Page 39 of Undercover Shadow

“That leaves Tag and me,” I reminded him.

“Right. Here’s what I propose. When the meeting reconvenes, we present this together. It may be that it’ll become obvious where the two of you are needed the most.”

There was something about his statement that didn’t sit right with me. However, given we were short on time, I’d wait to see how it played out once the team was gathered.

“Typhon and Viper will likely want to make the final deployment decisions,” he added.

“Sure. Makes sense. Also, Vanguard and Prima will need an overview when they arrive. I’ll handle that as quickly as possible.”

“I have a question for you. You can decline to answer if you wish.”

Oh, God, something about Tag? I would definitely turn him down. “Go ahead.”

“Kestrel.”

My eyes widened. “In regard to?”

“How did you, I mean…”

“How did Kestrel becomemyasset?”

“Basically, yes.”

“Idris.” The truth wasn’t that simple. Kestrel had contacted me shortly after I joined Unit 23, with intel regarding Labyrinth. The references were vague initially, but most of what I’d been able to piece together in my brother’s encrypted files was with the asset’s help. Eventually, I’d accepted that Kestrel was just another person Idris had tasked with looking out for me. It was a curse as much as a blessing.

Con stood, then paused. “One more thing before we join the others. I just want to say—Tag is struggling. I won’t pretend he’s not. But he’s worth the fight. Worth taking the risk.”

“I know he is.” My voice was steadier than I expected it to be. “But he’s not willing to fight his past. And I can’t do it for him.”

Con held my gaze for a long moment, then nodded. “Let’s go brief the team.”

10

TAG

Con found me in my study before the meeting reconvened.

“I received intel about activity in the Northern Highlands,” he began, closing the door behind him.

I looked up from the briefings spread across my desk. “Dunravin?”

“Most likely. The reports indicate thermal signatures, and the location fits with what you and Nightingale found there. However, we’re keeping it vague during the briefing. ‘Northern Highlands near Inverness’—nothing more specific.”

I raised a brow. “You and Nightingale?”

“That’s right. We received the same intelligence.”

“And your intention is to protect Renegade.”

“Exactly. If he thinks his family estate is compromised, it becomes a distraction. We confirm it’s Dunravin first, then we read him in. Nightingale and I discussed it—this is the right approach.”

I nodded slowly. The logic was sound. “Agreed. Anything else?”

“We’ll cover it when the team reconvenes.”

I didn’t like the sound of that, but given there wasn’t much time between then and now, I acquiesced.

“As to your question. I want to talk to you about your relationship with Nightingale.”