Page 7 of The Fixer

“Maybe they already have part of it,” Jake said, his tone grim. “Or maybe they don’t want it out there at all. Maybe they would rather not have something like your nanobots even exist. Or maybe they think they can snatch what you have and have someone else finish it.”

“Someone else?” Lyndsey set her mug on the table, her hands trembling. “Do you have any idea how complicated this work is? It’s not just something anyone can pick up and replicate.”

Jake stepped closer, his gaze never leaving hers. “Exactly. Which means they see you as a threat. A loose end.”

The impact of his words settled over her, and she looked away, her mind racing. “I just don’t understand who would go to these lengths. My research could save lives. I didn’t design it to be used as a weapon. It’s...”

“Itcouldbe,” Jake interrupted. “In the wrong hands, it could be turned into something else. Something dangerous.”

She met his gaze again, her throat tightening. “You really think they’ll keep coming, don’t you?”

Jake nodded. “Until we stop them. Yes.”

The certainty in his voice should have scared her. Instead, it made her feel strangely safe. “You sound so sure of yourself.”

“It’s my job to be sure,” Jake said, his voice softer now. “If I hesitate, people die.”

Lyndsey exhaled, her shoulders sagging. “And you don’t hesitate.”

“Never.”

The way he said it, his quiet confidence, was inspiring and comforting at the same time. She studied him, the strong lines of his face, the intensity in his eyes. There was something about Jake Sands that felt unshakable, immovable. And despite her frustration, she couldn’t help but feel drawn to him.

“Thank you,” she said quietly.

“For what?”

“For not letting me brush you off,” she admitted. “I didn’t want to admit I needed help, but... I don’t know what would’ve happened if you hadn’t been there.”

Jake’s gaze softened slightly, and for the first time, she thought she saw a hint of something beneath the fierce protector. “You’re welcome,” he said simply.

The silence stretched between them, heavy but not uncomfortable. Lyndsey could feel the energy in the room shift, charged with something she couldn’t quite name. She wanted to step back, to put distance between them, but she couldn’t make herself move.

“Lyndsey,” Jake said, his voice low, almost a warning.

She swallowed hard, her pulse racing. “What?”

He took another step closer, his presence overwhelming. “You need to know something.”

“What?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

“I take what I do seriously, personally. But somehow, this time,” he said, his eyes boring into hers. “It’s different.”

Her breath caught, her heart pounding so loudly she was sure he could hear it. “How so?”

He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he reached out, his fingers brushing a strand of hair from her face. The touch was light, fleeting, but it sent a jolt of electricity through her. “I’m not sure. You know I’m involved in the lifestyle. I got involved initially because it gave me control when I most needed it, and then it evolved to allows me to serve the sub I’m working with.Normally that’s how I approach a close cover job—I’m serving the need of the one in danger—but this just feels different.”

Lyndsey didn’t know what to say. The air between them felt almost suffocating, and she couldn’t look away from him. Part of her wanted to close the distance between them, to find out what it would feel like to let go for once. But another part, the part that always kept her grounded, screamed at her to pull back.

Before she could decide, Jake broke the stillness and stepped away, his jaw tight. “Get some rest. I’ll keep watch.”

The moment was gone, and Lyndsey felt its absence like a physical ache. She nodded, turning back to the window, her thoughts a jumble of fear, desire, and something she wasn’t ready to name.

“Goodnight, Jake,” she said softly.

“Goodnight, Lyndsey.” His voice was steady, but she didn’t miss the edge in it.

As he left the room, Lyndsey closed her eyes and leaned her forehead against the cool glass. The danger outside the cottage was real, but it was nothing compared to the danger brewing inside her.

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