Page 66 of Final Sins

Finally, Mason let out a low whistle. “That’s ... actually brilliant. I could see a genius like Gabriel setting up his lab in some super weird place like that.”

“It’s insane,” Alex said, but she couldn’t keep the grudging admiration out of her voice. “It’s completely, utterly insane. I love it.”

The room erupted into excited chatter, the energy shifting from frustration to anticipation. As the teams began to flesh out the details of Gravy’s wild idea, Alex caught his eye and gave him a nod of approval. He grinned back, clearly pleased with himself.

The tightness in her chest eased. They had a plan. It was crazy, risky, and borderline ridiculous—but it was a plan.

As the meeting wrapped up, Alex suddenly realized how close she was standing to Jason. Again. His cologne, a mix of sandalwood and something uniquely him, filled her nostrils. Heat radiated from his body, and for a moment, she found herself swaying toward him.

Catching herself, she took a deliberate step back, her heart pounding traitorously in her chest.

Get it together, she scolded herself.

“See you all at lunch,” Tai announced. “Feel free to use the gym, or the shooting range or whatever else we’ve got. See me if you need anything.Nuestra casa es su casa.”

While Mac and Liv converged on Tai, Alex headed straight out the door toward her room. She was hyper-aware of Jason’s presence behind her, like a magnetic pull she couldn’t escape. What was wrong with her? She’d worked with attractive men before without turning into a lovesick teenager.

She quickened her pace, desperate to put some distance between them. This ... whatever it was ... needed to stop. Now. She couldn’t afford distractions, especially not in the form of a man who pushed all her buttons—both good and bad.

Changing her mind, she hung a left and headed out the front door. The pine-scented breeze helped clear her head, grounding her. She’d outsmarted terrorists, drug lords, and international assassins. She could certainly handle one annoyingly attractive man.

Not that she was doing a bang-up job so far.

35

The gravel crunchedunder Jason’s tires as he pulled into the driveway of his sister’s ranch house. The August heat hit him like a wall as he stepped out of the air-conditioned truck, the scent of sunbaked earth and lavender filling his nostrils.

Before he could reach the porch, the front door swung open. Bridger stood there, his usual easy smile replaced by a look of concern.

“Jason,” Bridger nodded, clasping his hand in a firm shake. “Glad you could make it.”

Jason’s brow furrowed. “Everything okay?”

Bridger’s eyes darted to the side. “Jane’s been kinda on edge. Bed rest isn’t her style. The walls are starting to close in on her. She could use the company. Come on in.”

He led Jason through the entryway and into the living room. The coolness of the house was a welcome contrast to the blistering heat outside. Jane lay on the couch, her pregnant belly prominent under a light blanket.

Her face lit up when she saw Jason. “There’s my favorite brother!”

“I’m your only brother,” Jason retorted, bending to kiss her cheek.

Jane grabbed his hand, pressing his palm to her belly. “Feel that? Your nieces are doing somersaults in there.”

The flutter beneath his fingers made Jason’s breath catch. Truly a miracle.

“Uncle Jay!” Kellen’s voice rang out as the boy thundered down the stairs. “Come see the fort I built for the twins.”

Jason crouched down to Kellen’s eye level, giving him a gentle smile. “Hey, buddy, I’d love to see your fort, but I need to talk to your mom for a minute first. Okay?”

Kellen’s face fell slightly, but he nodded. “Okay, Uncle Jason.”

Bridger stepped in smoothly, placing a hand on Kellen’s shoulder. “Come on, dude. Let’s go toss the ball around while Uncle Jason and Mom chat.”

As Bridger steered Kellen outside, Jason turned back to Jane, settling on the edge of the couch. The worry lines around her eyes were impossible to miss.

Her voice was thin. “I know something big is coming. Bridger won’t say, but I can feel it.”

Jason’s gut clenched. He couldn’t risk her worrying more than she already was. “It’s just a regular old op. We got this.”

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