Page 16 of Final Sins

She shrugged. A tiny motion that created an outsized surge of anger in him. “Then we’ll be leaving you very disappointed.”

Her expression remained impassive, her lack of sympathy palpable.

Gabriel, however, jumped in with a conciliatory tone. “Lexie’s protective of our clients. And RAVEN.”

Despite his frustration, Jason couldn’t help but be impressed by what he’d seen of their operation.

Before he could probe more, he noticed her posture change subtly, her interest poorly concealed as she leaned forward slightly. “So, Redemption Creek. That’s quite an operation you’ve got going. Heard you guys used to be BlackOut Squadron.”

He tensed, memories threatening to surface. “You’ve done your homework.”

“Always,” she replied, a hint of pride in her voice. “But what I can’t figure out is what happened. One day BlackOut Squadron’s the government’s go-to team, the next ... poof.”

“Ancient history.”

“Oh come on,” she pressed, her eyes sharp. “A team like that doesn’t just disappear without a reason.”

“Maybe we got tired of following orders without question.”

“Or maybe you questioned the wrong orders?”

“You always this nosy with your guests?” he deflected, forcing a wry smile.

“Only the interesting ones. So what was it? Corruption? Cover-up?”

Jason felt his patience wearing thin. “Look, what happened then ... it’s in the past. We’re different now.”

“Are you?” she challenged. “Because from where I’m sitting, you’re still charging into danger. Still trying to save the world.”

He met her gaze, unflinching. “And you’re not? Hiding people, giving them new lives ... sounds pretty heroic to me.”

Alex scoffed. “I’m a realist. I just know how the game is played.”

“And what game is that?”

“The one where everyone has a price,” she stated flatly.

Jason shook his head. “Not everyone. Some things are worth more than money.”

“Like honor? Duty?” Alex’s tone was skeptical.

“Like doing the right thing,” he countered. “Even when it costs you everything.”

A moment of silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken histories and ideological divides.

He closed his mouth, the specter of Seven-Five looming in his mind. But he wasn’t ready to bare those scars, maybe never would be.

What did it matter anyway? Once Gravy was settled, he’d be gone.

If Seven-Five was involved in that attack, they’d find RAVEN.

If Alex Mendoza wanted to live in her little high-tech bubble and ignore the coming threat, nothing he could do about that.

But he wanted to. And that right there was a problem.

9

The LED clockon the wall blinked 3:17 p.m. Each digital flash mocked Alex’s mounting frustration. Two more hours had passed, and they were no closer to settling on a new identity for their client. A task that should have been straightforward—pick a location, create a backstory, forge the documents—had devolved into a circus of indecision and increasingly outlandish suggestions.

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