky. Jake’s anxiety eased slightly as he recognized the pilot.

“It’s Wyatt,” Reyna said, grinning. “I didn’t know he was in the States. He usually works out of the London office. I haven’t seen him in years. Guess King wanted to send the best.”

“Let’s hope so,” Jake muttered, opening the SUV door and scanning the perimeter as they exited.

Wyatt stepped out of the chopper, his aviator sunglasses reflecting the sunlight. His grin was wide, but his stance was all business. “Sands, Reyna. Long time. Ready to fly?”

“Ready as we’ll ever be,” Jake said. He turned to Lyndsey, placing a hand on the small of her back to guide her toward the helicopter. “Stay close.”

The warmth of his touch might have sent a shiver through her, but Lyndsey didn’t show it, keeping her focus on the chopper. The blades kicked up a whirlwind of dirt and grass as they approached, and Jake’s hand didn’t leave her back until she was safely inside.

Reyna climbed in after them, slapping Wyatt on the shoulder as she passed. “Good to see you, Wyatt. Let’s get this show on the road.”

Jake settled into the seat beside Lyndsey, his Glock resting on his thigh as the helicopter lifted off. The ground fell away, the trees shrinking into a sea of green below. For the first time in hours, Jake allowed himself a moment to breathe.

“You okay?” he asked, glancing at Lyndsey.

She nodded, her hand resting on the seatbelt across her lap. “I think so. Just… trying to process everything.”

Jake’s gaze softened. “We’re almost there. One step at a time, remember?”

Her lips curved into a faint smile, and Jake felt that familiar pull again—the connection that had been growing between them since this whole ordeal began. He didn’t know where it would lead, but it was enough for now.

As the chopper flew south, Jake realized they were headed toward Chicago. The sense of urgency and danger lingered, but so did something else—a quiet awareness that they would face whatever came next surrounded by one of the best teams ever assembled.

The helicopter touched down on the rooftop landing pad of Cerberus Headquarters in Chicago. Jake watched Lyndsey as the rotors slowed, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. Her eyes were narrowed with suspicion, and he could practically feel her discomfort radiating off her in waves. She hadn’t said much during the flight, but the closer they got to Chicago, the tighter the line of her mouth. He could see she wasn’t thrilled about their destination.

Jake turned to her as the blades stilled. “This is the safest place we’ve got right now.”

“That’s what you said about the last safe house,” she shot back, her voice sharp. “And the one before that. I just don’t know that a place of business, one of which is a club is the safest.”

Both Jake and Reyna laughed out loud.

“This one actually is,” Jake replied evenly, his tone calm but firm. “The safe rooms above the club are practically a fortress. King made sure of that.”

Lyndsey glared at him, her hands on her hips as she stepped out of the chopper. “You mean the BDSM club,” she said pointedly. “That’s what you’re talking about, right?”

Jake sighed, running a hand through his hair as he followed her. “It’s more than a club. It’s a secure facility.”

“Then why did we leave in the first place?”

Jake stifled his frustration. “Because you refused protection unless we went to your family’s place, and then the closest place we had to that was the one in Canada. I promise you, no one gets in or out without clearance. The safe rooms here and at Baker Street are among the most secure in the world.”

“And yet, we keep running,” she snapped. “Forgive me if I don’t have blind faith in your so-called security.”

Jake didn’t flinch at her words. He understood her frustration, her outrage. She’d been thrust into a world she didn’t understand, forced to trust people she barely knew. But that didn’t mean he’d let her question the one place he was certain could keep her safe.

“Look,” he said, his voice softer now, “I get it. This isn’t what you signed up for. But the fact is, this place has kept people alive through worse than what we’re facing. It’s not about the club—it’s about the infrastructure.”

Lyndsey threw up her hands. “Fine. Whatever. Let’s just get this over with.”

Jake grinned despite himself. Her fire was one of the things he admired about her, even if it made his job harder. He gestured toward the door leading to the stairwell. “This way.”

From the rooftop, they entered Cerberus Headquarters. As sleek, secure and efficient as they were, Jake knew they were in safe hands. The halls were lined with security cameras, and every door required multiple levels of clearance to open. But as they descended to the safe rooms above the club, he could sense Lyndsey’s nervousness growing.

When they reached the floor where the main office and the safe rooms were, Jake led her to the larger of the two suites, swiped his keycard and held the door open for her. “Welcome to your temporary home.”

