Chapter 7

CHAPTER SEVEN

JAKE

J ake pressed his back against the wall, his Glock steady in his grip as he kept his eyes on the office door. Lyndsey was partially hidden behind the desk, her breathing shallow, her hands gripping the edge of the wood as if it were the only thing anchoring her. The knob turned again, a slow, deliberate motion that sent a ripple of fear through the room.

Jake signaled for silence, his sharp gaze flicking to Lyndsey. She nodded, her eyes wide but locked on him, trusting him implicitly—at least in that moment. The murmur of voices reached his ears, low but unmistakable. More than one person. Whoever was at the door hadn’t come alone.

The knob stopped turning, and the footsteps outside shuffled. Jake heard a muffled curse, followed by the sound of retreating footsteps. He listened intently, catching the faint hum of engines and the telltale flash of lights spilling through the narrow blinds of the office window.

Lyndsey shifted, her voice barely above a whisper. “Did they leave?”

Jake didn’t answer immediately, his focus remaining on the door. A few more moments passed before the sound of tires on gravel signaled their departure. He moved to the window, peering through the slats. Two vehicles sped off, their taillights disappearing into the distance. A moment later, a black SUV appeared, its headlights chasing after the retreating cars.

“Security,” Jake murmured, lowering his weapon.

Lyndsey stood cautiously, her hands braced on the desk for support. “They’re gone?”

“For now,” Jake said, his tone grim. “But we’re not sticking around to find out if they’re coming back.” He crossed the room, taking her by the elbow. “Come on. Back hallway. There’s another exit.”

Lyndsey didn’t argue, letting him lead her down the dimly lit corridor. Jake moved with precision, his steps silent on the polished floor as he guided her to the rear exit. He paused at the door, listening for any sign of movement outside. Satisfied it was clear, he opened it just enough to slip through, pulling Lyndsey close behind him.

The night air was cool and still, the hoot of an owl overhead the only thing breaking the silence. Jake herded her into the SUV they had taken from the lake to the lab and worked his way back to the small dock where they’d tied up. Stopping the vehicle, they got out. The faint sound of waves lapping against the shore was the only noise. Jake kept Lyndsey close, his grip firm but not harsh as he led her toward the dock where their powerboat waited.

“You sure this is safe?” Lyndsey whispered, glancing over her shoulder.

“No,” Jake admitted. “But it’s safer than staying here.”

Jake hid the SUV in the dense foliage where it would be difficult to see. They reached the dock without incident, and Jake helped Lyndsey into the boat. The small vessel was unassuming but fast, its engine already primed for a quick getaway. Jake cast off the ropes and slid into the driver’s seat, starting the motor with a low growl.

“Stay low,” he ordered, glancing back at her as he guided the boat away from the dock.

Lyndsey did as he said. The tension in her body was palpable, but she kept her eyes on him. He couldn’t help but admire her—even as frightened as she was, it seemed to him that she had placed her trust in him and was managing to hold it together.

The boat skimmed across the water, skirting along the shoreline and avoiding open water where they would be easier to spot. It had taken more time, but Jake hadn’t wanted to risk taking a plane. The rhythmic slap of waves against the hull masked any distant sounds of pursuit. Jake’s eyes scanned the horizon, his every sense on high alert. After what felt like an eternity, the faint outline of the cabin came into view, its dark silhouette barely discernible against the tree line.

They docked at the secluded inlet near the cabin, where Jake had stashed the SUV earlier. He tied off the boat and helped Lyndsey onto the shore, his hand lingering on her arm a moment longer than necessary. He’d listened to his friends share stories about getting involved with their charges, how it heightened not just their awareness but also their desire and instinct to protect them.

“Almost there,” he said, his voice softer now.

Lyndsey nodded, her gaze steady despite the flicker of fear in her eyes. “You think they’ll come after us here?”

“They’ll have to find us first,” Jake replied, leading her to the vehicle. “And this location has always been secure.” He opened the passenger door, waiting until she was safely inside before circling to the driver’s seat.

