Chapter 25

Shadowing Jack went… somewhat well, if I ignored the subtle flirtatious remarks he kept slipping into every conversation. I played it off, kept my smile easy, my posture relaxed, but underneath it all my nerves felt like they were coiling tighter by the day.

We had one more week until the shipment came in—one more week until everything either broke open cleanly or blew up in my face. But I couldn’t shake the feeling creeping up my spine. Not fear. Not even dread.

An instinct. A warning. The quiet prickle I’d learned to trust long before the BAU.

Something was off. I could feel it.

Jack walked ahead off me through the church’s warehouse corridor, humming to himself, singing the keychain around one finger like we were strolling through Target rather than an illegal operation disguised as religious “purification.” His confidence was easy-too easy.

“You’re quiet today,” he called over his should. “I thought you would never shut up the last couple of days.”

“I’m thinking,” I said.

“That’s dangerous, Lucy.” He flashed a grin.

I let that one slide. “Anything I should know about the shipment next week?”

He slowed, side-eyeing me. “Why? Nervous?”

“No.” I met his gaze evenly. “I want to be prepared.”

That earned me a smirk. “Let’s head back to the compound,” he said, pushing off the wall. “Elias wanted to meet with you.”

“About what?” I asked.

Jack shrugged as we started walking. “Didn’t say. But when Elias asks for someone personally…” He gave a low whistle. “It’s either really good or really bad.”

I didn’t rise to the bait. “Which do you think it is?”

Jack glanced at me with a look that was just a shade too interested. Almost… curious.

“I think,” he said, “he’s trying to figure out where you fit in. You impressed him the other day.”

“I wasn’t trying to.”

“That’s what impressed him.”

We stepped out into the evening air, cool and heavy with the smell of dust and diesel. Jack’s truck waited where he’d left it, half-hidden behind the outbuilding. He opened the passenger door for me—unnecessarily—but I got in without comment.

As he rounded to the driver’s side, I let my gaze slide across the compound in the distance. Guards posted at the outer gate. A new camera I hadn’t seen before. A black SUV parked near the main building.

Something had changed.

The sun was getting covered by storm clouds. The drive back was quiet, which was unusual for Jack. No flirting, no jokes—just the steady rhythm of tires over gravel and Jack’s jaw set a little tighter than usual.

He finally spoke as we approached the main hall.

“Just… be yourself in there,” he said.

I raised an eyebrow. “Worried about me?”

“Worried about them.”

He parked, gave me one last look—almost like he wanted to say something else—but then the mask slipped back into place.

We headed inside.

The corridor leading to Elias’s private room was dim, lit only by the candles they used for “reflection.” Two men I didn’t recognize stood on either side of the door.

They didn’t move as Jack approached.

One simply said, “Only her. Sorry Jack.”

Jack stopped short. “Elias said—”

“Only her,” the man repeated, firmer.

Jack shot me a look—part annoyance, part… warning.

“Lucy,” he murmured, “you good?”

I gave him a calm, confident nod. “Of course.”

And then I stepped past him, into Elias’s private chamber, the door shutting behind me with a soft, final click.

The room was sparsely lit—one overhead bulb, flickering slightly, casting long shadows across the concrete floor. Elias stood in the center, hands folded behind his back, posture relaxed in a way that made the hairs on my neck lift.

“Lucy,” he greeted warmly. “I’ve been hearing very positive things about you.”

I responded with a smile.

Elias stepped closer, studying my face with a kind of surgical curiosity. “On Sunday, you spoke with conviction. Confidence. A sense of purpose.” His eyes narrowed. “But words are cheap. Anyone can pretend.”

He circled me slowly, like a predator taking his time.

“I don’t want followers who are only strong when they speak,” he murmured behind me. “I want those who can hold their ground when challenged. When threatened. When someone tries to break them.”

He stopped in front of me again. “Tell me, Lucy. Can you do that?”

I didn’t let a single muscle twitch. “Yes.”

