Page 38 of Lethal Sins

Bridger’s hand tightened on the detonator, his voice a low growl that sent a chill down Cody’s spine. “Say the word, and I’ll light this place up like the Fourth of July.”

Cody’s mind raced through contingencies, each one more desperate than the last. He’d led them here, and if this went south ...

Paige’s eyes darted between Cody and the tunnel, her brow furrowed in concentration. Cody found himself holding his breath, mesmerized by the intensity of her focus. Suddenly, her face lit up. “Wait! I remember something my father used to say ... ‘Three steps forward, two steps back, that’s the dance of progress.’”

She turned to Cody, her eyes bright with a mixture of excitement and fear that mirrored his own inner turmoil. “Try 3-2, Cody!”

His fingers flew across the keypad, punching in the sequence. For a heart-stopping moment, nothing happened.

His stomach dropped, his mind already scrambling for a Plan C. Then, with a soft hiss that sounded like salvation, the door slid open.

Relief washed over him, but the reprieve was short-lived. “Tai,” Cody barked into his comm, his voice harsher than he intended, betraying his stress. “How close is our uninvited guest?”

“Almost to the second door,” came the tense reply, each word a nail in their collective coffin.

Cody’s mind raced, piecing together a plan even as he spoke. “Bridger, intercept him. Tell him Maplestone called you down to the lab, but everything’s squared away now.”

Bridger nodded, his expression grim, eyes boring into Cody with an intensity that made him want to look away. “On it. Don’t make me regret trusting you, Lassiter. We’ll rendezvous back at the van.”

As Bridger’s footsteps faded down the hallway, Cody held the lab door open for Paige. The cool metal against his palm grounded him, a reminder of the very real, very physical dangers they faced.

“I got this,” he murmured, his voice low and intense, willing her to believe in him despite the growing mountain of lies between them. “Follow along.”

The flickering fluorescent lights cast shadows that accentuated the conflict in her eyes—suspicion warring with grudging admiration. A familiar tightness gripped his chest. She wouldn’t like what was coming, but what was new?

As they slipped into the lab, the sudden drop in temperature raised goosebumps on his skin. The antiseptic smell of the sterile environment filled his nostrils, reminding him of countless hours spent in similar facilities. But this time was different. This time, everything was on the line.

Paige’s proximity was both comforting and distracting. Her breath was warm on his neck as she leaned in close, sending a shiver down his spine that had nothing to do with the lab’s chill.

Time to show his hand.

23

The outer doorhissed shut behind them, sealing Paige and Cody in the airlock between the hallway and the lab itself. Their comlinks wouldn’t work anymore until they got back past the first security door, leaving Paige feeling more alone than she expected.

The air felt cool against her skin, a stark contrast to the warmth of adrenaline coursing through her veins.

“Clear,” Cody murmured, his voice low and tense. Paige nodded, allowing herself a small breath of relief. So far, so good.

There was no lock on the inner doors. Cody pushed them open, their footsteps eerily loud in the silence. Paige’s mind raced, mapping out their next moves. Deal with the staff, then get to the main terminal, access the files, and get out. Simple in theory, far more complicated in execution.

Three wide-eyed figures stared them down—a security guard with a hand on the butt of his sidearm, and two technicians.

The guard grinned.

“Mr. Tanner! We ... we weren’t expecting you, sir.”

Paige’s jaw dropped, the name hitting her like a physical blow.Tanner. The Consortium’s most feared assassin. Sheturned to Cody, unable to believe what she was hearing. But the man standing beside her was almost unrecognizable.

Gone was the Cody she’d known all those years ago. In his place stood someone cold, authoritative, and utterly terrifying. All accomplished with a simple change in demeanor. Somehow, he’d altered his posture, even his essence, radiating a menace that made her want to take a step back.

“What are you people doing here?” Cody demanded. “This area should be clear.” His voice was like ice, sending visible shivers through the three intruders.

Paige watched in stunned silence as he ordered the others out. “I need the lab. Now. Go.” The three scrambled to gather their things, clearly terrified. “I’ll contact you when you can return. Not a word about this to anyone,” he added ominously.

The security guard and technicians practically ran out of the lab, the door closing behind them with a finality that echoed in the suddenly silent room.

Paige stared at him, her mind reeling. Was anything she knew about him real?

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