The drive to the cabin was uneventful, but there was still some residual concern from their earlier encounter. Jake couldn’t help being concerned about seeing Victor Lang’s name connected with Lyndsey’s project. Jake’s grip on the wheel was firm, his eyes darting to the rearview mirror every few seconds. Lyndsey sat quietly beside him, her hands folded in her lap, her mind clearly racing.

When they reached the cabin, Jake parked the SUV in the shed, securing the door before leading Lyndsey inside. After ensuring the cabin had been undisturbed and was secure, he locked every window and door, resetting the motion detectors and perimeter alarms with practiced efficiency.

Lyndsey stood in the center of the living room, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. “Do you think they’ll figure out where we are?”

“Not tonight,” Jake said, moving to stand in front of her. “But we need to be ready.”

Her eyes searched his face, her fear mingling with something else—something unspoken but undeniable. “Jake... thank you. For getting me out of there.”

His eyes softened, lifting some of the danger inherent in the situation. “It’s my job,” he said, but his voice held a warmth that hadn’t been there before.

Lyndsey reached out, her fingers brushing his arm. “It’s more than that, isn’t it?”

Jake’s breath hitched, the intensity of her gaze cutting through his usual stoicism. He stepped closer, his voice low. “Lyndsey, I need you to trust me. Not just with your safety, but with everything. Can you do that?”

She nodded, her pulse quickening. “I already do.”

The room seemed to shrink, the air almost suffocated by stress. Jake’s hand lingered near hers, his body a barrier against the chaos outside. For a brief, fleeting moment, the danger felt distant, overshadowed by the undeniable pull between them.

But the moment passed, and Jake stepped back, his jaw tightening. “Go to bed, Lyndsey.”

“I’m not sleepy.”

“Then curl up on the couch. We’ll go over the intel in the morning.”

Jake stepped away, feeling Lyndsey’s gaze linger on him. He could sense the depth of her emotions, even if she didn’t voice them. Relief, fear, something deeper—he couldn’t untangle it all. The danger wasn’t over, not by a long shot, but one thing was becoming clear: Lyndsey trusted him with her life. That truth settled heavily on him, stirring something unfamiliar. Protecting her wasn’t just a job anymore—it was personal. And maybe that scared him more than the enemies closing in.

The cabin was dimly lit, the flicker of the fireplace casting long shadows across the room. Jake sat in the armchair closest to the door, his Glock resting on the side table within easy reach. Across from him, Lyndsey curled up on the sofa, a blanket draped over her lap. The strain from their escape still lingered, but the adrenaline was beginning to ebb.

Lyndsey broke the silence first, her voice soft but insistent. “Jake, you knew the name in the notes section of that access log. Who is he?”

Jake leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. His eyes locked onto hers, and he considered softening the blow. But Lyndsey wasn’t the type to shy away from the truth. “Victor Lang.”

Her brows furrowed. “I’ve heard of him. Isn’t he some kind of tech mogul?”

“He’s a lot more than that,” Jake said grimly. “Lang built his fortune on legitimate enterprises, but he’s got deep ties to the underworld. Weapons trafficking, information brokering, black-market tech deals—you name it. If it’s illegal and profitable, Lang’s probably involved.”

Lyndsey’s grip on the blanket tightened. “And you think he’s after my research?”

“I don’t think,” Jake said, his voice firm. “I know. Lang’s name came up in a recent mission I worked.”

“What mission?” Lyndsey asked, leaning forward.

Jake hesitated, his jaw tightening. He rarely talked about his work—part of the job was to carry the burden of things he knew silently. But something in Lyndsey’s eyes made him relent. “About six months ago, I was tasked with apprehending an information broker named Pavel Lebedev. He was trying to sell stolen nanobot technology.”

Lyndsey’s breath hitched. “Nanobots? My nanobots?”