A thin smile curved his mouth. “Good.”

He snapped his fingers.

A door at the back opened, and one of the men I’d seen guarding outside stepped in—broad, thick-shouldered, probably 6’3 and built to intimidate. His expression was blank, but his fists were already tightening.

“You know,” he said softly, “Rowan has dropped men twice your size. Men who trained for years. Men who bragged about their strength.”

Rowan stepped up, towering over me.

“But watching you—a woman half his weight—put him on the ground?”

He exhaled, almost in awe. “That was… illuminating.”

Elias’s gaze sharpened.

“Most women who come here?” He gave a dismissive wave of his hand. “They’re here for one purpose—procreation. They fold under pressure. They hide behind their fear. Even Mara, for all her posturing, is no exception.”

Mara stiffened beside him, but she said nothing. Elias didn’t even bother looking her way.

“But you…” He stepped closer, his voice dropping. “You are not built like them. You don’t break. You don’t hesitate.”

Elias led me out the back door of the compound, the rain coming down in thin, needling sheets that soaked into my clothes instantly. The ground behind the building had turned to slick mud, the kind that made each step a calculation.

Rowan and Jack was already out there—broad shoulders, arms crossed, jaw set like stone. He looked at me the way a wolf looks at something it’s already decided is prey.

Elias stepped into the center of the clearing, rain dripping off his coat, his expression serene in a way that made it more unsettling.

“This,” he announced, voice carrying over the steady hiss of rainfall, “is a test of strength, discipline, and instinct.”

His eyes moved between Rowan and me.

“Rules are simple. First one to put the other on the ground wins. No weapons. No outside interference.” His smile stretched thin. “And no excuses.”

Rowan cracked his knuckles. “She’s half my size, Elias,” he grunted. “This isn’t a test—it’s charity.”

Jack chuckled under his breath, leaning against the wall. “You’d be surprised what she can do, Rowan.”

Elias ignored him. He lifted a hand, palm up.

“Lucy,” he said, “if you fall—walk away. You’re not for us. If you win…” His gaze raked over me, assessing. “Then perhaps God has sent us something rare.”

I have to focus. I can’t let my years of training show too much.

I met Rowan’s eyes, rolled my shoulders once, grounding myself.

Elias snapped his fingers.

“Begin.”

Rowan lunged first, a heavy swing aimed to knock the air out of me. I ducked under it, the rain making my hair cling to my face, the earth sucking at my shoes as I pivoted behind him. He spun, fast for his size, grabbing for my arm.

I let him take it.

Only for him to swing his off-hand and punch me clean in the eye.

Pain exploded across my face, white and sharp. My head snapped to the side, rainwater mixing instantly with the warmth of swelling skin. A startled murmur rippled through the small crowd.

Rowan grinned—cocky, convinced he’d just ended this.

I twisted my captured arm sharply, reversing the hold and stepping into his space. He tried to adjust, but the mud slowed him by just enough. I drove my shoulder into his sternum, knocking him off balance, then swept his legs before he could recover.

He hit the ground hard, the wet thud swallowed by the storm.

For a heartbeat, the only sound was rain.

Then footsteps splashed behind me. Jack emerged from beneath the overhang, rain dripping from his lashes. His grin was slow, impressed, and far too interested.

“Well,” he drawled, eyes sweeping me head to toe, “that’s one way to make an introduction.”

Elias looked between Rowan sprawled in the mud and me standing over him, chest rising with controlled breaths. Something like approval glinted in his eyes.

“Lucy,” Elias said, voice low, “you continue to surprise. Go home get some rest for a couple of days, because you my sister… have potential.”

“Lucy,” Elias said, voice low, “you continue to surprise.”

The rain had soaked through every layer of clothing by the time I got back to the van. My eye throbbed with every heartbeat—deep, pulsing, unavoidable. A perfect reminder of what this place demanded.

