Page 61 of The Fixer

As the team regrouped outside the hangar, Lyndsey’s voice came through the comms, a mix of relief and urgency. “You did it. But you need to get out of there now. The SUVs are regrouping.”

Jake glanced at Reyna and Daniels, who nodded in unison. “Let’s move,” he said, his voice firm.

As they disappeared into the night, Jake was aware that Lang’s network might be shattered, but the fallout would be long and dangerous. It didn’t matter, the one thing he knew for certain: he’d do whatever it took to keep Lyndsey safe… even if it meant risking everything.

CHAPTER TWENTY

LYNDSEY

The late afternoon sunlight filtered through the expansive windows of Cerberus headquarters, casting long streaks of gold across the polished floors. Lyndsey sat in one of the common areas, her laptop open in front of her and a steaming cup of coffee within reach. Despite the calm that had settled over the city, her mind buzzed with the weight of unfinished work. Lang was in custody, his criminal empire dismantled, but the fallout of his actions still loomed large. Some of her research, warped and weaponized, had slipped through their fingers and into the black market.

Her fingers paused over the keyboard as she stared at the complex algorithms on the screen. Her nanobot technology, once envisioned as a beacon of hope, had become a double-edged sword. She was now working on a way to create countermeasures—an antidote to the damage already done.

“You’re going to give yourself a headache if you keep staring at that thing,” Jake’s voice came from behind her, warm and familiar.

Lyndsey turned, a soft smile curving her lips as she met his gaze. He leaned against the doorway, his broad frame outlinedby the morning light. “Hello to you, too,” she said, her tone teasing.

Jake walked over, placing a hand on the back of her chair as he peered at the screen. “Still working on dismantling Lang’s mess?”

“Trying to,” she admitted, leaning back slightly. “It’s like trying to unring a bell, but I have to try. If I can create a failsafe to neutralize the nanobots, maybe we can mitigate some of the damage.”

Jake’s brow furrowed, his eyes locking onto hers. “You’ve already done more than anyone else could. Don’t forget that.”

“It doesn’t feel like enough,” she said softly. “Not when I know what’s out there.”

He crouched beside her chair, taking her hand in his. “Lyndsey, you’ve already taken down Lang and stopped his operation from spreading further. You’re fighting to make things right, and that’s more than anyone could ask for.”

Her chest tightened at the sincerity in his voice, and she nodded. “Thanks. I just… I need to fix this. For me. For the people who could be hurt by it.”

Jake’s thumb brushed over her knuckles, grounding her. “And you will. But don’t forget to take care of yourself in the process. You’re no good to anyone if you burn out.”

Lyndsey smiled faintly. “I’ll try. No promises.”

Jake grinned, his expression softening. “That’s my girl.”

They stayed like that for a couple of hours—Jake finishing some paperwork and Lyndsey trying to figure out how to undo what had been done before deciding out how she wanted to proceed. A quiet intimacy wrapped around them like a cocoon. Lyndsey was the first to break the silence, her tone lighter now. “I’ve been spending some time with Reyna and Samantha.”

Jake’s brow arched. “Should I be worried?”

She laughed, the sound easing some of the tension in her shoulders. “No, but it’s been… enlightening. Reyna’s sharp, but there’s a softness under all that steel. And Samantha… she’s so confident in who she is. It’s inspiring.”

Jake tilted his head, studying her. “You’ve been doing some thinking.”

“A lot of thinking,” she admitted. She hesitated, her fingers tightening slightly around his. “Jake, I want to try something.”

His expression didn’t waver, though curiosity flickered in his eyes. “What is it?”

“A scene,” she said, her voice steady despite the flutter of nerves in her chest. “I want to do a Shibari session with you.”

Jake blinked, clearly caught off guard, but his surprise quickly gave way to a slow, warm smile. “You’ve been doing more than just thinking,” he said, his tone teasing but laced with approval.

Lyndsey felt her cheeks flush, but she held his gaze. “I’ve been curious. Watching Reyna and hearing Samantha talk about her experiences… it made me realize there’s a lot I don’t know. But I trust you, Jake. And I think it’s something I’d like to explore.”

His hand tightened around hers, his voice softening. “Lyndsey, Shibari is about more than the ropes. It’s about trust, connection, and surrender. Are you sure you’re ready for that?”

She nodded, her green eyes steady despite the nervous flutter in her stomach. “I’m ready. I want to experience that connection with you.”

Jake’s expression shifted, the teasing edge fading as he studied her. “If we do this, we do it right. I’ll walk you through every step, and if you have even the slightest doubt or discomfort, you say the word. Understood?”

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