Lyndsey stepped inside and froze. Her gaze swept over the room, taking in the plush bed with its wrought-iron frame, the soft lighting, and the polished wood furnishings. But it wasn’t the decor that had her staring—it was the distinctly BDSM elements scattered throughout. A padded bench sat in one corner, and an elegant restraint system was subtly integrated into the headboard.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” she muttered, her voice flat.

Jake leaned against the doorframe, his arms crossed as he watched her. “What’s the problem?”

Lyndsey whirled on him, her eyes blazing. “The problem is that this is not a safe house. It’s a… a dungeon with a bed!”

Jake chuckled, unable to help himself. “It’s a room above a club, Lyndsey. One that happens to cater to a specific clientele. And no, it’s not a dungeon. It’s secure, comfortable, and equipped with everything you need.”

Her glare could have cut through steel. “Do you even hear yourself? You’re acting like this is normal!”

“For me, and most of the members of Cerberus, it is,” Jake replied, his tone casual. “And for the people who use this space, it’s normal, too. What matters is that you’ll be safe here.”

Lyndsey huffed, pacing the room. “Safe and mortified, apparently.”

Jake stepped closer, his amusement softening into something more serious. “Lyndsey,” he said quietly, “I wouldn’t have agreed to bring you here if I thought there was any risk. I know it’s not what you’re used to, but it’s the best option we’ve got right now. Better handcuffs and floggers than bullets and grenades.”

She stopped pacing, her shoulders slumping slightly as she turned to face him. “You might have a point, but I just… I feel like I’m losing control of everything. My work, my life, where I sleep. It’s all being decided for me.”

Jake heard and felt the vulnerability in her voice. He stepped closer, his hand resting lightly on her arm. “I get it. But you’re not alone in this. I’m here to make sure you get through it in one piece.”

Her gaze softened, and the energy between them shifted. “You’re really not going to let me win an argument, are you?”

Jake smiled, the corner of his mouth quirking up. “Not when it comes to your safety, no.”

Lyndsey let out a reluctant laugh, shaking her head. “Fine. But I’m not using that… bench.”

Jake laughed outright, the sound deep and warm. “Not unless you want to.”

“I won’t.”

As the tension eased, Jake found himself watching her more closely. The way her hair fell over her shoulder, the fire in her eyes—she was unlike anyone he’d ever met. And as much as he hated to admit it, she was getting under his skin in a way that no one else ever had. She might hate the idea of what she thought the lifestyle was, but he was pretty sure if she allowed herself to explore, she might find something beneficial.

Whatever came next, he knew one thing for certain: keeping her safe wasn’t just a job anymore. It was personal.

Later, after Lyndsey had had time to settle in and King had debriefed him and Reyna, he sat at a small dining table nestled in a niche by a bulletproof window. The scent of grilled chicken and roasted vegetables filled the room, but Jake barely noticed. His focus remained on Lyndsey as she sat across from him, her brows furrowed in concentration. The small table in the safe room felt too intimate for the importance of their conversation, but it was the safest place to talk.

Jake set his fork down, leaning back in his chair. “If we’re going to take down Lang, we need leverage. Something big enough to disrupt his entire operation.”

Lyndsey nodded, her fork idly pushing around the vegetables on her plate. “The problem is, everything we have is circumstantial. I can’t find anything that ties him directly to the auction or the conspiracy.”

Jake watched as she nibbled on her lower lip, her frustration evident. “There’s one person who might have what we need,” he said, his voice steady but reluctant.

Lyndsey’s eyes snapped to his, the realization dawning instantly. “Marcus.”

Jake nodded. “If he’s involved—even on the edges—he’ll have information. Maybe more than he realizes. And if he isn’t dirty, he’s going to want to help.”

Lyndsey sat back, crossing her arms. “And what if he’s not on our side? What if he’s working with Lang?”

“Then we’ll know,” Jake said simply. “But if there’s even a chance he’s willing to help, we have to take it.”

She sighed, her gaze dropping to the table. “I trusted him, Jake. For years. If he’s been part of this... I don’t know if I can handle that.”

Jake leaned forward, his voice softening. “Then let me handle him. You don’t have to do this alone.”