The wipers dragged back and forth across the windshield as I pulled away from the compound, headlights carving through sheets of rain. My knuckles were white around the steering wheel.

Rowan’s fist replayed in my mind—not the hit itself, but the moment before it. How easily he’d gone for real damage. How quickly the others had leaned forward, not out of concern… but anticipation.

This wasn’t just a “test.”

It was a warning.

The van rattled over the muddy roads back to my trailer, rain still dripping from my coat. I held the secure phone Strauss had handed me, the screen glowing in the dark cabin.

“Y/N,” Strauss’s voice came crisp, clipped, no unnecessary emotion. “Report.”

I ran through the fight with Rowan, Jack’s behavior, Mara’s attitude, everything I’d observed at the compound. Each detail was precise, practiced—but still, I could feel the tension under my skin.

“Good,” Strauss said after a pause, her tone unreadable. “You’ve handled yourself well. That was a dangerous test, and your instincts were correct. Keep observing, blending, and surviving. This is what matters.”

“So when do I back out of this?” I asked, tension threading my voice. “They’re moving pharmaceuticals next week—doesn’t that give us enough for a grand jury?”

Strauss’s voice was cold, controlled. “Not yet. One shipment isn’t enough to dismantle the network. You’ve got to see the hierarchy, the logistics, the financiers. That’s the evidence that holds in court.”

I pressed my lips together, letting the frustration settle but keeping my voice steady. “And Jack? He’s starting to—” I cut myself off, realizing how close I was to sounding unprofessional. “Never mind.”

Strauss’s sharp exhale cut through the phone. “Focus on the mission, Y/N. Personal feelings—anything that jeopardizes your cover—stay buried. You are invisible. Collect everything, and nothing will stop the grand jury from having a case they can’t ignore.”

I nodded even though she couldn’t see me, feeling the weight of her words. “Understood.”

“Good. Keep your guard up. I’ll check in when there’s movement, but until then—blend. Survive. Report.”

I ended the call, gripping the phone for a moment longer, letting the tension roll off and back into anticipation. The stakes were higher than ever, but I had no choice. The game wasn’t over yet, and I was in too deep to back out now.

JJ’s POV

Hotch had taken on Y/N’s cases since she’d been pulled away, and it was starting to show. His usually precise demeanor was fraying at the edges—calls going unanswered, files scattered across his desk, his patience thinning.

I offered to pick up some extra hours, trying to ease the load, but the thought of Y/N being gone gnawed at me every time I looked at the empty chair she usually claimed.

Sitting at my desk, I stared at my phone, half-expecting a text from her, even though I knew better. My heart ached at the silence. Each time the phone vibrated, I jumped, only to be met with a case update or an alert. None of them were her.

I heard footsteps coming down the hallway to come into the bullpen. I turn to see who was here at this hour on a Thursday. Low and behold, Strauss.

I froze for a split second, my stomach tightening. Strauss at the BAU—at this hour—could only mean one thing. She wasn’t here for routine checks or paperwork.

“Agent Jareau,” she said, her tone clipped but not unkind. “I need to speak with you. Privately.”

I nodded, standing immediately, my mind racing. Every instinct screamed caution, but I forced myself to stay calm.

“Of course,” I replied, my voice steady despite the tension coiling in my chest. I followed her toward one of the conference rooms, my thoughts already leaping ahead— what did this have to do with?

Once inside, Strauss closed the door behind us, the click echoing ominously. She finally turned to me, her expression unreadable.

“Y/N checked in this evening,” she said, her voice low, measured. “Everything’s stable. She handled herself as expected.”

I exhaled, the tightness in my chest loosening just a fraction. “And… is she okay? I mean… is she safe?” My voice cracked slightly, betraying the worry I’d been holding back for weeks.

Strauss’s eyes softened for just a moment—almost imperceptibly. “She’s alive. She’s following protocol. That’s all I can say for now, but I know how much of a toll this has had on you.”

