Page 35 of The Fixer

From the backseat, Reyna laughed softly. “Listen to him, Doc. That’s the closest thing to a compliment you’ll get out of Jake Sands.”

“Shut up, Reyna,” Jake muttered, though there was no real heat in his voice.

Lyndsey’s lips twitched into a faint smile, but she didn’t ease up on the wheel. Jake admired her focus. The road ahead wound through the trees, which seemed to be closing in like soldiers from either side. Every shadow could be a threat, every curve a potential ambush.

“Take the next left,” Jake instructed. “We’ll follow the road that heads off into the woods. Reyna mentioned a hunting cabin we can use. Cerberus has used it as a secondary safe house. It’s remote enough to give us some breathing room.”

Lyndsey nodded, her hands steady as she turned onto the narrow dirt road. The SUV bumped along the uneven ground, the dense forest swallowing them whole. Jake kept his Glock within easy reach, his eyes scanning the darkness for any signs of movement.

After several tense minutes, the cabin came into view. It was small, almost invisible under the dense canopy of trees, but it was the kind of place Jake preferred—unassuming, out of the way, and easy to defend.

“Lyndsey, circle round the cabin. If there’s a back door, park by it.”

Lyndsey came to a halt right outside the door. Jake and Reyna exited the vehicle first, sweeping the area while Lyndsey waited in the SUV. When they returned, Jake opened her door and extended a hand. “All clear. Let’s get inside the cabin.”

Lyndsey stepped out, clutching her laptop bag like it was a lifeline. Jake’s hand brushed her arm as he guided her toward the cabin, and the brief contact sent a jolt through him. He’d felt that spark before, but here, in the stillness of the woods, it felt sharper, more real.

Reyna was already setting up inside, pulling out equipment and connecting her laptop to a portable power source. “This place is a dump,” she muttered. “But it’ll do for now.”

Jake chuckled softly as he locked the door behind them. “Welcome to the glamorous life of black ops.”

Lyndsey settled into one of the chairs, setting up her laptop, her fingers immediately flying over the keys. “I’ll start combing through what we have. Maybe there’s something we missed.”

Jake knelt beside her, his gaze fixed on her face. “Take a breath first.”

She glanced at him, her eyes flashing. “There’s no time for that.”

“You’ll think clearer if you do,” he countered. “Five minutes, Lyndsey. Then we dive back in.”

She hesitated but finally leaned back in the chair, exhaling slowly. Her eyes met his, and the energy between them shifted.

“Jake…” she began, her voice softer now. “Do you wonder if we’re in over our heads?”

“All the time,” he admitted. “But it doesn’t stop me from doing what needs to be done. And it won’t stop you, either.”

Her lips curved into a faint smile. “You really think I can do this?”

Jake’s expression softened. “You’re already doing it.”

Reyna’s voice broke the moment. “Hate to interrupt your bonding session, but we’ve got a problem.” She turned her laptop toward them, the screen displaying a live feed of shadows moving through the trees. “Looks like someone managed to follow us.”

Lyndsey’s stomach dropped. “How many?”

“Enough to make this interesting,” Reyna said, her tone grim. “And that’s not all—it looks like Lang is still involved.”

Jake straightened, his hand going to his weapon. “We’re not staying here. Lyndsey, grab your gear. Reyna, pack up the essentials. We’re moving.”

As Lyndsey scrambled to collect her things, Jake’s mind raced. Whoever had found them wasn’t here by accident. This was calculated, deliberate. And it meant they were running out of time.

They piled into the SUV, Lyndsey sliding into the driver’s seat. Reyna started to protest, but Jake cut her off. “She did fine before. She’s driving. You and I need to focus on covering our backs.”

Reyna raised an eyebrow but didn’t argue, taking the backseat and readying her weapon. Jake settled into the passenger seat, his Glock already in his hand.

“Lyndsey,” he said, his voice calm but firm. “Follow the route I showed you on the map. It’s programmed into the nav system. Stay steady, and don’t panic.”

She nodded, her grip on the wheel tightening. “Got it.”

The SUV roared to life, tearing down the dirt road as shadows emerged from the tree line behind them. Jake rolled down his window, his eyes narrowing as he spotted the vehicles in pursuit.

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