Page 62 of Lethal Sins

She hefted the two bags, holding them slightly in front of her in the narrow aisle. “Yup.”

He nodded, his hand instinctively brushing against his concealed weapon. The cool metal was a stark reminder of the danger they were walking into. With one last glance at Paige, he squared his shoulders and moved towards the exit. Time to kick butt.

He hit the switch to release the plane’s stairs and jogged down, his eyes never leaving the two men. To his surprise, instead of ordering them into the vehicle, the goons backed away. The taller one nodded, indicating the sedan.

Nice. At least they wouldn’t arrive bound and gagged. Though he was certain the vehicle was bugged with every possible tracking device. So what? The Consortium would know where they were going anyway.

He waved Paige into the vehicle, spotting a burner phone on the driver’s seat with a destination already punched in. Dead south, a smallish city just inland from the barrier islands.

Plenty of escape routes for the people who grabbed Jason. They could vanish by boat or car or even helo. “You were right,” he told her. “Destination’s just within our hour limit. Town called Southport. Right on the Cape Fear River.”

Paige laughed harshly. “Seriously?”

He liked that she still had her sense of humor. “I know, right?”

He eased them away from the airport and down the highway, the setting sun at their backs. Paige wound the pink hank of her hair around her pinky finger, anxiety radiating off her in waves.

Hoping to distract her, he asked, “How’s your faith holding up? Ever have times when it’s hard to lean into it? To trust the Lord and give up control?”

“Totally,” she admitted, her voice soft. “I’m surprised by this newfound introspectiveness you’ve developed.”

Cody’s fingers tightened on the steering wheel. “I used to think if I was strong enough, fast enough and smart enough, I could handle anything. It wasn’t until three years ago, when your dad and I realized getting away from the Consortium was going to be harder than we ever thought, that his continual gentle example of faith really hit me.”

“Thank you for telling me that,” Paige said, her eyes glistening.

Cody nodded, wishing they were heading off for a beach vacation instead of an ugly showdown where they’d be utterly outnumbered. But not outclassed, he reminded himself. He’d have Paige and Jason. And the Lord.

41

Cody steeredthe car through the streets of Southport, leaving behind the quaint charm of the historic downtown. With each turn, Paige’s stomach churned. She wound the strand of pink hair around her finger, tugging hard. The ten-minute drive felt like an eternity, each second ticking by with agonizing slowness.

As they approached the eastern edge of town, the landscape transformed. Towering high-rise condos loomed against the darkening sky, a jarring contrast to the smalltown feel they’d just left behind. Some gleamed with newness, while others showed clear signs of age and neglect.

The GPS chirped, signaling their arrival. Paige’s eyes widened as she took in their destination—a crumbling, ten-story monstrosity of concrete and exposed rebar. Construction fencing encircled the entire property, the orange mesh a garish warning sign.

“Demolition,” Cody suggested, his voice tight. “Tear the place down and start over.”

The car slowed to a crawl. Her breath caught as they approached the entrance to the underground parking garage. The fencing ran across it, a seemingly impassable barrier. But asthey inched closer, the metal gate began to slide open on rubber wheels, the screech of metal on metal setting her teeth on edge.

“Okay, that is seriously creepy.”

“No kidding.” Cody scanned their surroundings. He faked a shudder, clearly trying to keep her loose.

The car’s headlights cut through the gloom of the underground parking structure, revealing a vast, empty expanse of cracked concrete. Her eyes darted from shadow to shadow. The echoes of their engine reverberated off the walls, amplifying the eerie silence.

Cody eased the car into a spot near the stairwell, killing the engine. Paige’s heart hammered in her chest. She wanted to prove herself, to show him she could handle whatever came next.

The burner phone’sscreen flickered to life, casting an eerie blue glow in the darkness. “Fifth floor. Apartment 552,” she read aloud, her voice barely above a whisper.

They quickly formulated a plan. Cody would take point, with Paige covering their six. They’d clear each landing before proceeding, communicating with hand signals to maintain silence. She nodded, committing the details to memory, determined not to let Cody down.

Weapons drawn, they ascended the stairs, their footsteps echoing in the stairwell. Paige’s senses were on high alert, every creak and groan of the old building setting her nerves on edge.

Reaching the fifth floor, they found themselves in a dank hallway. Condo doors lined each side, stretching all the way to the opening at the far end. Paige guessed it used to be floor-to-ceiling glass. Now it was a huge square opening. Trash and leaves cluttered the floor for several feet. Flickering fluorescent lights cast sickly shadows on peeling wallpaper.

Apartment 552’s door stood slightly ajar. Paige’s grip tightened on her weapon as Cody pushed it open, revealing ... nothing. The room was empty, save for a layer of dust and the lingering smell of mildew.

“Watch the door,” Cody instructed, his voice tight as he moved to search the other rooms.

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