Lyndsey met his gaze, and recognized that something had changed—a shared commitment, a flicker of trust. “No,” she said finally, her voice firm. “If we’re going to do this, I need to be involved.”

Jake nodded, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Okay, then.”

The laptop screen glowed faintly in the dim room as Lyndsey dialed Marcus on a secure line. Jake stood behind her, arms crossed, his presence a steadying force. The line rang once, twice, before a familiar voice answered.

“Lyndsey?” Marcus sounded surprised, almost wary. “What’s going on? Are you okay?”

Lyndsey’s grip on the laptop tightened. “I’m fine, Marcus. For now. But I need to talk to you. In person.”

There was a pause, the hesitation palpable even through the line. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea. Things are... complicated.”

“They’re more than complicated,” Lyndsey snapped, her voice sharp. “Someone is after me and my research. The people protecting me think you’re involved, and at this point, you’re either with me or against me, Marcus. And I need to know which it is.”

Another pause. Then, “Where?”

“Cerberus headquarters here in Chicago.”

“No way,” said Marcus. “If anyone sees me and tells Lang, I’m a dead man.”

Jake leaned down, speaking into the microphone. “All right, then some place secluded. You pick, and we’ll decide if it’s secure enough.”

Marcus hesitated again before rattling off coordinates to a cottage just outside the city limits. “It’s remote,” he said. “No one knows about it.”

“We’ll be there,” Jake said, cutting the call before Marcus could say anything else.

Lyndsey turned to him, her expression a mix of anger and nerves. “What if it’s a trap?”

Jake’s jaw tightened. “Then he’ll regret it.”

The cottage was nestled deep in the woods, its dark silhouette barely visible against the twilight sky. Jake parked the SUV a safe distance away, his Glock tucked securely at his side. He scanned the area, every sense on high alert.

“Stay close,” he said to Lyndsey, his voice low.

She nodded, clutching the strap of her bag tightly as they approached the cabin. Jake pushed the door open, his hand hovering near his weapon.

Marcus was already inside, sitting at a small wooden table. He looked older than Jake remembered from the photos—more tired, more worn. But his sharp eyes gave nothing away as he stood, his hands raised slightly.

“I’m unarmed,” Marcus said. “And I’m alone.”

Jake’s gaze swept the room, confirming the truth of Marcus’s statement before stepping aside to let Lyndsey enter. Her posture was stiff, her arms crossed protectively over her chest.

“Lyndsey,” Marcus began, his tone almost pleading. “I’m sorry.”

“Sorry?” she snapped, her voice rising. “Do you have any idea what I’ve been through? What your name showing up in those files has done to me?”

Marcus flinched but didn’t look away. “I didn’t know, Lyndsey. Not at first. I swear. Lang approached me years ago—said he wanted to invest in the research. I thought it was legitimate.”

Jake cut in, his voice cold. “And when did you figure out it wasn’t?”

Marcus hesitated. “Too late. By the time I realized what Lang was planning, I was already in too deep. But I never betrayed you, Lyndsey. I swear.”

Lyndsey’s eyes narrowed. “Then why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t you warn me?”

“I was trying to protect you,” Marcus said, his voice cracking. “I thought if I stayed close, I could keep you safe. But Lang... he’s not just a man. He’s a machine. He’s got people everywhere, resources I can’t even begin to match.”

Jake stepped forward, his presence imposing. “If you’re telling the truth, you’ll help us. We need everything you have on Lang—contacts, locations, operations.”

Marcus met Jake’s gaze, his shoulders sagging slightly. “I’ll help. But if you’re going to take him down, you’ll need more than just my intel. You’ll need proof. And that means going after his financial network.”

Lyndsey’s breath hitched. “You mean the auction. The bidders.”

Marcus nodded. “If you can link Lang to those transactions, you’ll have him. But it won’t be easy. He’s covered his tracks well.”

Jake exchanged a glance with Lyndsey, her eyes blazing despite the tremor in her hands. “We’ll find a way,” Jake said firmly. “But if you’re playing us, Marcus, I’ll know, and I’ll end you.”

“I’m not,” Marcus said quietly. “For Lyndsey’s sake, I’ll do whatever it takes.”

As they made their way back from the cottage to Club Southside, Jake couldn’t shake the feeling that things were only going to get more dangerous. But one thing was clear: they had a new weapon in their fight against Lang. And with Lyndsey by his side, Jake was ready to use it.