Page 64 of Final Sins

He turned, finding her still seated, fingers tracing abstract patterns on the tabletop. The room suddenly felt too small, too intimate.

“I wanted to apologize,” she said, meeting his eyes. “For being so harsh earlier. I was out of line.”

Jason leaned against the doorframe, careful to maintain some distance. “It’s good to have dissent. Keeps us all sharp. No problem.”

Alex nodded, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth. “Still, I shouldn’t have?—”

“Really, Alex. It’s fine,” he interrupted, his tone gentle but firm.

A moment of silence stretched between them, filled with unspoken words and lingering tension. Jason felt the urge to reach out, to bridge the gap that had formed. But he held back, painfully aware that soon, they’d be going their separate ways again.

For the first time, the thought of watching Alex walk away left an ache in his chest he wasn’t quite ready to examine.

“We should get some rest,” he said finally, straightening up. “Big day tomorrow.”

Alex stood, smoothing down her shirt in a gesture that seemed more nervous than necessary. “Right. Of course. Goodnight, Jason.”

As she brushed past him, the faint scent of her perfume teasing his senses, Jason allowed himself one moment of weakness. He watched her retreating form, the graceful curve of her neck, the confident set of her shoulders.

“Goodnight, Alex,” he murmured, long after she’d disappeared down the hallway.

Shaking his head to clear the lingering thoughts, Jason turned off the lights and headed to his own room. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, new dangers. But for now, in the quiet of the night, he allowed himself to admit one simple truth.

This time, he was really going to be sorry to see her walk away.

34

The next morning,the sun streamed through the ranch house’s large windows, casting long shadows across the worn wooden floor. Alex leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching as the two teams straggled back into the main room. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, mingling with the scents of bacon and maple syrup from their recent breakfast.

Her gaze settled on Gabriel. A good night’s sleep had worked miracles. The dark circles under his eyes had faded, and there was a hint of color in his cheeks. He still moved with caution, but the improvement was undeniable.

Mac’s booming laugh drew Alex’s attention. He and Liv were chatting with Mason, their easy camaraderie evident in their relaxed postures and bright smiles. Nearby, Tai and Fenn had cornered Kate, their heads bent close as they discussed something in hushed tones.

Alex pushed away from the wall, her boots scuffing against the hardwood. “Alright people,” she called out, her voice cutting through the low murmur of conversation. “Let’s get this show on the road.”

No sooner had the words left her mouth than Jason’s deep voice rumbled from across the room. “I think we should start by mapping out General Munsinger’s known associates.”

A muscle ticked in her cheek, but she resolved not to jump down his throat. She was the one who suggested they work together.

She turned to face him, noting the stubborn set of his broad shoulders beneath his form-fitting tech tee. “Not a bad idea,” she conceded, forcing her voice to remain even, “but I was thinking we’d focus on his last known locations first.”

Jason’s eyebrow quirked, a glint of challenge in his eyes. “What, you can’t multitask? I thought you were supposed to be some kind of super spy.”

“Fine.” She fought back a smile. “Let’s do both. I’ll even let you use the big computer.”

The next hour passed in a blur of ideas. Unfortunately, none of them panned out when they were dissected.

She glanced at Jason, catching his eye across the room. For a moment, she saw her own frustration mirrored there, a silent understanding passing between them. Despite their differences, they were both feeling the weight of their stalled progress.

A movement caught Alex’s eye. Gabriel was fidgeting in his chair, looking like he’d rather be anywhere else.

“Gabriel?” she prompted, her voice gentler than usual. “You look like you’re sitting on a cactus. Spit it out.”

Jason chimed in, “Whatever it is, it can’t be worse than our current options.”

Gabriel cleared his throat, his eyes darting nervously around the room. “Well, um, the general ... he was quite interested in my holographic technology.”

The room fell silent. Alex’s mind raced, a plan forming. She opened her mouth to speak?—

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