“Contractors,” Watchdog said grimly. “Former militia. South Africa. Some of them were tied to Hansen. Others were new faces. But they were watching Clara, not Oliver. Which means she’s a piece on their board, whether she knows it or not.”
Reaper whistled low. “And you decided to snatch her first.”
“I decided she was safer with me than in their hands,” Watchdog countered, his voice rising despite himself. Hesteadied, his fingers flexing against the table. “She has no idea what she’s walking into. And Oliver, whether he’s complicit or compromised, can’t be trusted to keep her safe.”
Duchess’s gaze flicked to Val, then back to him. “So you went rogue?”
“Yes.” The word landed hard. “I didn’t want to drag you into this until I had proof. Until I was sure.”
Titan’s deep voice rumbled. “And in the meantime, you bled alone.”
The words cut sharper than intended. Watchdog leaned forward, his hands braced on the table. “I can’t…” His throat tightened, words catching. “I can’t be the weak link again. I can’t be the reason we lose another one of us.”
His eyes went to Lotus without thinking. She froze, the room holding its breath.
She stood, crossed the space without hesitation, and pulled him into a hug, arms fierce around him. “You listen to me,” she said, voice rough. “It was never your fault. Rykov made his choice, and he was one of us to the end. You don’t get to carry that alone.”
Emotion pressed at his chest, hot and sharp. Before he could speak, Lotus pulled back, her fist catching his arm hard enough to sting. “And don’t you dare be so bloody stupid again.”
Reaper barked a laugh, the sound cracking the tension, and even Bishop’s mouth curved faintly at the corner.
Watchdog huffed, rubbing his arm, but some of the weight shifted from his shoulders. “Duly noted.”
Bás leaned forward now, palms braced against the table, his voice firm. “Then we face this together. But I need to know one thing, Watchdog. How does Clara fit into this?”
Watchdog exhaled slowly, meeting his leader’s gaze. “She’s Oliver’s fiancée. But the engagement isn’t what it looks like. She’s not in love with him; she’s tied to him by circumstance,by family obligation. And now she’s a target because of him. Whether he’s selling information or compromised by Hansen’s network, she’s leverage. She’s vulnerable.”
Val spoke gently, her hand resting on Bás’s forearm. “And he took her because he thought she was safer here.”
“Because she is safer here,” Watchdog said fiercely. “Those men were outside her flat. They would have taken her if I hadn’t.” His jaw locked, the thought unfinished.
Bás studied him for a long moment. Then he leaned back, nodding once. “So, we protect her.”
Snow tilted her head. “Does she know any of this?”
“No,” Watchdog admitted. “Not yet.” His eyes flicked to the camera feed still running in the corner of the room, Clara’s sleeping form a quiet constant. “But she deserves the truth. Just…not all at once.”
Bishop’s voice was calm, certain. “Then we start with keeping her alive.”
The room murmured assent. Titan leaned forward, the glow of monitors catching the sharp set of his jaw. “You should’ve told us sooner.”
Watchdog’s throat tightened. “I know.”
Duchess’s voice softened, her arms uncrossing. “But you’re telling us now. That’s what matters.”
Lotus smirked faintly, folding her arms again. “And if you try this lone-wolf crap again, I’ll shoot you myself. In the leg. Just so you remember.”
Laughter broke around the table, low but real. The tension eased, replaced by something stronger, resolve, unity, the old rhythm sliding back into place.
Bás straightened, his voice cutting through with authority. “Then it’s decided. We hunt this network. We dig Oliver out. And we do it together.” His gaze locked on Watchdog’s. “No more solo missions.”
Watchdog inclined his head, the weight of their eyes on him, but for the first time in months, it didn’t feel like judgement. It felt like family.
“Together,” he said quietly.
Bás pushed to his feet, bracing both hands on the table as he looked around at the faces gathered. The room stilled. His voice carried steady authority, tempered by the steel of experience. “All right. We’ve all heard it. Hansen’s network isn’t dead. Oliver Grant is in it, whether willing or compromised, we don’t yet know. Clara’s caught in the crossfire. That makes her ours to protect until we know otherwise.”
Every head nodded.
