Page 49 of The Fixer

Jake led the way, his weapon raised as they approached the warehouse. The team fanned out, moving with practiced precision. The faint sound of voices drifted through the open loading dock, followed by the distinct clink of metal crates being shifted.

Inside, the warehouse was dimly lit, the air filled with the scent of oil and rust. Jake signaled for Reyna to cover the left flank as he moved Lyndsey into a sheltered position behind several crates where she’d be protected. His heart pounded as he moved toward the center where a group of men were clustered around a table, their focus on the documents and devices spread out before them.

One of the men looked up, his eyes widening in alarm. “We’ve got company!”

The room erupted into chaos. Gunfire echoed off the metal walls as Lang’s men scrambled to defend their position. Jakefired two shots, taking out one of the guards before retreating back to Lyndsey’s position and ducking behind the crate. Lyndsey squatted beside him, her laptop clutched tightly.

“Stay here,” he ordered, his voice a low growl. “Do not move until I say.”

She nodded, her eyes locked on his. “Be careful.”

Jake didn’t respond, already moving to cover Daniels, who was engaged in a firefight near the table. Reyna’s rifle cracked from her position on the mezzanine, her shots precise and devastating.

Within minutes, the fight was over. Lang’s men were either down or restrained, and the warehouse fell into an uneasy silence. Jake holstered his weapon, his eyes scanning for Lyndsey.

“Over here,” she called, her voice steady but urgent.

Jake crossed the room to find her at the table, her laptop connected to one of the devices Lang’s men had been working with. Her fingers flew over the keyboard as she analyzed the data.

“It’s my work,” she said, her voice tight with anger. “They’ve taken my nanobot protocols and adapted them. If this had been sold...”

“It won’t be,” Jake said firmly. “We’ve got it now.”

Daniels approached, his expression grim. “We’ve got their people, and we’ll find out who they were dealing with. But Lang wasn’t here.”

“He never is,” Jake muttered, his jaw tightening. “But this is a blow. We’ll use what we’ve got to track him down.”

Lyndsey stood, becoming more resolute as she met Jake’s gaze. “We have to stop him, Jake. Not just for me, but for everyone he’s hurt.”

Jake reached out, his hand brushing hers. “We will. I promise.”

As they moved to exit the warehouse, a faint beeping sound caught Jake’s attention. His eyes narrowed, his instincts flaring. “Everyone out! Now!”

The team barely made it to safety before an explosion rocked the warehouse, sending a plume of fire and smoke into the night sky. Jake pulled Lyndsey close, shielding her with his body as debris rained down around them.

When the chaos settled, Jake looked down at her, his heart pounding. “You okay?”

She nodded, her face pale but determined. “I’m fine. But Lang won’t stop, will he?”

“No,” Jake said, his voice grim. “But neither will we.”

The drive back to Cerberus was tense, the ops’ success tempered by the knowledge that Lang was still out there. Jake’s knuckles gripped the steering wheel as the black SUV cut through the dark streets. Beside him, Lyndsey sat quietly, her laptop balanced on her knees as she reviewed the data they’d recovered.

In the back seat, Reyna reloaded her rifle, her sharp eyes scanning their surroundings through the tinted window. “I don’t like this,” she muttered. “Feels too quiet.”

“It always does,” Jake replied, his tone grim. He cast a quick glance at the rearview mirror, checking for tails. “Stay sharp.”

Lyndsey looked up from her laptop, her eyes meeting Jake’s. “You think Lang’s men will come after us?”

Jake’s jaw tightened. “They don’t know when to quit. If they got wind of the raid, they’ll want to cut their losses.”

As if on cue, headlights appeared behind them, the vehicle accelerating aggressively. Jake’s eyes flicked to the mirror, his instincts flaring. “We’ve got company.”

Reyna turned, her rifle already in hand. “SUV, tinted windows, no plates. Definitely not friendly.”

Lyndsey looked to Jake. “What do we do?”

Jake’s voice was calm, steady. “You stay down and out of sight. Reyna and I will handle this.”

---