Page 93 of Final Sins

She nodded, her face pale but composed. Before she could respond, the first explosion rocked the ground beneath them.

Jason instantly pulled Alex into his arms, covering her head and shielding her body with his. He held her tight as five more explosions followed in quick succession. The blasts were muffled, contained within the basement headquarters, but their power was undeniable.

The ground shook with each detonation. Windows shattered, blowing glass out onto the grounds. Muted concussive waves rippled through the air. Thick, acrid smoke billowed out of the open front door and the now-broken windows, carrying debris and ash into the bright sky.

As the last echoes faded, Jason released his protective hold on Alex. She looked up, her eyes wide with shock as she took in the devastation.

“I’m so sorry about your house,” he said softly, his heart aching for her loss.

For the betrayal.

Alex swallowed hard, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’ll ... I’ll worry about that later. At least no one was hurt.”

Before Jason could respond, officers emerged from around the back of the vehicle with guns drawn.

“On the ground! Now!” an officer shouted, his weapon trained on them.

“Do it,” Jason told Alex calmly, already lowering himself to the pavement.

They lay flat on the ground, hands spread wide, as the chaos of the aftermath swirled around them. The air filled with shouted orders, radio chatter, and the continued wail of approaching emergency vehicles. Through it all, Jason kept his eyes on Alex, silently promising that somehow, they’d get through this together.

And then, he’d say what he’d come to say.

51

Six hours later,Alex stumbled out of the police interrogation room. The harsh fluorescent lights of the corridor made her wince, a dull throb pulsing behind her eyes. The relentless questioning had left her wrung out.

Gabriel’s face, distorted in fury, flashed in her mind. Her stomach twisted. How had she missed the hatred simmering beneath his sweet facade all these years?

The betrayal hurt worse than the lingering effects of whatever drug he’d used on her.

She patted her empty pockets, reality sinking in. No purse. No phone. No way home. “Fantastic.”

Just as despair threatened to overwhelm her, two familiar figures rounded the corner.

“Alex!” Liv and Mac cried in unison, rushing forward to envelope her in a tangle of arms and worried exclamations.

Liv pulled back, her mascara smudged. “We were so worried!”

“Are you okay?” Mac studied her from head to toe.

Alex managed a weak smile, deeply thankful for their concern. “I’ve been better. Where’s Jason? Is he still being questioned?”

Liv’s eyes sparkled. “Oh honey, he’s waiting outside. Once Paige and Cody showed up and explained Jason’s background … or at least the fit-for-civilians version, the cops were falling over themselves to shake his hand.”

“Come on.” Mac linked his arm through hers. “Let’s get you out of here.”

The night air hit her like a slap to the face as they exited the station. The temperature had dropped twenty degrees since she’d been marched inside. Her eyes immediately found Jason, standing beneath a streetlight like some noir film hero. He was deep in conversation with his teammates, but the moment he spotted her, he left them and bounded up the stairs two at a time, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close before she could utter a word.

She melted into his embrace, inhaling his comforting scent of soap and pure, honest male.

He murmured against her hair. “You okay?”

She nodded, not trusting her voice. As if by silent agreement, their friends faded into the shadows, leaving them alone in their little pool of light. She shivered.

The summer evening was cooler than usual. Or was she simply wiped out? Jason pushed her gently away, whipping off his jacket and settling it over her shoulders.

Nothing could have felt so good.

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