Page 55 of The Fixer
The warmth of his words lingered long after he pulled back, and for the first time in weeks, Lyndsey felt like she couldbreathe. Whatever lay ahead—Lang, the research, the danger—they would face it together. And that, she realized, made all the difference.
“Don’t think I don’t know how much I’m asking you to take on.”
Her throat tightened. “Sometimes it feels like it’s too much, like I’m trying to outrun something I can never escape. My research... it was supposed to help people. Now, it’s at the center of this nightmare.”
Jake’s grip on her hand tightened slightly. “And it will help people. Once we take Lang down, we can control the narrative. You’ll get to finish your work the way you intended, without it being twisted into something it was never meant to be.”
Lyndsey glanced up at him, her eyes searching his. “You really believe that?”
“I do,” Jake said firmly. “And if you’re willing to fight for it, so am I. Whatever it takes, Lyndsey. I’ll make sure you see this through.”
The conviction in his voice sent a wave of warmth through her, and she smiled despite herself. “You make it sound so simple.”
“It’s not,” Jake admitted, his lips quirking into a faint smile. “But nothing worth fighting for ever is.”
The air between them shifted, charged with a tension that had been building since the moment they met. Lyndsey’s gaze dropped to his mouth, her breath hitching as he leaned in slightly, his presence overwhelming in the best possible way. Her heart pounded in her chest, and for the space of a heartbeat, the world outside the safe room ceased to exist.
“Jake...” she began, her voice barely above a whisper.
But before she could say more, the sound of urgent footsteps echoed down the hall, followed by a sharp knock on the door. Jake straightened instantly, his body tense and alert. “Come in.”
The door swung open, and Reyna stepped inside, her expression grim. “We’ve got a situation,” she said, her voice clipped. “Lang’s made his move.”
Lyndsey sat up straighter, her pulse quickening. “What happened?”
Reyna crossed the room, a tablet in hand. She set it on the table, and the screen displayed a grainy satellite image of a remote facility. “Our surveillance team picked this up an hour ago. Lang’s people are mobilizing. We’re not sure what they’re planning, but whatever it is, it’s big.”
Jake frowned, leaning over the tablet. “Location?”
“An abandoned industrial site just outside the other side of the city,” Reyna replied. “The chatter we intercepted suggests they’re moving something critical—likely intel or assets tied to the auction.”
Lyndsey’s stomach churned as she studied the image. “Do we know if Lang will be there?”
Reyna shook her head. “No confirmation yet, but it’s possible. He’s been unusually active in the past twenty-four hours. This could be our chance to catch him off guard.”
Jake’s jaw tightened, and he glanced at Lyndsey. “You’re staying here.”
“No,” she said immediately, her voice steady despite the fear bubbling beneath the surface.
“Yes. You can help them monitor everything from the war room, but you need to be kept safe.”
“He’s right,” said Reyna. “If you’re where they can get to you, the focus of the op will change, and we’ll be more worried about keeping you safe than getting Lang. If you’re here, we know you’re safe, and we can concentrate on taking Lang down.”
Lyndsey turned to Jake. “Is she always right?”
“Not always, but often enough for it to be annoying.” Jake leaned forward and kissed her.
Reyna cleared her throat. “We need to move fast. Daniels is mobilizing his team as we speak. We hit the facility at midnight.”
Jake nodded, his expression hardening. “Let’s gear up.”
As Jake and Reyna left the safe room, Lyndsey couldn’t help but wonder if the endgame wasn’t closer than any of them realized.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
JAKE
The night was dense with apprehension. Both he and Reyna had been on dozens of ops similar to the one they were running tonight, but he’d never felt the strain the way he did on this one. The rhythmic hum of the SUV’s engine filled the silence as Jake navigated the darkened streets. The industrial site loomed ahead, an ominous shadow against the faint glow of the distant city in the rearview mirror. Beside him, Reyna was uncharacteristically quiet, her rifle resting across her lap. She stared out the window, her sharp eyes scanning for any sign of trouble.