Page 30 of Lethal Sins

“Three security checkpoints,” Cody explained, his finger tracing the path. “The last one requires Paige’s DNA as a key.”

Bridger’s voice cut through the air, sharp as a knife. “Where did you get these?”

Cody’s hesitation was palpable, his shoulders tensing visibly. Paige could almost hear the gears turning in his head as he formulated a response.

Tai stepped forward, his usual easy-going demeanor replaced by steely determination. “We can’t assess the accuracy without knowing the source, man.”

Cody’s gaze swept across the room, meeting each pair of eyes in turn. When he reached Paige, she felt a jolt of electricity run through her. “I get your concerns,” he said, his voice low andearnest. “But I can’t divulge my source. All I can tell you is that I’m willing to stake my life on the accuracy of these plans.”

The room erupted in a chorus of protests. Kate’s voice rose above the others, “That’s not good enough, Lassiter. You’re gambling with our lives, too.”

Cody stood his ground, his jaw set in a stubborn line that Paige found infuriatingly attractive. “I gave my oath to protect my source. You can come with me or not, but I’m going in regardless.”

Before she could second-guess herself, Paige heard her own voice cutting through the tension. “I’ll go.” The words hung in the air, heavy with implications. “The rest of you can secure the perimeter, be ready to help us escape once we have the virus.”

Graham shook his head, a wry smile playing at his lips. “Not a chance. We’re not leaving you to handle this alone.”

Fenn nodded in agreement, his eyes never leaving Cody. “But we will have eyes on him. Every. Single. Second.”

She met Cody’s gaze once more, seeing a flicker of something—gratitude? relief?—before his mask of cool professionalism slipped back into place.

As the team began to hash out the details of their infiltration, Paige felt a curious mix of anticipation and dread settle in her stomach. Whatever lay ahead in those underground tunnels, she had a feeling it would change everything.

Paige’s eyes darted between the blueprints and Cody’s face, her mind racing. The tension in the room was palpable, pressing against her skin like a physical force. She could hear the subtle creaks of the antique furniture as her teammates shifted restlessly, their unease manifesting in small, fidgety movements.

The scent of Mason’s peculiar fish dish still lingered in the air, mingling with the musty odor of old books and polishedwood that permeated the embassy’s hidden suite. It was an odd backdrop for planning a high-stakes heist.

As she studied the schematics, her fingers traced the path they would need to take, feeling the slight roughness of the paper beneath her fingertips. The complexity of the security systems marked on the blueprints made her pulse quicken. This was far beyond anything they’d encountered before, and the fact that her own DNA was somehow involved sent a chill down her spine.

Cody’s refusal to reveal his source gnawed at her. Part of her wanted to trust him implicitly, while another part—the part shaped by years of betrayal and hard-learned lessons—screamed caution. The conflict must have shown on her face because she noticed Kate giving her a concerned look.

She caught herself wondering, not for the first time, what secrets he was hiding. What had happened in the years since she’d known him? Who was this new Cody, and could she trust him with not just her life, but the lives of her team?

18

Cody leanedagainst the heavy mahogany bookcase, his arms crossed, watching Paige with a mixture of admiration and trepidation. Her fingers moved with practiced efficiency as she assembled an array of specialized gear designed to bypass electronic locks. The soft clicks and whirs of the equipment were unnaturally loud in the tension-filled room.

Bridger looked up from the bag he was packing. “How many hostiles can we expect to encounter?”

Cody had been anticipating the obvious question. “None in the hallway. Usually three in the lab. Two techs and one armed security guard.”

Paige wrinkled her nose. “Just one guard?”

Tai caught Cody’s gaze. “Fewer people means fewer folks that can turn traitor, am I right?”

Cody forced himself to shrug casually, though the dig hit home. “Exactly. The Consortium’s more likely to lean hard on security tech than people.”

“Big mistake,” Graham muttered.

Cody had to agree. No matter how sophisticated the tech, someone smarter would come along with a way to defeat it.

Paige looked up from the devices she was assembling. “How do we neutralize the workers?”

“Tranq darts,” Mason insisted. “With silencers, they’ll be on the ground before they know what hit them.”

Cody rubbed his shoulder. No kidding. “Great idea,” he lied.

There’d be no need for force. But he couldn’t get into that now. Not without exposing his source. And that wasn’t going to happen.

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