Page 22 of Lethal Sins

But knowing that didn’t ease the regret.

As they all settled around the table, passing dishes and filling plates, he cleared his throat. “I’ve got some thoughts about the best way to help your friend.”

All eyes turned to him, forks pausing midway to mouths. He took a deep breath. “The Consortium is planning to unleash a virus. Not a biological one, but a digital one. It’s designed to disrupt financial markets on a global scale.”

Rather than the shock he expected, the team reacted with barely muted interest.

Bridger nodded, a forkful of chicken halfway to his mouth. “That tracks with what Jason told us.”

Cody shook his head, pushing his untouched plate away. “There’s more. The virus? It’s just the tip of the iceberg. It’s part of a larger plan to destabilize governments and spark global conflict.”

The clatter of cutlery ceased as the gravity of his words sank in. Paige leaned forward, her eyes intense. “How deep does this go?”

He met her gaze, willing her to see the truth in his eyes. “The Consortium isn’t the ultimate mastermind here. They’re working for, or being manipulated by, a previously unknown organization. One with even greater reach and resources. We need to grab that virus before it’s released. I figure if we mess that up they’ll be so busy scrambling Jason will be able to rejoin you before they even notice.”

The silence that followed was deafening. Cody could almost hear the gears turning in everyone’s minds as they processed this new information.

Tai broke the silence, his usual humor subdued. “Well, folks, looks like we’ve graduated from the minor leagues to the World Series of evil organizations.”

Cody couldn’t help but smile, despite the gravity of the situation. Leave it to Tai to find levity in the face of potential global chaos.

Mason leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. “This changes everything. I don’t care what Jason thinks. We can’t let him tackle this on his own. We’re going to need a new game plan.”

As the team began to discuss strategies, Cody caught Paige watching him again. This time, her expression was unreadable.

He offered her a small smile, hoping to convey his commitment to their cause. Whatever came next, he was in this fight with them. With her. For better or worse, his path was now irrevocably intertwined with Redemption Inc.

They hadn’t even begun working together and he could already tell, leaving was going to hurt. A lot.

As the team began to discuss strategies, the air thick with tension and determination, Graham suddenly stood up, his chair scraping against the floor.

“Cody,” he said, his voice gruff but not unkind, “how about you help me with KP duty?”

Cody blinked in surprise. Graham had been the most reserved towards him, keeping a wary distance. “Uh, sure,” he replied, pushing back from the table.

As they traveled back and forth gathering plates, Cody’s mind raced. Was this an olive branch? A chance to prove himself? He watched Graham’s back, trying to read the older man’s intentions.

Then, as the older man started in on the dishes, realization dawned. Cody glanced back at the team, huddled close, voices low. A rueful smile tugged at his lips.

He grabbed a dishtowel. “They want to strategize alone.”

Graham nodded, a hint of approval in his eyes as he filled the sink with hot water and added dish soap. “Sharp as they say you are. Give ‘em some time to process. You’ve dropped quite the bomb on us.”

Cody nodded, understanding the unspoken message. Trust was a fragile thing, built in small moments like these. As he plunged his hands into the water, he found himself oddly grateful for the mundane task.

It was a start, a small step towards belonging. Being accepted would make his work easier.

Or so he told himself.

13

Cody and Grahamwere still washing up when Paige followed Tai toward the front door.

A gust of wind kicked up a miniature dust devil, swirling across the weathered porch as she pushed open the creaky screen door. She stepped out, wincing as the ancient floorboards protested beneath her feet with all the subtlety of an arthritic giant. Before her, the dusty streets of the old town unfurled like a faded postcard from the Wild West. She half expected to see a tumbleweed roll by, closely followed by a pair of squinting gunslingers, their spurs chiming a metallic melody with each bowlegged step.

The sun slid toward the jagged horizon, turning the air into a shimmering haze. She squinted, her eyes adjusting to the harsh light. A tumbleweed rolled lazily across the street, as if on cue.

“I keep waiting for Clint Eastwood to show up.” Tai chuckled.

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