Page 19 of Final Sins

“Easy there, Army,” Alex called out, her eyes flicking up from her computer screen. “We’re not equipped for a relapse.”

Her voice sent an unexpected jolt through him. Despite her prickly exterior, Jason found himself increasingly drawn to the woman’s strength and intelligence. He admired how she ran her team with precision and care, even if she tried to hide it behind a tough facade.

Mac chimed in, his fingers never pausing on his keyboard. “Yeah, my sewing days are over. You rip out those stitches, you’re on your own.”

Jason grinned, a bead of sweat already forming on his brow. “What, no Florence Nightingale act? I’m crushed.” He appreciated the easy camaraderie of Alex’s team, the way they balanced professionalism with genuine concern for each other. It reminded him of his own unit, a thought that brought both comfort and a twinge of homesickness.

He lifted the weight, feeling the familiar burn in his bicep, accompanied by an unfamiliar tightness in his side. The pain was there, a constant reminder of his brush with death, but he pushed through it. No more meds, he’d decided. He needed a clear head, especially in this high-tech environment where every decision could have far-reaching consequences.

As he exercised, he found his gaze continually drawn to Alex. Her focused determination, the way she commanded her cutting-edge setup—it all impressed him more than he cared to admit. He couldn’t shake the feeling that they made a formidable team. One he wasn’t quite ready to leave behind.

Gravy wandered toward him, slice of toast in hand, eyeing the weights with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. He reached for one of Jason’s dumbbells, his skinny arm shaking under the strain.

“Whoa there, champ.” Jason grabbed the weight before Gravy dropped it on his foot. “Let’s start you off with something a little more your speed. Like a feather. Or maybe a marshmallow.”

Gravy’s face flushed red. “I’m stronger than I look!”

He used to be. Physically, the guy had been special forces material back in the day. But mentally … he couldn’t hack the discipline. Or kick his drug habit without serious rehab.

“Grab those twenty pounders and join in,” Jason urged him.

As they settled into a rhythm, Jason casually steered the conversation where he needed it to go. “So, Gravy, your old man. He must be worried sick about you.”

Gravy snorted, nearly dropping his weight. “Yeah, right. He’s probably more worried about his golf score. Plus, he disappeared, remember?”

Jason raised an eyebrow. “Not exactly Father of the Year material, huh? What’s he into these days? Besides golf, I mean.”

“Dunno,” Gravy shrugged, wincing as he completed another rep. “It’s not like I see him ever. Politics, I guess. He’s all about climbing the career ladder. Boring stuff.”

Jason’s ears perked up, but he kept his tone casual. “Something must be up if he gave you that phone and the instructions to contact RAVEN. Guys into power don’t just drop out of sight.”

Gravy rolled his eyes. “I guess. He’s been checking up on me more lately. He’s got this idea that somebody’s kinda after him.” He paused. “Maybe so, since he ran off and everything.”

“But he never said who?”

Gravy made a noise. “Like he’d tell me? Mr. Super Top Secret Security?”

“Fair enough.” Jason set down his weight. “But him planning your disappearance is pretty extreme, don’t you think?”

Gravy scratched his chin. “For sure. And not ideal. My winter bowling league is red hot this season. I’m letting them down. All I can say is he’d better have a good reason for all this.”

Jason didn’t bother pointing out that the attack on them at the airport would be an excellent reason. Except Jason wasn’t at all certain the attackers had been sent for Gravy.

The blonde, Liv, hurried back into the main room, car keys in hand. “I’m going to run supplies over to the airfield. I’ll be back in an hour,” she announced.

Alex’s cousin, the pale nerd-guy looked up from his tablet. “I’ll join you,” he announced and bounded to his feet with an energy Jason would have doubted the skinny kid possessed.

The blonde shrugged. “Sure. You can help me load the Rover.”

But Alex’s reaction was far less cool or sanguine or something. She was hiding something.

“What?” he asked quietly.

She shook her head, a sharp denying motion. “My cousin’s radar for women is completely defective.”

“He likes her.” Why wouldn’t he? The woman was stunning. And seriously talented. Dangerous, too. Another highly attractive trait.

And far out of Gabriel’s league.

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