Page 84 of Final Sins

Their banter faded as Bridger and Pegasus came back into the dining area, taking the spots at the head of the table.

“Captain North has given me the broad strokes of your encounter with Seven-Five,” the woman said. “I’d like to debrief you all individually at some point, but first I think we need to turn our attention to figuring out how to stomp these people out. Thanks to Ms. Mendoza’s quick thinking, we’ve got new leverage. I think we should all hear it. Then I’d like your takes on the matter of how to proceed.”

The conversation shifted, words like “extraction” and “reintegration” floating through the air. Alex listened as Pegasus outlined plans to fly Alex and her team back to LA, her heart performing an odd little dance of relief and regret.

Conversation dimmed as Bridger played the tape of Munsinger’s confession.

“This is just the break the good guys have been waiting for,” Pegasus announced once it finished. “Now that we’re aware of just how deep Seven-Five may have infiltrated Western espionage services, the process of rooting them out can begin.” She trained her piercing gaze on Alex. “But progress will be slow. Especially at first. We’ll need your team to maintain a low profile for the time being.”

Alex nodded, her mind already racing ahead. Back to LA, back to normalcy—or whatever passed for it in their line of work. But leaving Jason ...

As the meeting wound down, Alex found her gaze drawn to him. The set of his jaw, the intensity in his eyes—everything about him called to her. But the complications loomed large, too. Their careers. The changeable nature of their work: here one minute, in Tahiti the next. It all added up to the sheer impossibility of either of them being able to maintain a normal relationship.

Whatever that was.

Lost in her own thoughts, she barely noticed the others filing out. It wasn’t until Jason touched her elbow that she realized they were alone.

“It’s been a rough couple days,” he said, his voice low and gravelly.

“Feels more like months.”

He tipped his head to the side. “You mean that in a good way, right?”

“Mostly.” She couldn’t lie. “Remember when we first met? I wanted to knock your head off.”

“And I thought you were the most arrogant, willful woman …”

“Me? Arrogant?” She gasped in mock offense. “Okay, maybe a little.”

They shared a moment of laughter, the tension easing slightly.

“We make a pretty good team, though,” Jason insisted.

Her heart thudded against her ribs. “Yeah, we do.”

She waited, hoping he might say something more, suggest a coffee, a date, anything. But he remained silent, his expression unreadable.

When they first met, she’d seen only the hard edges—the stubborn set of his jaw, the stern furrow of his brow, the rigid posture of a career soldier. Now, she noticed so much more.

His eyes, a warm hazel that could flash with intensity or soften with concern. The laugh lines at their corners, hinting at a sense of humor he kept carefully tucked away. His hands, strong and capable, yet gentle when tending to an injured teammate. Even his stance had changed in her eyes—no longer just rigid discipline, but a quiet strength that made her feel inexplicably safe.

She wondered about the small scar above his left eyebrow, sure there was a story there. Then she studied his face, drawn by the way his five o’clock shadow accentuated his strong jawline and the slight quirk of his lips when he was amused but trying not to show it.

It wasn’t just his physical appearance. She’d seen his leadership, his unwavering loyalty to his team, his quick thinking under pressure. The glimpses of vulnerability he’d allowed her to see had touched something deep within her.

As the silence stretched on, she realized with a pang that she wanted to know more. To uncover every layer of Jason Reilly.

But he remained silent, his expression giving nothing away. The moment slipped away like sand through her fingers.

“Well,” Alex said finally, her voice unnaturally bright. “I should go pack. Kate says we can take off in an hour or so.”

Jason nodded, taking a step back. “Right. Of course.”

They walked to the door together, their steps slightly out of sync. At the threshold, they paused, facing each other awkwardly.

“So ...” Alex began, trailing off.

“Take care of yourself, Mendoza,” Jason said, his voice gruff.

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