Page 27 of Lethal Sins

Cody’s posture was tense, coiled like a spring ready to release. His jaw worked silently, as if he was chewing on words he couldn’t quite spit out.

One hand was shoved deep in his pocket, while the other clenched and unclenched at his side. Paige recognized the telltale signs of someone fighting the urge to fidget.

As the team’s attention focused on her, Cody shrank into himself, his shoulders hunching slightly. It was as if he was trying to make himself as small and unobtrusive as possible—a far cry from his usual cocky demeanor.

When their eyes met briefly, Paige caught a flash of something in his expression—regret? Concern? It was gone too quickly for her to be sure. But there was an intensity in his gaze that made her breath catch.

Cody opened his mouth as if to speak, then closed it again, swallowing hard. His Adam’s apple bobbed visibly. He shiftedhis weight from one foot to the other, clearly uncomfortable but making no move to leave.

To Paige, he looked like a man carrying a heavy burden—one he wasn’t sure how to share. Despite the bombshell he’d just dropped, she found herself wondering what else he might be holding back, and why.

Her mind raced, the pieces of her father’s puzzle slowly clicking into place. The room faded around her as she lost herself in memories and speculation.

Kate’s voice cut through her reverie. “That’s probably why he pushed you away.”

Graham’s gruff tone followed, tinged with a hint of regret. “Makes sense. One job leads to another, until you realize you’re hip deep in a swamp.” He paused, his next words barely above a whisper. “I’ve got experience with that feeling.”

Paige’s gaze snapped to Graham, seeing the haunted look in his eyes. She knew his story—the elite black ops Marine who’d walked away from his wife and toddler, believing it was the only way to keep them safe. Even now, three decades later, he was still trying to mend fences with his daughter, Tenaya.

The parallel hit her like a punch to the gut. Had her father faced the same impossible choice?

She shook her head, forcing the thoughts away. There’d be time for speculation later. Right now, they had a mission.

“If my DNA can open a door to saving Jason and destroying the virus, I’m in,” she declared, her voice stronger than she felt.

Her eyes swept the room, lingering for a moment on Cody. His face was an unreadable mask, but something in his stance continued to set off warning bells in her head.

The fact that she was going to have to watch out for the Consortium ... and Cody ... only made things more treacherous.

She squared her shoulders, feeling the familiar pre-mission adrenaline beginning to course through her veins. “So, when do we leave?”

The team straightened, their bodies instinctively responding to the shift in her energy. Paige felt a surge of gratitude for their unwavering support, even as a small voice in the back of her mind whispered a warning.

This mission was personal, and personal meant unpredictable. As her gaze met Cody’s across the room, she knew one thing for certain—she’d need every ounce of her training and instincts to navigate the minefield ahead.

She zeroed in on Cody, cataloging a series of subtle but telling details.

His eyes darted away too quickly when she caught his gaze, a flicker of ... was that guilt again? Or just unease? His right hand kept brushing against his pocket, a nervous tic she’d never noticed before. What else was he hiding?

16

“Spill it,Cody. Where’s the lab?” Paige stared him down.

He hesitated, his pulse quickening. This was his mission. If they cut him out now ...

“We need to know,” Bridger pressed, arms folded across his chest.

Cody’s jaw clenched. They could easily squeeze him for information and leave him behind.

Paige’s voice softened. “We can’t plan if we don’t know what we’re up against.”

Cody relented with a sigh. He moved to the map-covered table, acutely aware of the team’s scrutiny. His finger landed on a familiar spot. “The Consortium’s hidden lab is in Washington DC. At the Smithsonian.”

Mason leaned in. “Which building?”

“Under the main admin building,” Cody said, reluctance coloring his tone.

“The Castle?” Tai’s dark eyebrows shot up.

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