Page 51 of Final Sins

Jason’s lips quirked. “Wait till you see the house.”

The well-weathered farmhouse couldn’t have been more different than the high-tech barn. Warm and inviting, it exuded a sense of home that made Alex’s chest tighten unexpectedly.

As they entered, a cacophony of voices washed over them.

“Look what the cat dragged in!”

“Reilly! Thought you’d gone AWOL on us.”

Jason’s team descended upon them like a friendly whirlwind. Alex found herself caught up in introductions, trying to match names to faces. Tai, with his easy grin. Mason, quiet but watchful. Kate, her eyes sharp and assessing. Paige, who’s pink-highlighted hair and sweet smile clearly camouflaged a brilliant mind. Graham, built like a linebacker but with a gentle handshake. Quiet, watchful, Cody. And Fenn, whose smirk reminded her eerily of Jason.

They settled into the living room, the banter flying fast and furious. Alex watched as they teased Jason mercilessly, their words barbed but underlined with genuine affection.

“So, Alex,” Paige leaned in, her eyes sparkling, “I have to tell you, your cousin, Gabriel’s work … I’m a huge fan. His holographic imaging is revolutionary! His idea to combine a spatial light modulator with a diffuser to reduce the separation between multiple image planes without being constrained by the properties of the light modulator is amazing. Seriously.”

Alex grinned. “I’m glad someone besides Gabe understands this stuff. All I know is the projections he’s creating now are truly life-like.” She’d always known her cousin was a genius, but it was nice to hear his name was getting out in serious circles.

“He’ll be getting offers from every multi-national and every government on the planet,” Paige said.

As the cyber genius launched into a detailed discussion of Gabe’s tech, Alex found her attention drifting. She watched the team interact, the easy camaraderie, the inside jokes, the way they anticipated each other’s needs without a word.

A lump formed in her throat. This was more than a team. It was a family. The kind of family she’d never had, never even dared to dream of. Her tiny team back home was close, sure, but this ... this was something else entirely.

Her mind drifted back to Jane, radiant despite her exhaustion. Bridger’s hand never far from her back. The love between them was palpable, their excitement for their upcoming arrivals infectious. Alex couldn’t even imagine that kind of connection, that sense of creating a future together.

A sharp pang of longing hit her, catching her off guard. She’d always prided herself on her independence, her ability to stand alone. But watching this ... she couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to truly belong.

“Earth to Alex,” Jason’s voice cut through her reverie. “You okay there?”

She blinked, realizing the room had gone quiet. All eyes were on her, concern evident in their faces. Even after knowing her for mere minutes, they were ready to rally around her.

Alex swallowed hard, pasting on a smile. “All good. Paige was telling me about Gabe’s latest project. It’s fascinating stuff.”

As the conversation picked back up, Alex forced herself to engage. But a small part of her couldn’t help but wonder—would she ever find a place where she fit like this? Or was she destined to always be on the outside, looking in?

Shoving aside the morose thoughts, she followed Paige down the hallway to a cozy guest room. Paige hung in the doorway while Alex looked around. “There are extra clothes in the closet, every size imaginable, and a full set of toiletries in the bathroom. Let me know if there’s anything else you need,” Paige said and left her to freshen up.

Dinner was amazing, literally gourmet-quality, thanks to Mason. She ate and laughed way too much. As the evening wound down, Alex found herself genuinely enjoying thecompany of Jason’s team. Their easy banter and shared camaraderie reminded her of nights spent with Mac, Liv, and Gabe, huddled around takeout containers, dissecting their latest case.

The pang of longing hit her again, sharper this time. She itched to reach for her phone, to send a quick text or make a call. Just to hear their voices, to know they were okay. But she knew better. Radio silence was the protocol until the threat was neutralized or an emergency arose. No sense in risking interception.

As the team began to disperse, heading to their respective quarters, Jason hung back. He studied her face, his brow furrowing slightly.

“You okay there, Mendoza? You’ve got that thousand-yard stare going on.”

Alex blinked, realizing she’d been lost in thought. “Yeah, I’m good. Just ... missing my team, I guess.”

Jason’s expression softened, understanding dawning in his eyes. “It’s tough being cut off like this. But hey, we’ll wrap this up quick, and you’ll be back to annoying them in no time.”

His attempt at levity drew a small smile from her. “Thanks, Army. Your optimism is almost endearing.”

He chuckled, the sound warm and rich. “Don’t go spreading that around. I’ve got a reputation to maintain.”

As they walked towards the guest quarters, Jason paused. “You sure you’ll be okay here? I know it’s not exactly what you signed up for.”

Alex nodded, surprising herself with her sincerity. “Yeah, I’ll be fine. Your team ... they’re something special.”

“They do grow on you,” he agreed, a hint of pride in his voice.

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