Chapter 8

CHAPTER EIGHT

LYNDSEY

T he cabin buzzed with intensity as the early morning light filtered through the trees. Lyndsey sat at the kitchen table, sipping coffee while Jake and Reyna stood over a map spread across the countertop. Their low voices carried a sense of urgency, and Lyndsey’s stomach twisted as she watched them work.

Jake’s finger traced a line on the map. “If the intel is solid, the meeting’s happening here—third floor of an office building just outside town. Security’s probably light since they won’t want to draw attention.”

Reyna nodded, arms crossed over her chest. “I can get us in through the service entrance. From there, we’ll need to get to where they’re holding the auction. If we can plant listening devices while we’re there, so much the better.”

“And what happens if you’re spotted?” Lyndsey asked, her voice cutting through the room.

Jake straightened, glancing over at her. “We won’t be.”

“That’s not an answer,” she said firmly, setting her mug down. “You’re walking into a potential trap for what? Hearsay? A vague lead? Is it worth the risk?”

Reyna turned to Lyndsey, a sly smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “She’s feisty. I like that.”

Jake’s expression hardened. “This is what we do, Lyndsey. We take calculated risks to get results.”

“But you don’t even know what you’re looking for,” Lyndsey countered, standing. “What if there’s nothing there? Or worse—what if they’re expecting you?”

Reyna raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by Lyndsey’s persistence. “We’re professionals, Doc. We don’t go in blind.”

“Forgive me if that doesn’t inspire confidence,” Lyndsey shot back, her eyes flashing with annoyance. If Reyna Marx thought she was going to intimidate Lyndsey, she’d best think again. “You’re talking about walking into an environment you can’t control, with unknown variables and no guarantees.”

Jake stepped closer, his eyes locking onto hers. “That’s the job. It’s messy, it’s dangerous, and it doesn’t always come with guarantees. But if we don’t take this chance, we lose a potential lead on Lang and his syndicate. As he’s the one most likely to be trying to kill you, I believe the risk is worth it. Besides which, operational decisions are not your call.”

“Not my call? This is my life, my research and my technology. If it’s anybody’s call, it’s mine.”

Reyna’s head swiveled between Lyndsey and Jake. “Ball’s in your court, big guy.”

“Shut up, Reyna,” Lyndsey and Jake said in unison, making Reyna laugh.

Lyndsey glared at him, her pulse quickening at his proximity. Why did his mere presence make her body come alive in a way it never had before? “And what happens if you don’t come back?” she argued. “Then what?”

The room went quiet as her words hung in the air. Jake’s jaw tightened, but before he could respond, Reyna stepped in.

“Look, I get it,” Reyna said, her tone softer now. “This kind of thing—it’s not your world. But it is ours. And we don’t take risks unless they’re worth it. Jake’s right—this meeting could give us a foothold, something we can use to protect you, your research, and your technology. In addition, it could give us a way to shut Lang down.”

Lyndsey exhaled sharply, crossing her arms. “I don’t like people risking their lives for me, especially when it’s just a hunch.”

Reyna chuckled, her sharp features softening. “You’ve got a good head on your shoulders, Doc. And I respect that. But you’re gonna have to trust us on this one. This is what we do. Robert Fitzwallace only hires the best so if we work for Cerberus, it means he thinks we’re more than up to the job. Besides which, Samantha would kill King if we let anything happen to you.”

“She’d try,” Jake said, trying to make a joke.

“Yeah, but then King would have to go all Dom on her ass, and it would get ugly,” teased Reyna.

“I don’t understand that, either,” said Lyndsey. “Samantha is an intelligent, capable woman. She doesn’t need some guy to keep her in line.”

Reyna turned to Jake, whose lips were parted to reply. “Zip it. Anything you say is going to come out wrong.” She turned back to Lyndsey. “I used to think the same thing. I never went into the dungeon portion of the clubs, but then an op went wrong, and I got pretty messed up. I couldn’t let go of what happened or find any peace. Several of the Doms are Shibari masters—do you know what that is?” Lyndsey nodded. “Well, they talked me into trying it. The first couple of sessions were messy, lots of anger and tears on my part, but then I felt a kind of safety in the ropes. It gave me a safe place to float and let go of the anger and fear. Don’t get me wrong, the lifestyle isn’t for everybody, but I’ve seen it do amazing things for individuals and couples. When this is all over, you might think about it.”

Lyndsey’s gaze shifted between Reyna and Jake. She admired the way they worked together, the communication and mutual respect between them. Despite her fears, she couldn’t deny that they were both incredibly skilled—and incredibly committed to their work and to keeping her safe. Reyna had also given her something to think about. Lyndsey realized looking back, she’d never had a lot of peace or safety in her life.

“Fine,” she said finally, her voice reluctant. “But promise me you’ll be careful.”

Jake’s expression softened slightly, and he nodded. “We will.”

Reyna grinned, clapping a hand on Jake’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, Doc. I’ll make sure your boyfriend here doesn’t get himself killed.”

Lyndsey’s cheeks flushed, and Jake shot Reyna a warning look. “Enough.”

Reyna chuckled, clearly enjoying herself. “All right, lovebirds. Let’s get to work.”

