Chapter 10 Tag #2
“We received intel during the break,” Con began, pulling up a map with three markers. “Multiple locations showing coordinated activity—Edinburgh art market, Teesport, and the Northern Highlands near Inverness.”
“All active simultaneously,” Nightingale added. “Which suggests Labyrinth is ramping up operations.”
“We’re proposing immediate team deployments based on expertise and existing investigation threads,” Con said.
“Lex and I will take Edinburgh—we’ve been there before, surveilling the Imperial Gallery during the Orlov investigation.
We know the area, know the locations. We just didn’t have proof of activity then.
Kestrel’s intel changes that. Ash and Sullivan will handle Teesport.
Vanguard, Prima, and Archon for the Northern Highlands.
Gus, Nightingale, and Renegade on financial networks tracking the Mediterranean connections. ”
I watched relief flicker across Nightingale’s face. She’d avoided being paired with me.
“One moment,” Typhon said, standing. “There’s another angle we need to address that isn’t in Kestrel’s immediate intelligence—the Tarbert estates. Glenshadow, Blackmoor, and Ashcroft.”
He pulled up maps showing all three properties. “Wallace was fixated on these specific locations, where we know extensive tunnel systems exist.”
“What are you proposing?” Viper asked.
“We need to understand why she targeted these properties specifically,” Typhon said.
“What was she planning to move through those tunnels? What infrastructure was she building?” His eyes moved to me, then to Nightingale.
“MacTaggert has access to all three estates. Nightingale has the deepest knowledge of Wallace’s operational patterns from the Damascus intelligence. ”
The relief on Nightingale’s face vanished, replaced by tension.
“And remaining at Glenshadow provides the necessary security,” Viper added, her gaze steady on Nightingale, “while unknown hostiles are still tracking you.”
Leila’s jaw tightened, but she couldn’t argue with the logic.
“Map the tunnel systems,” Typhon ordered, looking between us. “Review Wallace’s documentation. Determine what she intended. Understanding her strategy might reveal what Labyrinth is doing now.”
The room was silent for a beat.
“One more adjustment,” Typhon continued. “Archon stays here.”
Archon’s head came up. “Sir?”
“You’ll provide additional security for Nightingale while the investigation proceeds.
After what happened in London, I’m not taking chances with her safety.
Vanguard and Prima can handle the northern corridor as a two-person team.
Questions?” He scanned the room, but no one spoke up.
“Good. Teams will deploy tomorrow morning. By then, transport will be in place. Tonight, we finalize operational details.”
When everyone stood, Vanguard crossed back to Nightingale.
“Take care of yourself,” he said quietly, but not enough that I couldn’t hear. “And if you need anything—”
“I’ll be fine,” she said.
“I know you will be. You always are.” He touched her shoulder. “But the offer stands.”
Then he was gone, heading out with the others.
Archon approached me as the room emptied. “Boss, if I’m staying at Glenshadow, I should probably sort where I should bunk. Is there—”
“Find Mrs. Murray. Have her set you up in the west wing.”
“Appreciated.” He paused. “For what it’s worth, Nightingale’s damn good.”
I looked across the room to where she stood, gathering her laptop. Her spine was rigid, and her movements controlled. “She’s better than good.”
Archon wisely left without another word.
Needing a moment away from the noise, from watching Vanguard position himself near Nightingale, from pretending I was fine with any of this, I found Gus in the library, cross-referencing financial data with shipping manifests that were spread across the large table.
“Found the connection yet?” I asked, dropping into the chair across from him.
“Getting close. This shell-company matrix is clever, but not clever enough.” He looked up, studying my face. “You look like hell, mate.”
“Long few days.”
“Nightingale?”
Of course he’d know. Gus always knew. “It’s complicated.”
“It usually is with women worth having.” He returned to his data, but added quietly, “Con’s worried about you. So am I.”
“I’m fine.”
“Sure you are.” He made a notation on one of the manifests. “Just remember—you lot pulled me through finding out about my family. Let us do the same for you.”
I didn’t respond, but the offer sat there between us, solid as the friendship that had weathered three decades.
“For what it’s worth,” Gus said, still not looking up, “watching Ash nearly lose Sullivan taught me something. Being scared isn’t a good enough reason not to try.”
He went back to his numbers, and I sat there, wondering when all my friends had gotten so bloody wise.
While Mrs. Murray had outdone herself with the preparation of roasted meats, root vegetables, and fresh bread, dinner was torture as I sat at the head of the table, watching Nightingale laugh and converse with Vanguard.
She’d chosen a seat halfway down the table, and he’d taken the one beside her without hesitation.