Jake shook his head. “Not yours. At least, not directly. But the tech was eerily similar—same concept, different execution. Lang’s name came up as one of the potential buyers. He didn’t show at the deal, but his interest was noted. If Lang’s after your research, it’s not just because it’s cutting-edge. He knows its potential, and he’s willing to kill to get it.”

Lyndsey looked away, her gaze falling to the fireplace. “I don’t understand. Why would someone like him want nanobot technology? It’s meant to heal, not harm.”

Jake’s voice softened. “In the right hands, sure. But in the wrong ones? Nanobots could be weaponized. If someone could figure out how to program those bots to target whatever tissue or cells they wanted…”

“The effects could be catastrophic.”

Jake nodded. “Lang doesn’t care about saving lives, Lyndsey. He cares about leverage. Power. Money.”

She shuddered, pulling the blanket tighter around herself. “This isn’t what I signed up for. I just wanted to make a difference.”

“And you still can,” Jake said, his tone unwavering. “But first, we have to stop Lang and whoever’s working with him.”

The room fell into silence, the crackle of the fire the only sound. Finally, Lyndsey spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. “You ever wonder why I’m so stubborn?”

Jake tilted his head, his lips curving into the faintest hint of a smile. “The question has crossed my mind.”

Lyndsey smiled back. “I grew up in a small town. My mom raised me on her own. She worked two jobs just to keep us afloat. I was the kid who loved science when everyone else was playing sports or chasing boys. I didn’t fit in.”

Jake watched her intently, sensing she wasn’t just sharing for the sake of conversation. “That couldn’t have been easy.”

“It wasn’t,” she admitted. “But I got through it. College was the first place I felt like I belonged. Until I realized that being a woman in science came with its own set of challenges.”

Jake leaned back, his gaze never leaving her. “What kind of challenges?”

She laughed bitterly. “Being underestimated. Having my ideas dismissed until a male colleague repeated them. Constantly feeling like I had to prove I deserved to be there. And when I started getting noticed for my work? That’s when the rumors started. ‘She must’ve slept her way to the top.’” Her voice cracked, but she quickly composed herself. “Marcus was the first person who saw my potential without questioning it. He pushed me to keep going.”

Jake nodded, understanding the gravity of her words. “And you did. You got here because you earned it.”

“Sometimes, it doesn’t feel that way,” Lyndsey admitted. “Especially now. Knowing someone on my team might be betraying me—it’s like everything I’ve worked for is a lie.”

Jake moved to sit on the edge of the coffee table, closer to her. “It’s not a lie. You built this. No one can take that away from you. And whoever’s behind this? They’re the ones who don’t belong.”

Lyndsey looked up at him, her eyes glistening. “For a tough guy, you sure seem to know how to say the right thing.”

He chuckled softly. “I don’t. Not even close, but I do mean everything I say, unless I’m working undercover or playing poker. Then, I can lie with the best of them.”

For the space of a heartbeat, Jake thought about closing the distance between them—literally and metaphorically. Instead, he pulled back, standing instead.

“Go to bed, Lyndsey,” he said, his voice gruff. “We’ve got a long fight ahead of us.”

Lyndsey nodded, though her gaze lingered on him before she said, “Goodnight, Jake.”

“Goodnight, Lyndsey,” he echoed, retreating to his post by the door.

As he stood there, watching as the bedroom door closed behind her, Jake couldn’t shake the thought that this mission was different. It wasn’t just about protecting her research or stopping Lang—it was about keeping Lyndsey safe. And the more time he spent with her, the more that felt like the most important thing he’d ever done.

After a couple of hours, Jake prowled the room, his Glock held loose but ready in his hand. The fire had burned down, and Jake had turned off all the lights. Lyndsey was tucked away in bed. He was headed over to poke his head in and check on her, when the faint sound of something shifting outside caught his attention. He froze, his entire body going still, ears straining to pick up the noise. There it was again—a soft scrape, like metal against wood.

