Page 9 of The Fixer

“No.” His voice was clipped, his movements swift as he unlocked the SUV and opened the back door. “We need to leave. Now.”

Lyndsey straightened, her frown deepening. “What? Why? What’s going on?”

“No time,” Jake said, his tone leaving no room for debate. “Get in.”

“But my things...”

“Forget the damn things!” Jake snapped, grabbing her by the arm. “They’re here.”

Her eyes widened, fear flashing across her face. “Who’s here?”

“Whoever’s trying to kill you.” He practically lifted her into the back of the SUV, ignoring her startled, yelp. Grabbing a heavy blanket from the cargo area, he threw it over her. “Stay down. Don’t argue.”

“Jake, I can’t just...”

“You can and you will,” he growled, leaning close so their eyes met. His voice softened just enough to temper the steel. “Please. Trust me.”

Lyndsey’s lips parted as if she wanted to argue, but she pressed them into a firm line instead, nodding reluctantly.

Satisfied, Jake shut the door and turned to unlatch the shed’s wide doors. The SUV’s engine roared to life as he climbed into the driver’s seat, his every sense on high alert.

The moment the shed doors were clear, he floored the accelerator. The SUV rocketed forward, bursting into the open as armed men spilled out from the cottage.

“Stay down!” he barked over the sound of gunfire. Bullets ricocheted off the SUV’s reinforced frame, the sound sharp and metallic. Jake swerved hard, the tires kicking up gravel as he veered onto the narrow drive leading to the main road.

Ahead, a black SUV blocked the driveway’s entrance. Jake cursed under his breath as a man stepped out, raising a rifle. Without hesitation, Jake drew his Glock, firing through his openwindow. The man dropped, his weapon clattering to the ground. Jake’s next two shots took out the vehicle’s tires.

The blocking SUV sagged to one side, its tires hissing as air escaped. Jake didn’t wait to see if anyone else was inside. He slammed his foot on the gas, barreling past the disabled vehicle and onto the main road.

In the backseat, Lyndsey shifted under the blanket. “Jake, what the hell is happening?”

He glanced at her through the rearview mirror, his jaw tight. “In case you missed it, they’re trying to kill you.”

“Whoarethey?” she asked, her voice trembling.

“Doesn’t matter right now,” Jake said. He tapped a button on the dashboard, activating the Cerberus secure line. “This is Sands. We’re compromised. I need immediate extraction.”

A calm voice responded, “Acknowledged, Sands. Proceed to the private dock at coordinates I’m sending now. A floatplane will be waiting to take you across the lake to a safe house on the Canadian side.”

“Got it.” Jake ended the call and glanced back at Lyndsey.

“A floatplane?” she repeated, her eyes wide. “This just keeps getting better.”

Jake couldn’t help the faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “You said you were going stir-crazy; I just thought I’d liven things up.”

“Not funny. This isn’t what I had in mind,” she shot back, her voice sharp but tinged with nervous energy.

Despite his concern, Jake felt a flicker of admiration. Even under fire—literally—she didn’t back down. It only made his resolve stronger: he was going to get her out of this alive.

The SUV roared down the winding road, the lake shimmering faintly in the distance. The danger wasn’t over, but for now, they had a plan. Jake’s grip tightened on the wheel. He wasn’t about to let anyone take that away.

The SUV’s headlights cut through the dense forest as Jake maneuvered the vehicle down the narrow dirt road. The strain between them was palpable, the only sounds were the crunch of gravel under the tires and the faint hum of the engine. Lyndsey sat silently in the passenger seat now, her hands gripping her seatbelt as she stared straight ahead.

They’d driven most of the day with Jake alternating between back roads and the main highway to ensure they weren’t being followed.

“There,” Jake said, his voice low, nodding ahead. A faint glow of light marked the edge of the secluded dock. The plane was already waiting, its floats gently bobbing on the calm waters of Lake Huron. A single figure stood near the small pier, waving them forward.

Jake pulled to a stop a few yards from the dock, scanning the area with sharp eyes. Satisfied, he gestured for Lyndsey to follow. “Stay close.”

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