I nodded, trying to process the relief mixed with the frustration. Knowing she was okay, but still being unable to reach her, was almost as torturous as the uncertainty itself.

“She’ll come back,” Strauss added, almost like an afterthought. “She’s strong, JJ.”

Strauss left the conference room, probably on her way to finish up for the day.

I stood there for a moment, letting the words sink in. Strauss’s reassurance should have been enough—but it wasn’t.

Y/N POV

*Four days later*

My eye had faded from deep purple to a dull yellow-green, the kind of bruise you could pass off as clumsiness if anyone asked. No one here did. Rowan avoided looking at me, Mara watched me like a starving vulture, and Jack… Jack watched me like he was trying to solve a puzzle he hadn’t realized was missing pieces.

The shipment arrived in two days.

And tonight was the night we were supposed to prepare for it.

Whatever prepare meant in this place.

Elias and Mara have been keeping me out of the loop as to what we will do with the drugs after they arrive. Every time I asked, Mara brushed me off with a cold smile (I hate this bitch), and Elias gave one of his vague, paternal lines about “trust being earned, not given.”

I headed down the narrow stairwell to the basement—Jack and Elias had told me to meet them there. The concrete steps groaned under my weight, each footfall echoing louder the farther I descended. The air shifted from damp to dry, colder with every step, like I was walking into a vault.

When I pushed the door open, the sight hit me like a punch.

Weapons.

Everywhere.

Guns laid ot on metal tables-handguns, rifles, shotguns. Open crates of ammunition stacked against the walls. And on the far table, lined up like the world’s worst chemistry set, a row of molotov cocktails-glass bottles filled with accelerant, cloth wick tied and ready.

This was an actual war room.

Jack stood near one of the tables, arms crossed, eyes flicking up to me. He looked different in this lighting—less flirtatious bravado, more… conflicted. Elias, on the other hand, looked right at home. He stepped forward, smile smooth and warm, like we weren’t standing in the middle of a domestic terror starter kit.

“Lucy,” he greeted. “Right on time.”

“Well, you guys have been holding out on me,” I said, letting a small smirk tug at the corner of my mouth.

Elias chuckled, pleased by my reaction. “Only until we were sure you were ready to see the truth of our mission.”

Jack didn’t laugh. He just kept watching me—eyes sharp, reading every micro-reaction, every breath. Like the wrong expression would tell him everything he needed to know.

I stepped farther inside. “So this is the part where you tell me what we’re really doing?”

Mara emerged from behind a stack of crates, arms folded, gaze icy. “About time you joined us.”

“Lucy,” he greeted. “Right on time.”

“Well, you guys have been holding out on me,” I said, letting a small smirk tug at the corner of my mouth.

Elias chuckled, pleased by my reaction. “Only until we were sure you were ready to see the truth of our mission.”

Jack didn’t laugh. He just kept watching me—eyes sharp, reading every micro-reaction, every breath. Like the wrong expression would tell him everything he needed to know.

I stepped farther inside. “So this is the part where you tell me what we’re really doing?”

Mara emerged from behind a stack of crates, arms folded, gaze icy. “About time you joined us.”

I let my eyes flick to her, matching her coldness with a slow, almost amused smile.

“So am I ‘right on time’…” I tilted my head slightly, “or have you been waiting on me, Mara?”

Her jaw tightened—barely, but I caught it.

Jack’s shoulders stiffened, like he was bracing for impact.

Elias let out a low, entertained hum. “Now, now,” he said smoothly. “No need for claws. We’re all on the same side here.”

Mara didn’t look away from me, though. “I don’t wait on anyone,” she said coolly. “I just prefer people who understand urgency.“

“Well,” I replied, stepping closer, “maybe you should try being clearer about what you actually want. Saves everyone some time.”

Jack pressed a hand to his mouth like he was hiding a grin. Mara’s eyes flashed irritation.

“Tension reveals truth. And truth reveals loyalty.” Elias nodded toward the far door leading deeper into the basement. “Both of you—come. There’s more to show.”