Lyndsey stood in the center of the cabin, watching as Jake and Reyna meticulously went over their plan. The air was heavy, every word they exchanged charged with the risk they were about to take. Jake’s brow was furrowed, his usual calm veneer cracking slightly.

“Okay,” Reyna said, circling the map they’d pinned to the table. “We’ve got entry points, escape routes, and timing down to the second. The only real problem is…” She paused, glancing at Jake.

“No backup,” he finished, his tone grim. “We’re going in blind with no one on the outside to monitor the situation.”

Lyndsey frowned, stepping closer. “Isn’t that… I don’t know, kind of critical?”

Jake nodded. “It is. Normally, we’d have a team in a secure location running comms, tracking movements, keeping an eye on the bigger picture.”

“But we don’t have that luxury,” Reyna added, crossing her arms. “Cerberus is spread too thin right now, and we’re on our own.”

Their words settled over Lyndsey like a heavy blanket. She hated feeling useless, like a bystander in a situation that had completely upended her life. Her mind raced, searching for a solution. Then, it hit her.

“What if I did it?” she said, her voice steady despite the nervous energy buzzing through her.

Jake and Reyna both looked at her, surprise flashing across their faces. “No,” Jake stated his voice emphatic.

“Why not?” asked Reyna.

Before Reyna could continue, Lyndsey stepped closer, her eyes locking onto Jake’s. “I have the skills. I can run comms, monitor movements, track you both in real-time. It’s not much different from coordinating a lab team or running simulations.”

Reyna let out a low whistle, a grin tugging at the corner of her mouth. “Gotta say, Doc, you’ve got guts. But we’d need a secure location for you to work from.”

“And the right equipment,” Jake added, skepticism clear in his tone.

Reyna’s grin widened. “Good thing I’ve got a tricked-out van parked not too far from here. It’s got everything we need—monitors, comms, the works. Not quite Cerberus-grade, but it’ll get the job done.”

Jake’s frown deepened. “You’ve had a van this whole time?”

Reyna shrugged. “Didn’t seem relevant until now.”

Lyndsey ignored their bickering, her focus sharp. “If I’m going to do this, I need to know exactly what to look for. Movement patterns, audio cues, anything that might give you an edge.”

Jake turned to her, his expression unreadable. “I don’t know about this. Involving the client in an op doesn’t seem like a good idea.”

“The doc is smart and like she said, it’s kind of what she does, anyway.” Reyna turned back to Lyndsey. “You think you can do this?”

“Yes,” she said firmly. “I can’t just sit here and wait anymore. If there’s something I can do to help, I’m doing it.”

Reyna clapped her hands together. “All right then, Doc. Welcome to the team.”

Jake looked like he wanted to argue, but after a moment, he sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Fine. But you stay in the van. No exceptions. If anything feels off, you call it in, and we pull out. Got it?”

“Got it,” Lyndsey said, meeting his gaze head-on.

The three of them spent the next hour preparing. Reyna drove the van around to the cabin, and Lyndsey was impressed by the sheer amount of tech crammed inside. Monitors covered one wall, displaying feeds from various cameras, while a console in the center housed the comms equipment.

“This is incredible,” Lyndsey said, running her fingers over the sleek controls.

Reyna grinned. “Built it myself. Pretty badass, huh?”

Lyndsey nodded, her nerves momentarily forgotten. “Very.”

Jake stepped into the van, his presence filling the small space. “All right, let’s run through it again. Reyna and I will infiltrate the building. Lyndsey, you’ll monitor from here. If you see anything—anything at all—you call it in immediately.”

“Understood,” Lyndsey said, her voice steady.

As they finalized their plan, the stakes felt higher than ever. The danger wasn’t just theoretical anymore—it was tangible, pressing down on them with every passing second. Jake’s eyes lingered on Lyndsey as she adjusted the comms headset, his jaw tightening.

“Be careful,” he said, his voice low.

“I could say the same to you,” she replied, her tone softer now.

Reyna cleared her throat, breaking the moment. “If you two are done making goo-goo eyes at each other, can we get this over? Time’s a wasting.”

They piled into the van, the apprehension palpable as Reyna started the engine. Lyndsey took her place at the console, her fingers poised over the controls. The hum of the van’s engine was the only sound as they drove toward their destination.

But as they neared the edge of town, Lyndsey’s screen flickered, a red alert flashing across the monitors. Her heart raced as she leaned in, her voice sharp. “Guys, we’ve got movement. Two vehicles, heading toward the office building.”

Jake’s voice crackled through the comms. “Stay calm, Lyndsey. Can you identify them?”

“Not yet,” she said, her fingers flying over the keyboard.

Reyna’s voice chimed in. “Buckle up, folks. Looks like we’re walking into a party.”

They drove their van into a covered parking lot less than a block from the office building. Jake and Reyna slipped out, their movements fluid and precise. Lyndsey watched their progress on the monitors, her heart pounding as the red dots representing the vehicles she seen earlier drew closer.

“Stay sharp,” Jake’s voice came through the headset. “We’re going dark for entry. Lyndsey, keep your eyes open.”

“Will do,” she whispered, her grip tightening on the console.

As the screen lit up with activity, Lyndsey couldn’t help but feel something was about to go very, very wrong. The stakes were higher than ever, and failure wasn’t an option—not with everything they stood to lose.