Page 46 of The Fixer
Jake gave a faint smile. “I’m not as calm as I look,” he said, his voice low and rough. “I’ve just learned to fake it when I have to.”
Lyndsey let out a shaky laugh, the sound breaking some of the tension. “Well, you’re good at it.”
He straightened, his hand lingering on hers before he stepped back. “We’ll use Marcus’s intel to find a weak link in Lang’s operation. Someone we can turn or exploit. That’s our best shot.”
She nodded, her conviction solidifying. “I’ll start cross-referencing the bidders with Marcus’s data. If there’s a connection, I’ll find it.”
A while later, Lyndsey glanced up from her laptop, her fingers pausing mid-keystroke as Jake’s quiet voice broke through the steady hum of the machine. He seemed quiet, almost hesitant—a stark contrast to the unwavering confidence he usually exuded.
“What is it?” she asked, her brows knitting in mild concern as she turned to face him.
Jake stood a few feet away, his arms crossed, his eyes shadowed with something she couldn’t quite place. The silence stretched, thick and charged, until she almost spoke again. But then he exhaled, the stiffness in his shoulders softening slightly.
“I’m not good at this,” he admitted, his voice rough. “At talking about my feelings.”
Lyndsey blinked, surprised by his vulnerability. Jake wasn’t the type to let his guard down—ever. The fact that he was doing it now sent her pulse skittering. “You don’t have to say anything if you’re not ready,” she offered, her tone gentle.
He shook his head, stepping closer, his movements deliberate. “I need to say it, Lyndsey. Because I’ve been carrying it around, and it’s... it’s starting to get in the way.”
Her breath hitched, her heart thudding in her chest. “Get in the way of what?”
He hesitated again, his gaze locked on hers. There was a rawness in his eyes, a quiet intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. “Of everything. The op, my focus... I worry that I’ll miss something because I’m thinking about things I shouldn’t be.”
“Like what?” she asked.
“Like how it feels when your pussy clamps down on my cock, how your nipple puckers when I blow softly on it, and yet there’s no way I’d let anyone else protect you.”
Lyndsey’s lips parted, but no words came out. The gravity of what he wasn’t saying hung in the air between them, electric and undeniable.
“I admire you,” he continued, his voice soft but steady. “Your strength, your determination. You’re fighting like hell when most people would’ve given up. And it scares the shit out of me because I... I don’t want to lose you.”
Her chest tightened, the raw honesty in his words cutting through her defenses like a blade. “Jake,” she began, her voice trembling, “last night you said you felt things for me you’d never felt before. Well, ditto. I didn’t wait this long to find you only to get a couple of nights. You’re not going to lose me. I promise you.”
He took another step closer, his presence grounding and overwhelming all at once. “You can’t promise that. Not with Lang still out there.”
“I know I’m in danger, but I have you to protect me. And nobody is going to do a better job of that than you.” Emotion surged through her like a tidal wave. She reached out, her fingers brushing his arm, needing the connection, the reassurance. “I know that a part of me wants you out of this. The idea that you might get hurt because of me…”
He stepped closer and his thumb brushed away a tear she hadn’t realized had fallen. “You’re not going to lose me,” he said firmly. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Her breath hitched, and she leaned into his touch, her eyes searching his. “Even with everything that’s happening? Even with Lang and his network breathing down our necks?”
“Especially with Lang,” he said, his voice steady and sure. “Because no matter what happens, I won’t let him take you from me. Not now. Not ever.”
The air between them thickened, the room growing smaller as their gazes locked. Jake didn’t know who moved first, but suddenly her lips were on his, soft and desperate. He pulled her closer, his hand sliding to the small of her back as the kiss deepened.
In that moment, the world fell away. There was no Lang, no danger, no looming threat. Just them. Just the connection that had been building since this nightmare began.
When they finally broke apart, Lyndsey rested her forehead against his, her breathing ragged. “We’re in over our heads, aren’t we?” she whispered.
Jake chuckled softly, his hands still holding her close. “No, but we’re going to need all hands on deck. It’s one of the reasons King wanted to bring us in.”
The safe room was buzzing with activity as Lyndsey sat at the long table, her laptop open in front of her. Papers and files were spread out in organized chaos, a testament to the urgency of the situation. Jake stood nearby, his eyes sharp as he skimmed over a mission report Reyna had handed him. Despite the room’s secure walls, the tension felt suffocating.
“We’re running out of time,” Jake said, his voice low and edged with frustration. He set the papers down and crossed his arms, his gaze flicking to Lyndsey. “This meeting has to go well. If we can’t get the FBI on board, we’re not going to have enough resources to bring Lang down.”
Lyndsey glanced up, her eyes meeting his. “Do you trust this guy?” she asked. “Your friend?”
Jake hesitated for a beat before nodding. “I do. Daniels and I go way back. He’s one of the good ones. If anyone can help us, it’s him.”