Sticking his head into the bedroom, he ordered “Stay here,” in a low growl.

Lyndsey’s head snapped up. “What is it?”

Jake didn’t answer, his focus already on the door. He moved silently, his steps purposeful, every sense on high alert. As he approached the front door, the sound came again, this time more distinct—a deliberate movement.

Someone was trying to break in.

Jake pressed his back against the wall beside the door, his grip tightening on his Glock. He caught Lyndsey’s eye as she came into the room and motioned for her to get down. signaling to her to stay low. She nodded, kneeling on her hands and knees and moving to his side. Her fear was evident, but she didn’t panic. He was beginning to expect that from her.

The door handle turned slowly, almost mockingly. Jake’s muscles coiled as he prepared to strike. The door opened a crack, and then a shadow slipped inside. Jake didn’t hesitate. He surged forward, grabbing the intruder by the arm and slamming them against the wall with a thud.

“Who sent you?” Jake growled, his Glock pressed up underneath the figure’s jaw.

The intruder let out a low laugh, the sound deep and rich. “Nice to see you too, Jake.”

Jake blinked, his grip loosening slightly. “Reyna?”

The figure stepped out of the shadows, revealing a tall, athletic woman with short, spiky blonde hair and sharp, mischievous features. She raised an eyebrow, a grin playing on her lips. “Didn’t think I’d drop by unannounced?”

“What the hell are you doing here?” Jake demanded, lowering his weapon but not relaxing entirely.

“King sent me,” Reyna Marx replied, brushing herself off as if Jake hadn’t just pinned her to the wall with a gun aimed to kill. “Figured you could use some backup.”

“You thought breaking in was the best way to announce yourself?” Jake snapped, his frustration clear.

Reyna shrugged, her grin widening. “Wanted to see if you were as sharp as they say. You passed—barely.”

Behind them, Lyndsey cautiously entered the main room, her arms crossed. “This is backup?” she asked, her tone laced with disbelief.

Reyna turned to Lyndsey, her expression softening only slightly as she took in Lyndsey’s disheveled appearance and oversized T-shirt. “Dr. Marrin, I presume. You’re taller than I expected.”

“And you’re more... invasive than I expected,” Lyndsey shot back, her voice steady despite the situation.

Reyna chuckled, clearly amused. “I like her,” she said, glancing at Jake. “She’s got bite.”

Jake ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. “Reyna, we don’t have time for games. What’s the real reason you’re here?”

The humor faded from Reyna’s face, replaced by the seriousness Jake recognized from years of working with her. “Cerberus intercepted some chatter. Lang’s people know you went back to the lab, and they’re tightening the net. King thought I’d be useful on the ground.”

“Useful,” Jake muttered, shaking his head. “You nearly got yourself shot.”

“Not my first rodeo,” Reyna said breezily, then her tone dropped. “Look, Jake, Lang’s more involved than we thought. He’s got resources everywhere, and this is bigger than just your nanotech, Doc.” She glanced at Lyndsey. “We’re talking full-scale operation—money, power, control. You’re smack in the middle of it.”

Lyndsey swallowed hard, her composure slipping. Jake stepped closer to her, his presence steadying. “We’ll handle it,” he said firmly.

Reyna raised an eyebrow. “Big words, Jake. But we’re running out of time.”

Jake ignored her, his focus on Lyndsey. “You okay?”

Lyndsey nodded, though her eyes betrayed her fear. “As okay as I can be when someone’s trying to kill me and use my research to harm people.”

Jake’s jaw tightened. He turned back to Reyna. “Fine. You’re in. But we do this my way.”

Reyna dropped into a chair, looking far too relaxed for Jake’s liking. He glanced back at Lyndsey.

“You’re the boss,” Reyna said, grinning and saluting mockingly.

The danger wasn’t just escalating—it was closing in, fast. But in the back of his mind, a chilling realization surfaced: the enemy wasn’t just out there—it could be closer than either of them realized.