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“And bought us targets on our backs,” Mason added, his eyes narrowing.
A glimmer of hope sparked in his chest. Maybe they could understand after all.
“I know,” he said softly. “My career took a different turn. When my unit folded into the Consortium a couple years in, it was too late to get out. I did my best to lay low and disseminate what intel I could.”
He paused, his heart racing as he prepared to lay his cards on the table. “Now it’s finally my chance to get out.” The words felt like a confession, years of loneliness and fear behind them. “I can help you locate Jason, and blow apart the Consortium’s next big attack at the same time. Then you help me disappear.”
Paige’s eyes met his, a storm of emotions swirling in their depths. Doubt, curiosity, and something else he couldn’t quite name. She exchanged glances with her teammates, a silent conversation passing between them. Cody held his breath, acutely aware of how much hinged on their decision.
“We’re not totally buying your story,” Paige said finally, her voice cool. “Not yet. But we’ll listen.”
Relief washed over him, as refreshing as a mountain breeze. It wasn’t trust, not by a long shot, but it was an opening. A chance to prove himself, to maybe find a place where he belonged after so long alone.
Cody took a deep breath, steeling himself for the revelation he was about to make. Yaers of secrecy pressed down on him, making the air in the room feel thick and heavy.
Bridger leaned forward, his posture all business. “If you’re going to work with us, that chip has to be defeated. Tai’s got an idea.”
All eyes turned to the dark-haired man. “We can’t remove it, but we can knock it out.”
Cody didn’t like the sound of that. “What are you thinking?”
“Taser blast.”
The words sent a chill down his spine. He’d heard horror stories of men who’d run from the Consortium, and ended up dead when they tried to remove their trackers. He swallowed hard, his mouth suddenly dry. But Kaholo’s idea made a certain crazy kind of sense. He considered what little he knew about the trackers.
“Could work,” he agreed reluctantly. “But it’s not exactly foolproof. Not like there’s a choice. I’m going to have to risk it.”
Mason’s eyes lit up with a predatory gleam that made Cody’s hair stand on end. Never breaking eye contact, the man unholstered the weapon at his side.
A military-grade stun gun.
“I’ll be excited to ‘help’ with that,” Mason said, his voice dripping with an enthusiasm that sent a shiver down Cody’s spine.
Bridger raised a hand, silencing Mason with a look. The tension in the room ratcheted up a notch, like a rubber band stretched to its limits.
“Paige gets to decide about the chip,” Bridger said, his tone brooking no argument.
All eyes turned to Paige. Cody felt his heart hammering against his ribs, each beat echoing in his ears. The clock on the mantle ticked away the seconds, each one feeling like an eternity.
Paige’s gaze locked onto Cody, her eyes searching his face. He met her stare, willing her to see the sincerity in his eyes, the desperation in his plea. The air between them crackled with unspoken tension.
Paige’s lips curved into a small, grim smile. “Go for it.”
11
Paige’s heartraced as she stood in Mason’s safe house, her fingers drumming an anxious rhythm against her thigh. The room was dimly lit, shadows dancing on the walls as the team huddled around a makeshift workbench. The scent of gun oil and leather mingled with the faint trace of fear-induced sweat, creating an atmosphere thick with tension.
Tai and Bridger’s voices faded into background noise as they discussed voltages and technical details. Their words floated around her, technical jargon blending into a low hum, but one phrase cut through her distraction: cardiac arrest.
“Looks like 50,000 volts should fry the chip,” Tai muttered, his brow furrowed in concentration. “But we’re walking a fine line here.”
Bridger nodded, his voice grave. “Any higher could stop his heart. We can’t risk it.”
She glanced at Cody, who waited, determination and fear in his eyes. The sight sent a confusing swirl of emotions through her—concern, admiration, and a lingering distrust that she couldn’t quite shake. What if they miscalculated? What if this killed him?
“Not gonna be fun,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
“I’m aware.” Cody caught her gaze, offering a small, reassuring smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “It’s okay, Paige. I’m ready for this. The chip’s the only thing at risk here.”
