Page 35 of Final Sins

They paused at a viewpoint, the vast expanse of the Pacific stretching out before them. Jason turned to look at her, truly look at her, and felt a swell of admiration. “So you decided to help targeted people disappear.”

Alex met his gaze, a fierce determination in her eyes. “Someone had to.”

As they resumed their hike, Jason found himself in awe of the woman beside him. She could have lived a life of luxury and ease, but instead, she’d chosen to fight for those who couldn’t fight for themselves. It was impressive, inspiring, and if he was being honest with himself, more than a little attractive.

He cleared his throat, shoving that last thought aside. “Well, I’d say you made the right choice. Though I bet your parents weren’t thrilled about you ditching the champagne circuit.”

Alex’s laughter, carried on the salty breeze, was the only answer he needed. “What about you?”

“Never was much of a choice for me. I was born and bred in Redemption Creek. I’m lucky. Small town life always suited me, I guess.”

It sounds like you love it there. What made you give up ranching life for army green?”

He hesitated, caught off guard by the question. The wind whipped around them as he considered his response.

“The great lure of adventure, I guess. I joined up thinking I’d do one tour, then head home. Help my sister run the family hardware store.”

Alex’s eyebrow arched. “Well, clearly that plan didn’t pan out.”

Jason shook his head, surprised at how easily the words flowed. “My CO talked me into applying for Delta Force. Then came BlackOut Squadron. Before I knew it, ten years had flown by.”

They paused at a rocky outcropping, the shimmering Pacific stretching endlessly before them. Jason leaned against a boulder, grateful for the respite it offered his aching side.

“And then?” Alex prompted softly.

“Then it all went wrong,” Jason said, his voice tight. “Forcibly retired. The Consortium—Seven-Five now—gunning for us. I went off the grid, tried to take them on alone.”

He fell silent, the weight of those lost years pressing down on him. “These past six months back in Redemption Creek ...” He trailed off, emotion suddenly thick in his throat. “Being back with my family. My team ... it’s been good. Really good.”

Jason swallowed hard, surprised by the surge of feelings. “Leaving to help Gravy was a lot harder than I expected. I want to be there for Jane and her kids, and for my team.”

He shook his head, as if trying to dislodge the unexpected vulnerability. Where had all this come from? He glanced at Alex, realizing with a start just how much he’d shared.

“I, uh ... I’ve never really told anyone all that before,” he admitted, running a hand through his wind-tousled hair.

Alex’s smile was soft, understanding. “Sounds like you found something worth hanging around for. Or maybe someone?”

“No one special. I mean, unless you count family. And my team.” He turned back to the ocean, using the vast expanse to ground himself. But even as he struggled to regain his composure, a part of him marveled at how easy it had been to open up to her. In the span of one walk, she’d managed to slip past defenses he’d spent years building.

And the strangest part? He wasn’t sure he minded.

The climb back up the cliff trail was steep, and Jason felt every step in his injured side. But the pain was a distant concern compared to the thrill of strategizing with Alex.

“We need to flip the script,” he insisted. “Be the hunters instead of the hunted.”

Alex scampered up over a small boulder and turned back to wait for him to clear it. “Agreed. But how do we—” She broke off, her gaze zeroing in on his side. “You’re bleeding.”

He glanced down. A dime-sized blot of red seeped through his shirt. “It’s nothing.”

“We shouldn’t have hiked so far,” Alex chided, her brow furrowed with concern.

He met her eyes. “Trust me, it was worth it.”

Something flickered in Alex’s expression, a warmth that made his heart skip a beat. He cleared his throat, steering them back to safer ground. “We need to figure out how to hurt Seven-Five ...”

As they continued their ascent, ideas flew back and forth between them. The need for more intelligence, the frustration of waiting for news about General Munsinger’s connections.

“I feel like we should be doing more,” Alex insisted as they crested the hill, the safe house coming into view. “We could set a trap. I could be bait.”

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