Page 46 of Final Sins
Jason nodded, understanding dawning. She’d never be able to throw it high enough to do any damage, but as a distraction, she’d hit gold.
As the helicopter turned sharply, readying for another attack run, Alex struck the fuse and heaved the flare skyward. The bright red flare arced through the air, momentarily distracting the helo’s crew.
In that split second of confusion, Jason took his shot. The crack of his gun was lost in the chaos, but the effect was immediate. Dark liquid poured from the helicopter’s underbelly.
The damaged helicopter lurched drunkenly, trailing oil as it retreated over the mountain ridge.
Alex’s quick thinking had saved them both. She met his gaze, a mix of relief and lingering wariness in her eyes.
“Nice shot,” she offered, a tentative olive branch.
“Nice distraction,” he countered, holstering his weapon.
Questions still hung between them, but something fundamental had shifted. They’d just saved each other’s lives, forming a bond that transcended their earlier mistrust.
Someone had clearly set her up to reach out and then run. Which meant the poisonous info he’d received was equally tainted. No reason to even bother confirming it.
“So,” Alex broke the loaded silence, “I guess we should talk.”
He scanned the horizon, muscles still taut with lingering adrenaline, the wound in his side pulsing dully. The distant whine of the retreating helicopter had faded, leaving behind an eerie silence broken only by their ragged breathing.
He toed the dirt, turning to face Alex. “I’m guessing you received some scary info about me this morning. I got texts about you, too,” he said, seeing her puzzled look.
He could almost see the gears turning in Alex’s head as she pieced things together.
“Seven-Five,” she said suddenly. “This is exactly what they’d want. Us, divided. Easier to pick off.” She smacked her forehead. “I’m such an idiot.”
“You and me both.” He shook his head. “I could have told you about my text at coffee, but I didn’t.”
“Divide and conquer. And we nearly fell for it,” Alex shook her head, disgust evident in her voice.
“Speaking of which, who knew you were heading up the mountain?” he asked as he shifted closer.
Her face was a storm of emotions. “Liv. But it wasn’t her. No way. I texted her, asked her to find me a safe place to hide while I?—”
“Hold on,” he interrupted, his mind racing. “How do you know you were communicating with Liv?”
Alex froze, her eyes widening. “Wait … she did text something odd. She added, ‘I love you’ at the end. She’s neverdone that before. Maybe our comms were compromised. I didn’t even consider ... Wow. I’m slipping.”
“Hey,” Jason’s voice softened. He leaned against his SUV, choosing his words carefully. “You’re not slipping. You’re human. In our line of work, nothing’s certain. We can’t afford to jump to conclusions. Especially when it comes to people we care about. Sometimes we need an outside perspective. And listen, whether they’ve compromised RAVEN’s comms, or just yours, at least now we know it’s not safe to contact anyone through your phone.”
The tension in Alex’s shoulders eased slightly. “You’re right.” A ghost of a smile touched her lips. “Is that your way of saying you’re useful to have around?”
“Maybe,” Jason chuckled, feeling some of the earlier hostility dissipate. “Just like having someone who can pull a flare out of thin air is pretty handy in a pinch.”
Their eyes met, a new understanding passing between them.
“We could’ve fully turned on each other.”
“But we didn’t,” Jason countered. He took a deep breath, knowing his next words could change everything. “So, what do you say? Partners?”
The moment stretched, taut as a wire. His heart hammered in his chest as he waited for her response. He was getting her off this mountain now, whether she agreed or not.
But he’d much rather have a partner than a prisoner.
Finally, Alex extended her hand. “Okay, Army, partners. No more secrets, no more doubts.”
As Jason clasped her hand, he felt a weight lift from his shoulders. Whatever came next, they’d face it together.