“This is excellent,” Lex said from my right, her voice carrying the forced brightness of someone trying to fill uncomfortable silence. “Tag, you’ll have to give Mrs. Murray our compliments.”
I managed a nod but reached for my glass.
Water. Con had switched it when I wasn’t looking. The bloody bastard.
“The tunnel networks are more extensive than I expected,” Vanguard said, continuing whatever conversation I’d missed. “From what you showed us, some of those passages could run for miles.”
“The Jacobites knew what they were doing.” Nightingale’s voice carried the easy confidence of someone discussing her expertise. “They built to last.”
Professional. Competent. It was a conversation I should’ve been part of. Instead, I watched them talk. Watched the way Vanguard hung on her every word.
“Tag?” Gus’s voice cut through my spiral. “Thoughts on the Aberdeenshire coordinates?”
I forced my attention back. “What about them?”
“Whether we should prioritize them over the Inverness area.”
“Ask Nightingale. She compiled the intelligence.”
Her eyes met mine briefly, then she looked away.
“The Aberdeenshire sites show more recent activity,” she said to Gus. “Inverness is cold after the explosion.”
The meal dragged on. Sullivan discussed shipping manifests with Ash. Lex and Gus debated financial tracking methods. Renegade and Archon compared notes on equipment checks. It was all normal operational conversation that should’ve held my attention.
Instead, I watched Vanguard lean closer to Nightingale when she spoke. Watched her tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. Watched her be the version of herself she’d been at Dunravin—relaxed, genuine, and present.
With someone else.
“We should head out,” Con eventually said, pushing back from the table. “Long day tomorrow.”
Others followed his lead. Ash and Sullivan gathered their things while Gus checked his mobile for updated intelligence.
“Brilliant meal,” Vanguard said to Mrs. Murray as she cleared the plates. “Thank you.”
He had manners. Of course he did.
“I should get going as well.” He stood, then turned to Nightingale. “I hope it won’t be too long before we see each other again.”
“We both have our assignments.” Her smile was polite. “But I’m sure our paths will cross.”
“Until then.” He touched her shoulder briefly, further infuriating me enough that I wanted to put my fist through the wall.
The front hall filled with goodbyes and final instructions. Con caught my eye as he and Lex headed for the door. His look spoke louder than words—don’t do anything stupid.
Too late for that.
Silence settled over Glenshadow like a shroud as the house emptied. Ash’s Range Rover disappeared down the drive first, carrying him, Sullivan, and Gus. Then Con’s with Lex, Vanguard, and Prima. Typhon and Viper left too, although by then, I’d stopped paying attention.
“Need anything else tonight, boss?” Archon asked.
“Get some rest,” I said, hating that I sounded like a man twelve years older than him. Than Nightingale.
When he retreated, I stood alone in the hall. The grandfather clock ticked, and the wind rattled the ancient windows. Somewhere upstairs, Nightingale was probably getting ready for bed.
In the room next to mine.
Connected by a door that hadn’t been opened in decades.
I headed for my study and poured whiskey despite Con’s warning, despite knowing it would only make things worse.
The thoughts I’d been holding back all evening crashed through the barriers.
She was no longer a virgin. Because of me.
Maybe she’d explore now. With others. Men who wouldn’t push her away after.
I’d opened that door. Shown her what her body could feel. Then slammed it shut and told her to forget.
What right did I have to want her to stay celibate? To pine for a man who’d rejected her?
None.
But the thought of another man touching her the way I had—
The glass hit the desk harder than intended.
She deserved happiness. Deserved someone who could offer her tomorrow and all the tomorrows after. Someone who wasn’t terrified of becoming his parents. Someone who hadn’t promised her dead brother to keep her safe.
Safe. That’s what I’d told myself. But Con was right—I was destroying us both while calling it protection.
Movement caught my eye in the hallway. A figure headed toward the library.
Nightingale.
My feet were moving before I’d made a conscious decision. Out of the study. Down the corridor. The whiskey made everything sharper and duller at the same time—edges too bright, thoughts too slow.
I caught up with her in the alcove just before the library entrance.
“Leila.”
She spun around. Even in the dim light, I could see her expression shift from surprise to wariness.
“What are you doing out here?” I asked.
“Going to the library. What are you doing?”
Following you. Stalking you like some pathetic drunk who can’t accept that he threw away the best thing in his life.
“Making sure you’re all right.”
Her laugh was sharp. “Now, you care about making sure I’m all right?”
The accusation landed true. I stepped closer. She stepped back.
“Don’t.” Her voice carried a warning.
I should’ve listened.