Page 24 of Final Sins

He wrinkled his nose. “Is that ... hay?”

Her lips quirked in a small smile. “Can’t say I didn’t warn you. Welcome to our five-star accommodations.”

As they pulled into the parking lot of a decidedly un-five-star motel, Jason caught sight of the nearby racetrack. Santa Anita. Of course.

“A cheesy motel by the racetrack,” he said, shaking his head. “I’ve got to hand it to you, Mendoza. When you say ‘old school,’ you don’t mess around.”

The smell of hay and horses permeated the air as they stepped out of the car. It was about as far from Alex’s high-tech world as they could get. And that, Jason realized, was exactly the point.

While Alex headed into the office to check in, Jason stood watch outside the vehicle, ordering Gravy to stay inside. Once Alex emerged with a keycard, Jason herded them into the motel room, his eyes darting to every corner. The door shut with a dull thud, and he inhaled sharply, wrinkling his nose at the overpowering scent of cheap air freshener barely masking a musty undertone.

Alex wasted no time pulling out her tablet and setting up her tech with practiced efficiency. “Alright, let’s get to work. We need to process Gravy through the disappearance protocol ASAP. New identity, new life, clean slate.”

Jason shook his head, his jaw tightening. “Hold on, Alex. That needs to wait.”

“Wait?” Alex’s fingers stilled on the tablet. “Why?”

“Seven-Five ... they’re not your average bad guys. We can’t rush this.”

Alex’s eyes narrowed. “What exactly are we dealing with here?”

He ran a hand through his hair, feeling the weight of his past pressing down on him. “They’re ruthless, with resources that would make most governments jealous. We need to be smart about this.”

“So what, they’re after you specifically?”

“Probably. But at this point, anything connected to me is now?—”

“Compromised,” she finished, her voice flat. “Great. Just great.”

Jason leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. “Look, I know you want to act quickly, but we need to be cautious.”

Alex set her tablet down with more force than necessary. “Cautious? We’re sitting ducks here. Every minute we wait is a minute they could be closing in on us.”

“And every hasty move we make could lead them right to us,” he countered. “We need a solid plan.”

“I have a solid plan. It’s called getting Gravy off the grid and out of danger.”

“It’s not that simple.”

She crossed her arms. “Enlighten me.”

“Let’s say I head off on my own, draw them out. What’s the first thing they’re going to do to ensure I cooperate once they find me?”

He could literally see her mind working. Her shoulders slumped. “Copy that.”

Gravy scratched his chin. “I don’t.”

Alex shot him a steady look. “They come after you and me. Use us as bait to trap Army.”

Gravy’s jaw dropped. Message received.

“There’s got to be another way,” she argued.

“We’re safer together,” he insisted.

Their voices rose as they argued back and forth, the tension in the room ratcheting up with each passing minute. Gravy’s eyes bounced between them like he was watching a particularly intense tennis match.

Finally, Jason held up his hands. “Okay, okay. We’re both exhausted and on edge. Let’s table this for now and revisit it in the morning with clear heads.”

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