Page 44 of Undercover Shadow
“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. Murrayhad 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.
