I suppose he was waiting for me to challenge him, but I didn’t.
“Whether you were injured during a previous mission or not, the same edict would’ve come down. This is not personal. Be on your way, then, before I extend it to four weeks.”
“Yes, sir.”
I left his office and went to mine. I didn’t keep much here; I was rarely at Vauxhall Cross. I was about to walk out when Rile, the MI6 agent who had been with me at Arnos Grove, caught up with me.
“Forced leave?” I asked.
“Mandatory,” he growled in an accent that was as much Spanish as it was English. I knew his background. Cortez “Rile” DeLéon’s father, Carlos DeLéon, Duke of Soria, was the youngest brother of King Felipe VI of Spain. His mother was second cousin to Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom. With dual citizenship and connectivity to royalty, Rile had become an early asset to SIS.
With that kind of lineage, it was impossible to say whether his affectations were that, or just who he was.
“Fancy a pint?” he said, motioning to the pub across from Vauxhall Cross.
“I’ll have one.”
When we walked in, Edge was already seated at one of the tables. He waved us over.
“Go ahead,” said Rile, indicating he’d place our order.
“Is this a coincidence?” I asked as I sat on the other side of the table.
“Hardly,” he answered, laughing.
“What’s it about, then?”
Rile sat down and set a glass in front of me and handed the other to Edge.
“Gentlemen,” he said. “Thank you for joining me.”
I raised an eyebrow at Edge, and we both laughed. Rile continued as though we hadn’t.
“I’m leaving MI6.”
I looked at Edge a second time, and he shrugged.
“I’d like you both to come with me.”
“Where are you going, mate?” Edge asked.
Rile raised a brow, but not in humor.
“Right,” said Edge. “But seriously. Where?”
“I’m starting my own firm. Private security and intelligence. I’m looking for partners.”
I leaned back, suddenly uncomfortable with the direction of this conversation. “I can’t speak for Edge, but why me?”
Rile brushed his bottom lip with his index finger. “I’m curious why you would question it.”
“Some say I’m more of a liability than an asset.”
Rile nodded. “They weren’t at Arnos Grove.”
“Is Lennox aware you’re approaching us?”
Lennox, known by those in SIS as Lynx, was Keon’s older brother. Like Rile, he was a senior agent in MI6.