Page 29 of The Fixer

“But it’s not just Lang,” Lyndsey said, her voice tight. “Look at these names—aren’t those the people you saw at the auction?”

“Shit,” snarled Jake. “Sergei Ivanov, Amal Rahimi, and a few others—these aren’t just individuals. They represent entire networks. Weapons, hostile nations, terrorist cells...”

Reyna let out a low whistle. “Quite the guest list. No wonder security was so tight.”

Lyndsey turned to face them, her eyes sharp. “This isn’t just about my research. It’s about power. Control. They’re building a coalition, pooling resources and expertise to create something... unstoppable.”

Jake’s jaw tightened, his gaze dark. “They’re not just bidding on your technology. They’re building alliances. If they succeed...”

“They could reshape the global balance,” Lyndsey finished, her voice trembling slightly. “And not in a good way.”

Reyna crossed her arms, pacing the small room. “This isn’t just a sale. It’s the start of something bigger. These aren’t the kind of people who sit in a room and play nice unless there’s a massive payoff.”

Jake nodded. “Lang’s the linchpin. He’s the one connecting all these players. If we can cut him out of the equation...”

“It’s not that simple,” Lyndsey interjected, her voice rising. “Lang might be the connection, but he’s not the only one who knows how to use my work. If he’s eliminated, someone else will step up. Someone just as ruthless, maybe even worse.”

Jake’s gaze softened as he looked at her. “Then we make sure no one has access to your research. We shut it down, permanently.”

Lyndsey’s stomach twisted at the thought. “You don’t understand. My research isn’t just a weapon. It’s a breakthrough in regenerative medicine. It could save lives—millions of them.”

Jake hunkered down next to her, his hand resting on the edge of the table. “And how many lives could it destroy if it someone is able to complete your work with less than honorable intentions?”

The question hung in the air, substantial and unanswerable. Lyndsey dropped her gaze to her hands, her fingers clenching into fists. “I didn’t create this to hurt people,” she whispered.

“I know,” Jake said softly. “But right now, it’s not about what you intended. It’s about what they intend to do with it.”

Reyna cleared her throat, breaking the moment. “Okay, so what’s the play? We can’t sit here analyzing data forever. Lang’s not exactly the type to let this slide.”

Lyndsey glanced up, her eyes blazing. “We find out who else is involved. If we can identify key players, we can disrupt the entire operation.”

Jake stood, his expression grim but resolute. “And we take them out before they can regroup.”

Reyna grinned, her tone tinged with dark humor. “Now we’re talking.”

Lyndsey’s gaze flicked between them, her pulse quickening. This was her work, her responsibility. But as she looked at Jake, she felt a flicker of something else—trust. Despite his gruff demeanor, he was unwavering in his dedication to keeping her safe. And that made her feel stronger, braver.

“I’ll start decrypting the rest of the files,” Lyndsey said, turning back to her laptop. “If we’re going to stop them, we need everything we can get.”

Jake nodded, placing a hand on her shoulder. The weight of it was reassuring, grounding. “We’ll stop them, Lyndsey. One way or another.”

Her breath hitched at the intensity in his voice, but she didn’t look away. “I hope you’re right.”

As the room fell into a focused silence, the only sounds the tapping of keys and the occasional rustle of paper, Lyndsey felt the enormity of what they were up against. They weren’t just fighting for her research. They were fighting for something much bigger. And as long as Jake was by her side, she believed they might actually have a chance.

The glow of the screen lit up Lyndsey’s face, her expression far from calm. Jake stood a few feet away, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, his eyes fixed on her. Reyna lounged in an armchair, spinning a knife between her fingers.

“This can’t be right,” Lyndsey murmured, her voice trembling. She scanned the lines of text filling the screen. “It’s lies. It has to be lies.”

Jake pushed off the wall, stepping closer. “What is it?”

She hesitated, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. Her voice was barely above a whisper when she spoke. “I got most of what Cerberus will need, so I decided to just look at the dark web. There are rumors on there... that I’m not the real scientist behind the research. They’re saying I’m just a figurehead.”

Reyna sat up straight, her expression sharpening. “What? That’s ridiculous.”

Lyndsey’s breath hitched as she continued reading. “It gets worse. They’re claiming there are others—hidden investors, secret collaborators—who are the true owners of the technology. And...” Her voice broke as she scrolled further. “And Marcus... his name is all over this.”

“Marcus?” asked Reyna.

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