Page 30 of The Fixer

Jake’s jaw tightened, his hand resting on the back of the chair as he looked at the screen. “Marcus Vance. Lyndsey’s mentor and former romantic partner. What are they saying about him?”

“They’re painting him as the mastermind,” Lyndsey said, her voice shaking. “That he’s been funding the research from the shadows, pulling the strings. That everything I’ve done... it wasn’t mine to begin with.”

“That’s bull,” Reyna said, her tone sharp. “I’ve seen your work, Doc. Some of this has your fingerprints all over it.”

“But people will believe it,” Lyndsey said, her hands balling into fists. “The dark web isn’t just some conspiracy theorist hangout. It’s where information brokers, mercenaries, and black-market dealers get their intel. If this spreads, my reputation, my career—everything I’ve worked for—it’ll be destroyed.”

Jake knelt beside her, his presence grounding. “You know the truth. You built this from the ground up. No one can take that away from you.”

Lyndsey looked at him, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “But what if Marcus is involved? What if he’s been working against me this whole time?” Her voice cracked. “He was my mentor, Jake. He believed in me when no one else did.”

Jake’s jaw clenched, his voice low and firm. “If he’s turned on you, we’ll deal with it. But right now, you need to focus. This isn’t about your reputation—it’s about stopping them from using your research to hurt people.”

Lyndsey’s gaze dropped to her hands, her fingers trembling. “It’s not just about the research. It’s about who I am. If they convince the world I’m a fraud...” She trailed off, shaking her head. “I can’t let them win.”

Reyna stood, tossing the knife onto the coffee table with a clatter. “You won’t. We won’t let them. But you need tokeep your head in the game, Doc. These people thrive on manipulation. They’re trying to rattle you.”

“And it’s working,” Lyndsey admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Jake reached out, his hand brushing hers. The touch was brief but firm, a silent promise. “They can’t erase the truth, Lyndsey. We won’t let them.”

Lyndsey looked up at him, her resolve hardening. “You’re right. If they want to paint me as a fraud, I’ll show them just how wrong they are. But first, we need to find out who’s behind this and why.”

Jake nodded, his gaze steady. “Then let’s start with Marcus. If his name’s attached to this, we need to figure out how deep he’s in.”

Reyna grabbed her laptop from the counter, flipping it open as she settled back into her chair. “Already on it. Let’s see if our dear Dr. Vance has been making friends in all the wrong places.”

As Reyna began typing, Lyndsey turned back to Jake. “What if we find out he’s really part of this?”

“Then he’s no longer your mentor,” Jake said bluntly. “He’s the enemy.”

As they worked, the stress in the cabin finally began to ease. Reyna stretched dramatically and tossed her laptop onto the couch. “I’m calling it a night. Try not to burn the place down while I’m asleep,” she said with a wink, her tone teasing.

Lyndsey glanced at her, forcing a smile. “Goodnight, Reyna.”

“Night, Doc. Jake.” Reyna gave a mock salute before disappearing into one of the bedrooms, the sound of the door clicking shut leaving an almost tangible quiet in her wake.

Several more hours passed before Lyndsey got up from the table and sank into the couch, her fingers rubbing her temples. The glow from the dying fire bathed the room in warm, flickering light, casting shadows across Jake’s sharp features as he leanedagainst the wall, arms crossed. His ever-present intensity seemed softer in the dim light, but his watchfulness remained.

“You should get some rest, too,” he said, his voice low and steady.

“I can’t,” Lyndsey admitted, her voice softer than she intended. “Not with everything going on. Every time I close my eyes, I see those people... the auction... my research being twisted into something I never wanted.”

Jake moved closer, his heavy boots silent on the wooden floor. He squatted beside her, resting his forearms on his knees. “You did good today. You held your own.”

“Did I?” she asked, her voice tinged with doubt. “Because it feels like I’m barely holding on.”

Jake’s eyes locked onto hers, their intensity piercing but comforting. “You’re stronger than you think, Lyndsey. I see it every time you stand up to me, every time you refuse to back down. You’ve been thrown into a world you weren’t prepared for, but you’re still here. That says a hell of a lot.”

Her breath hitched, his words hitting deeper than she expected. She looked away, her gaze falling to the floor. “Sometimes I wonder if I’m in over my head.”

“You’re not,” Jake said firmly. His hand reached out, hesitating for just a moment before brushing against hers. The touch was light but electrifying, and Lyndsey’s heart skipped a beat. “You just need to trust yourself.”

Lyndsey turned back to him, her eyes meeting his. The space between them felt impossibly small. “You make it sound so easy.”

“It’s not,” he admitted, his voice dropping to a rough whisper. “But you’re not alone in this.”

Before he could say more, the door to the bedroom where Reyna was sleeping opened and Reyna walked in. “I must still be on London time. Got some good sleep, and then my eyes openedwide, and my brain kicked in. I’ll go out on the porch to stretch, and then I’ll send what we have to Cerberus. Why don’t you two try and get some rest.”

---