Page 36 of The Fixer

“Here we go,” he muttered, raising his weapon.

Gunfire erupted, shattering the stillness of the morning as the chase began. The roar of engines filled the air, mingling with the sharp crack of bullets. Jake kept his Glock steady, leaning slightly out of the open passenger window as he scanned behind them. Flashes of muzzle fire lit up the forest like fleeting sparks, and every instinct in his body screamed to stay sharp, stay alive.

Beside him, Lyndsey gripped the wheel tightly, as she maneuvered the SUV along the narrow dirt road. Jake could see the set of her jaw, the determination in her eyes as she pushed forward, keeping her focus on the road despite the chaos erupting around them. She was scared—hell, they all were—but she was holding it together.

“Stay steady,” Jake barked, his voice cutting through the deafening noise. He aimed at one of the pursuing vehicles, firing off a shot that shattered a headlight. “You’re doing fine.”

In the backseat, Reyna worked with practiced efficiency, her rifle poised as she fired through the open window. “Got one of them,” she called, her tone sharp and focused. “Two more closing in. Doc, keep this thing moving!”

Lyndsey didn’t respond, but her actions spoke louder than words. The SUV barreled through the forest, weaving through the trees with a precision Jake hadn’t expected. They were in this together—the three of them—and somehow, she was holding her own.

They weren’t out of danger yet. Not even close. Jake’s gaze flicked to the side mirror, catching the glint of another vehicle headed their way. Their attackers weren’t giving up. If anything, they were closing the gap.

“Lyndsey, sharp turn ahead,” Jake warned, his voice steady despite the adrenaline pumping through his veins. “On my mark.”

He watched her nod, her eyes darting to the path ahead. She trusted him—trusted him to guide her through this, to keep them alive. It was a trust he didn’t take lightly, and he wasn’t about to let her down.

“Now!” Jake shouted, bracing himself as Lyndsey yanked the wheel to the left. The SUV skidded, the tires kicking up dirt and gravel as they veered onto a narrower, rockier path. The sudden turn sent one of their pursuers into a tree with a sickening crunch, but the others adjusted quickly, bouncing through the dense forest as they pressed on.

“Nice move,” Jake muttered, glancing at Lyndsey. Her jaw was clenched, her eyes locked on the road ahead, but he caught the faintest flicker of a smile.

The chase was far from over, but for the first time in the chaos, Jake felt something more than the pounding of his pulse or the sharp edge of danger. They were a strong team. And as long as they kept moving, he was damn sure they’d make it out alive.

CHAPTER TWELVE

JAKE

The morning sun was fully above the horizon by the time the SUV’s tires hit the smooth asphalt of the main road. Jake cast one last glance in the side mirror, scanning for any sign of pursuit. The forest loomed behind them, dense and foreboding, but the vehicles that had been tailing them were nowhere to be seen.

“I think we lost them,” he said, his voice steady despite the adrenaline still coursing through his veins. “For now.”

From the driver’s seat, Lyndsey exhaled, her grip on the wheel loosening slightly. Her eyes stayed fixed on the road ahead, but her knuckles were still white. She’d driven like a pro back there, navigating the chaos like someone who’d been doing this for years, not a scientist thrown into a nightmare.

“You did good,” he said, glancing at her. “Better than good.”

Lyndsey’s lips twitched into a faint smile, but she didn’t look at him. “Thanks. I think I might’ve just used up all my courage for the day.”

“You’ve got more in reserve,” Jake replied, his tone softer. “I can tell.”

Reyna snorted from the backseat, breaking the moment. “Look at you, handing out compliments like candy. Who knew Jake Sands had a softer side?”

Jake shot her a look in the rearview mirror. “Keep talking, Reyna, and I’ll let you walk to Chicago.”

Reyna barked a laugh but didn’t push further, turning her attention to reloading her rifle instead.

Jake reached for the encrypted satellite phone clipped to his belt and dialed Cerberus headquarters. The call connected after a single ring. “This is Sands,” he said, his tone shifting into the no-nonsense cadence of a field operative. “We’ve lost our immediate tail, but it won’t be long before they’re back on us. I need a new rendezvous point for extraction.”

Kingston Coltraine’s deep voice came through the line, calm and authoritative. “Understood. We’ve got a secure location prepared. You’ll rendezvous with a chopper in an open field about twenty miles south of your position. Coordinates are being sent now.”

Jake glanced at the dashboard as the GPS lit up with the incoming data. “Got it. But, King, we’ve burned through several safe houses already. If this one doesn’t hold, I’m taking Lyndsey off-grid. No comms, no contact, until I know she’s out of Lang’s reach.”

There was a pause on the other end, and when King spoke again, his voice was firm. “Understood, but that won’t be necessary. This next location is locked down tight. You have my word.”

“You’ll forgive me if that doesn’t mean as much as it used to,” Jake said, his tone edged with frustration.

King didn’t take the bait. “You’ve got the best team we can spare on this, Sands. Focus on getting her to the chopper.”

Jake ended the call without another word, sliding the phone back onto his belt. He glanced at Lyndsey, who had beenlistening silently, her expression a mix of apprehension and steely focus.

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