Page 32 of Lethal Sins

Cody grunted. These guys were nothing if not innovative. Using the castle’s notorious plumbing issues as cover was clever. The East Wing, being the oldest part of the building, was a perfect choice—close to their target and plagued with enough problems to justify their presence.

Paige stepped forward, her voice steady despite the gravity of the situation. “Once they’re in, Fenn and Kate will open the maintenance access panel behind the third stall. Tai, that’s where you come in.”

Tai nodded, patting a sleek tablet tucked into his coveralls. “I’ll loop the security feed, give you and Cody and Bridger time to enter the restroom and climb through into the tunnel.”

The room fell silent as the reality of their task sank in. Cody could almost hear the rapid heartbeats of everyone present, a staccato rhythm of anticipation and fear.

“And then we’re in the hallway,” Cody added softly. “Once we get through the first set of locked doors, we’ll have five minutes to reach the lab.”

“More, if my diversion works,” Bridger added.

Again, Cody’s admiration for the team grew. Smart thinking, planning for failure. If things didn’t go smoothly at the second and third barriers, Bridger would instigate the protocol they’d devised and play decoy.

Paige’s eyes met his, a storm of emotions swirling in their depths. “Fifteen minutes to infiltrate one of the most secure facilities in the world and steal a virus that could end civilization as we know it.” Her voice was tight, controlled. “No pressure, right?”

A nervous chuckle rippled through the group. They were placing their lives in his hands, trusting information he couldn’t fully explain. The guilt was like a physical presence, pressing down on his chest.

As the team made their final preparations, checking equipment and synchronizing watches, Cody found himself wishing he could freeze this moment. Despite the tension, despite the danger ahead, there was a sense of purpose here, of belonging. Tomorrow, win or lose, he’d be alone again.

19

Bridger North slumpedin his chair, the carvings on its back digging into his shoulder blades. The dark, heavy furnishings felt suffocating, the old-world grandeur a stark contrast to the tension coiling in his gut. He blinked hard, trying to focus on the cards Tai was dealing.

Poker had been the team’s way of handling the pre-mission nerves for going on a decade now. Tonight, it wasn’t working very well.

The mission was stressful enough, without the thread of worry for his wife, Jane, constantly in the background now. He hated not being there with her. Not being able to assess her condition for himself.

Soon.

His hand trembled slightly as he reached for his cards, fatigue making his movements clumsy. The ceramic mug of hot chocolate teetered, then toppled, sending a wave of steaming liquid across the table.

“Whoa there, butterfingers,” Tai quipped, snatching up his cards before the chocolatey tide could reach them.

Normally, Bridger would have fired back with a zinger of his own, but his brain felt like it was stuffed with cotton. Hemanaged a weak smile, letting Tai’s teasing slide off him like water off a duck’s back. His friend’s eyebrow arched, a silent question in his eyes, but Bridger shook his head minutely. He couldn’t voice his concerns about Cody and the mission. Not yet. And as for the other stress gnawing at him ... well, that was a whole other can of worms he wasn’t ready to open.

Across the table, Fenn’s gravelly chuckle punctuated the air. “Kate, darlin’, your poker face is about as convincing as a three-dollar bill.”

Kate’s indignant splutter was drowned out by the clatter of M&Ms as Graham raked in another pot. His pile of candy was growing into a small mountain, a colorful testament to his poker prowess.

Bridger’s gaze drifted to Paige, noting the tight set of her shoulders, the distracted look in her eyes as she tossed another M&M into the pot. Her usual competitive spark was conspicuously absent, her pile of candy dwindling to match Bridger’s own meager stash.

He got it, he really did. This whole situation was a perfect storm of stress for her: forced to work with Lassiter again, her father’s work resurfacing like a bad penny. But they needed Paige at her best, now more than ever. The thought settled in his chest like a lead weight.

As Tai dealt another hand, Bridger made a decision. He and Paige needed to talk. But first, he had to survive this poker game without losing his shirt ... or what was left of his chocolate stash.

Tai’s voice cut through Bridger’s reverie. “Earth to Bridger. You planning on playing that hand or framing it?”

Bridger blinked, focusing on his cards. “Just lulling you into a false sense of security, pal.” He opened his mouth to place his bid when his cell phone buzzed. Jane’s name flashed on the screen, and instantly, the world narrowed to that small device.

“Gotta take this,” he mumbled, pushing back from the table. A chorus of good-natured ribbing followed him down the hallway.

“What, the game too rich for your blood, North?”

“Don’t forget to bring back snacks!”

“Roger that.” He responded automatically, his entire being focused on his wife’s voice as he answered. “You good?” he asked, flopping onto his bed.

Her laugh, warm and familiar, filled his ear. “I was going to ask you the same thing.” There was a pause, and when she spoke again, her tone was more serious. “This mission ... it’s getting heavy, isn’t it? I know you’re close to finding Jason, but ...” She took a breath. “Be careful, okay? I need you around.”

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