Page 88 of Final Sins

Jane lay propped up in bed, looking exhausted but radiant. In her arms, two tiny bundles with impossibly tiny white wrist bands on their impossibly tiny wrists squirmed and fussed. Kellen stood beside the bed, face glowing with wonder. “They’re so tiny, Uncle Jay. Look at their teeny fingers.”

Jane looked up. “Hey, big brother. Come meet your nieces.”

Jason approached the bed, his heart pounding. As he gazed down at the two perfect little faces, emotions choked him. Love, fear, hope, and an overwhelming sense of responsibility.

“They’re beautiful,” he whispered, gently touching one tiny hand. “What are their names?”

Jane and Bridger exchanged a look, their smiles widening. “We’d like you to meet Faith and Grace,” Bridger announced.

Jason felt his throat tighten. “Faith and Grace,” he repeated, the words laden with meaning. After everything Bridger and Jane had been through, after all the darkness they’d faced, here was a reminder of God’s enduring love and mercy.

As he held Faith in his arms, her tiny fingers wrapping around his calloused thumb, something shifted deep within his soul. This was what it was all about. This was why they fought. Why they risked everything. For moments like these.

For the promise of a better future.

“Welcome to the world, little ones,” he murmured, pressing a soft kiss to Faith’s forehead. “Your uncle Jason’s got your back. Always.”

The room filled with quiet chatter, but Jason barely noticed. His focus was entirely on the precious bundle in his arms. For the first time, he truly understood what he was fighting for. And for the first time, he allowed himself to imagine a future beyond the next mission. A future that, despite his best efforts to deny it, had to include Alex.

As Faith yawned and nestled closer to his chest, Jason sent up a silent prayer. For protection, for guidance, and maybe, just maybe, for a second chance at love.

Here he was, holding new life in his arms, finally understanding the true meaning of family and love, and he had let Alex walk away.

“I have to go,” he blurted out, startling Jane and Bridger.

“What? Now?” Jane asked, confusion etched on her tired face.

Jason carefully handed Faith back to Bridger, his movements urgent but gentle. “I’m sorry, I just ... I need to fix something.”

Understanding dawned in Bridger’s eyes. “Go get her, man.”

With a quick kiss to Jane’s forehead and a final glance at his nieces, Jason ran out of the room. He had to get to Alex. Now. Before he lost his chance at the future he suddenly realized he desperately wanted.

He blasted straight past the team, ignoring their curious looks. No time to explain.

As he hurried out of the building, he went through a mental pre-flight. He’d find the closest airstrip to Alex’s place large enough to handle his P51 and head out ASAP.

It was time to take the biggest leap of faith of his life.

48

The sun dippedlow on the horizon, painting the West LA skyline in hues of orange and pink. Almost exactly twenty-four hours had passed since the helicopter had lifted off from Redemption Creek, whisking Alex and her RAVEN team back to reality.

Twenty-four hours since she’d watched Jason’s figure grow smaller in the distance, their connection left frustratingly unresolved.

She descended the sweeping staircase of her family’s mansion, each step echoing in the empty two-story foyer. She’d ordered Mac, Liv, and Gabe to take a few days off, leaving her alone with her thoughts in the sprawling estate perched above RAVEN headquarters.

The iced tea in her hand clinked softly, condensation beading on the glass and cooling her palm. Instead of lingering in the opulent living room, she made her way to the hidden elevator that would take her down to RAVEN’s subterranean command center.

Seconds later, she stepped into the cavernous space, the usual hum of computers and chatter of operatives eerily absent. Her footsteps echoed off the polished concrete floors, the sound only amplifying the emptiness.

She paused at the workstation Jason had commandeered, her fingers trailing along the edge of his desk.

“Lord, give me strength,” she murmured, her voice barely audible over the soft whir of idling servers.

The thought of never seeing him again hurt more than she would have imagined, given that she’d been ready to deck him when they met. How had he wormed his way into her heart so quickly? And more importantly, how was she supposed to go on without him now?

Alex snorted, shaking her head. “Get it together, girl. You can’t exactly call him up and say ‘Oops, changed my mind!’”

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