I followed Elias and Jack toward the far door, my footsteps echoing against the concrete floor. Mara lingered behind for a second before trailing us, her presence quiet.

Elias pushed open the door, revealing a room with a long table and chairs, surrounded by boards filled with information about numerous jobs they want to do.

Jack stepped inside first, rubbing a hand over his jaw like he’d walked into something he’d rather not show me yet. Mara took a seat at the end of the table, posture sharp. Elias stood at the head like a preacher ready to deliver a sermon.

I walked in like I’d earned the right.

“Quite the setup,” I said, letting my gaze travel across the boards. “You planning a takeover or a revolution?”

Elias smiled warmly—too warmly. “Revolutions require the right hands. The right minds. And the right conviction.”

Jack pulled out a chair for me. A gesture that would’ve seemed polite if the tension in his shoulders didn’t betray him.

“Sit,” Mara said, steepling her fingers. “We have something to discuss.”

I slid into the chair, leaning back with a confidence I didn’t fully feel. “Alright. What’s the agenda?”

Elias tapped one of the boards—this one containing sketches of a truck convoy, timed routes, and marked vulnerabilities.

“The shipment arrives in twenty-four hours,” he said. “And before it does, we have to ensure every variable is controlled.”

Elias tapped the board again, this time more deliberately. “Alright. Here’s how tomorrow night plays out. Simple. Clean. Controlled.”

Jack stood beside him, arms crossed, silent but focused.

Elias pointed to the first step. “You and Jack will ride together. One car. You park on the shoulder of this rural stretch of road—right here.” He tapped the map. “Looks isolated enough that the truck will slow when they see trouble, but not so deserted that it feels staged.”

I raised a brow. “So we’re pretending to be stranded?”

“Exactly.” Elias nodded. “Your car will look like it broke down. Hood up, hazard lights on. Jack’ll set off a small smoke charge under the hood, make it look like the engine fried.”

Jack finally spoke, low and even. “I’ll cue you before it goes off. Don’t flinch.”

I snorted softly. “Please. I’ve been through worse than a smoke bomb.”

Jack’s mouth twitched like he almost allowed a smile before he shut it down.

Elias continued, “Two men are moving the shipment in an unmarked truck. They’re not expecting trouble. When they see you two on the side of the road, they’ll slow down. Human nature.”

“Then what?” I asked.

Jack’s gaze slid to me. “Then we move.”

Elias nodded at him to keep going.

Jack stepped closer to the board, pointing to the diagram of the truck. “As soon as they stop, I take the driver’s side. You take passenger. We play friendly for maybe five seconds—long enough to get close, not long enough for them to get suspicious.”

I tilted my head. “And that’s when the shiesties come on?”

“That’s when everything comes on,” Jack said. “Masks. Guns. Attitude.”

Elias clasped his hands behind his back. “Quick and overwhelming. The two men won’t have time to blink, let alone fight.”

“And if they do?” I asked, even though I already knew the answer.

Jack met my eyes. “We put them down. Fast. They don’t walk away with information.”

Elias cleared his throat. “You remove them as a threat—tie them, gag them, whatever Jack decides. Then you secure the truck. Jack drives. You ride shotgun.”

“What about our car?”

“Leave it,” Jack answered. “Looks like a real breakdown. Adds noise to the narrative.”

Elias finished, “You drive the shipment here. The others will be waiting to unload. Smooth and simple, as long as everyone follows the plan.”

There was that prickle again.

I nodded, absorbing each detail. “So my job is…?”

Jack answered before Elias could. “Stay with me. Watch the angles. Move when I move. You’re my second set of hands.”

I leaned back in my chair, smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth. “Alright then. Breakdown, masks, guns, grab the truck, bring it home. Lay low after. Crystal clear.”

Jack’s eyes lingered on me a little longer than they should’ve.

“Good,” he murmured. “Because tomorrow night? There’s no room for mistakes.”