Page 4 of The Fixer
“I don’t need protection,” she snapped over her shoulder without breaking stride.
“You don’t have a choice,” Jake replied evenly. His dark eyes continued to scan the street, his instincts prickling. Something wasn’t right.
Lyndsey spun around to face him, her auburn hair catching in the streetlights. “I’m not some fair maiden you can corral into submission. I’m perfectly capable of handling...”
Something sparked as a soft spitting noise split the air. He doubted anyone in the building would have heard it.
Jake’s body moved before his brain caught up. He lunged, tackling Lyndsey to the ground just as a bullet ricocheted off the lamppost where she’d been standing. She yelped in surprise as he rolled them both behind a parked car, his arm a protective barrier across her back.
“Stay down!” he growled, his voice low but commanding.
Her breath came in short gasps, her face inches from his. “Was that?—?”
“Yes.” He scanned their surroundings, his hand already reaching for his weapon. “And they’re not done.”
Another shot rang out, as she peeked over the car, this one sparking off the side mirror. Jake swore under his breath. Whoever it was, they were a professional, their aim far more precise than some hired thug off the street. He pressed closer to Lyndsey, his larger frame shielding her completely.
“Do you have a death wish?” he snapped.
“I didn’t know someone was going to start shooting!” she shot back, her voice trembling with equal parts fear and fury.
“Exactly why you need protection,” Jake countered, his tone clipped. “Stay here.”
Her hand shot out, gripping his arm. “Are you insane? You can’t just run out there!”
Jake hesitated, the intensity in her eyes throwing him off balance for a split second. He shook it off. “It’s my job.”
“Your job doesn’t include getting killed!” she hissed.
He didn’t answer, his focus returning to the street. After a tense pause, he caught the faintest glint of movement from a shadowed rooftop. He raised his gun, took aim and fired twoquick shots. His reward was hearing a faint curse echo in the distance as the shooter fled.
Silence fell, save for the sound of Lyndsey’s ragged breathing and several Cerberus operatives spilling out into the night. Jake turned back to her, his jaw tight. “You good?”
She nodded, her face pale but composed. “You saved my life.”
“And I’ll do it again if you let me,” Jake said, his voice softer now.
“Jake?” called King.
“We’re good. One shooter, across the street up on the rooftop. I’m pretty sure I winged him.”
“Got it,” said King directing two of their people to the building across the street to see if they could pick up the trail. He joined Lyndsey and Jake who had gotten to his feet. “Somebody will report the gunshots. Take Dr. Marrin and get back inside.”
“I’m not going back inside,” Lyndsey said pushing herself upright, reluctantly taking Jake’s outstretched hand to help her up before brushing off her dress. “I’ll accept the protection.”
Relief coursed through Jake, though he didn’t let it show. “Good. We’ll move to a secure location...”
“No,” she interrupted, fire returning to her voice. “I’m not going to some bunker or your club. My family has a cottage up in northern Michigan on the shores of Lake Huron. It’s remote, but I have a small lab, and it has the bare amount of internet speed I need. I can work from there.”
Jake opened his mouth to argue but stopped. Her expression left no room for negotiation. “Okay, but we do it my way. I secure the place before you set foot inside.”
“Agreed,” she said, brushing past him toward his car.
By the time they reached the lake, it was past midnight. The air was heavy with the scent of pine, and the soft lap of water against the shore was the only sound. Jake worked quickly, his training kicking in as he set up perimeter alarms and tested the cottage’s locks. Lyndsey unpacked her equipment in the small lab, her focus a wall between them.
Her fear was as thick as the fog starting to form.
Jake stood by the window, his dark gaze fixed on the still waters of the lake. The moon cast a silver glow, highlighting the lines of his face, but his thoughts were far from serene.