June 2017
Taylor's POV
With my new album coming out in two months, I knew that I couldn't stay hidden away in London forever. As much as I wanted to stay, I had lots of work to finish before the release considering I was gone so frequently: shooting and coordinating the promo material, finalizing the track list, meeting with my label and team, coordinating digital distribution, the list continues. It was all fun and exciting, but it was a lot. I was quickly brought back to the headspace I was in before taking time off. I didn't want to keep coming to the States alone. This time, I asked Joe if he wanted to come along.
We flew into Nashville to stay with my mom for the weekend. Joe hadn't gotten nearly as much time to hang out with my family as I had his. Austin and Dad came into to town to hang out with us. It was nice to finally have everyone together.
Tonight, we gathered around the kitchen table to play cards. It was strange to see my parents at the same table again.
"I love having my babies home," my mom smiled at me and my brother. "And, its nice to have you along Joe."
"Thank you for having me. You have been a wonderful host," he replied in his cute London accent. I slipped my hand into his under the table.
Dad began dealing cards out. We played a few rounds while catching up with life updates.
"You gonna get that?" Austin asked glancing toward my phone vibrating noisily on the table.
"Um, yeah. I'll be right back. You can skip my turn," I told my family. I picked up phone, unlocked it to answer the call, and stepped into the hallway. "Hey, what's up?"
"Oh, hi. I wasn't expecting you to pick up."
Oh shit. I didn't even look at the caller ID before I answered. I just assumed it was someone from my label calling. Big mistake.
"Please don't hang up," James sounded desperate.
"Why should I even listen to you?" I retorted. Yet, I was curious. I kept my voice low, so I wouldn't draw out any of my family members, "you are the ones who pushed me away."
"I know we have a lot to talk about. Okay? And I probably owe you an apology. We can meet back in New York in a month," he began to ramble.
"Get to the point."
"We know you just arrived back in Nashville."
I sighed and ran my fingers through my hair. I knew they would track my passport use. They were the ones who issued all of my fakes as well. Of course they would know where I was.
"We have an operation this weekend."
I interrupted, "no way in hell." He didn't even need to ask the question.
"Tay, it's your turn again," Austin yelled from the other room.
I muted my phone before yelling back, "take my turn again. Thanks!"
"It's a basic intel op. A transfer of info drop. It has already been planned, location scouted, target is in position. Its just that we have a newer junior agent running point. You really don't have to do much other than supervise communication."
"Why would I do this? You wouldn't have even known I would be back this weekend. What happened to the senior agent on the op?" I had many questions but hadn't declined yet. I assumed this was a training operation for the new agent. Nothing major.
"The senior agent got relocated for a different op less than 24 hours ago. We were scrambling to find a senior agent to run it tomorrow. We thought of calling someone up from Atlanta, but then you arrived," James explained.
"Again, why would I do this? You must be smart enough to know that I didn't return to do rookie training exercises."
"You are the most experienced senior agent in the region right now."
I thought to myself, if it was a basic op why would they need such a skilled senior agent?
James continued, "and this is your job. Don't forget that."
"How could I? You don't let me forget it as much as I try," I wanted to yell into the phone instead it came out as an angry whisper.
"If you hadn't noticed, none of your assets were frozen during your little vacation. They will be if you don't take this job. Honestly, you have a lot to lose if you don't take this job," James' voice got quiet at the end.
Would they come after my family? I had no choice. I never did.
"Fine, send me the information. I'll be briefed for tomorrow and in position." I accepted.
"You still got all your scouting spots and supplies?"
"Uh huh."
"Hey Taylor, believe me when I say I'm not trying to ruin your life. I am bound under orders as well. I think soon enough, you may thank me for putting you on this op."
I hung up without responding. I have nothing to thank him for. Deep breaths and smile. I strolled back to the kitchen to see that my family was no longer playing cards but looking at old photo albums. "She was just the cutest," I heard my mom tell Joe.
"Are you sharing embarassing stories?" Everyone turned to look at me.
"No, not embarassing," my mom winked at me.
"Are you okay, T?" Austin read the expression on my face. Before I could answer he stood up and walked me back out into the hall.
He could read my facial expressions better than anyone. I guess I had lost my lying touch being gone so long. My brother stood so that we were face to face. "What's up? You're acting weird."
"I'm just stressed with work." It wasn't a lie. I was stressed about work just not music work.
"Before you got that call you were in a completely different world. Don't let the stress get to you. I know last year was more than rough. You endured a lot. But I see you now and you seem better than ever. Calmer, happier, healthier. The sister I remember growing up. Still just as ambitious."
I smiled. My not so little brother always knew how to cheer me up.
Until he said, "you know you can tell me anything."
I nodded. I wished that I could, but I couldn't tell him everything. Not about my life as an agent. It was already bad enough that Mom knew.
"If it matters to you, I think Joe is perfect for you. He loves you. I can see it in the way he looks at you and talks to you. Mom and Dad like him too," Austin let me know.
"So is this why you really came into town? Not to see me but to check upon my boyfriend?" I joked.
"Maybe. I can do both."
Nothing like a brother to bring you back into the real world and your childish fun at the same time.
That night as Joe and I got ready for bed, I mentioned, "I have to do some work downtown tomorrow. You can hang here with my family or come back to my apartment."
"You know as much as I love your family, hanging alone in your apartment sounds even better. Plus, I'd love to go downtown. I've never really gotten to see your apartment or the city," Joe told me.
"You know, we still really have to be careful around here. The paparazzi aren't as bad, but as soon as the fans know I'm in town it's over. I'm just not ready for everyone to know about us," I confessed. I wanted Joe all to myself for as long as I could have that.
Joe nodded and said, "I understand."
We kissed goodnight and flipped the lights off. I waited a solid thirty minutes for him to fall asleep before reaching for my laptop. I hadn't read my operation brief yet. As I skimmed through the document, I noticed that this intel drop had sensitive information that I didn't even have clearance for. Other than that, it seemed like a standard item drop off. I was supposed to watch from above in an office building and coordinate everyone's comm devices. Then, I was supposed to deliver the package to the next agent.
At the very bottom, I read some of the additional notes. MI6 defector. Everyone armed and alert for MI6. Package is priority.
This operation was going to be much trickier than I thought.
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Took some time to figure out the direction of this book. Wanted to add some more agent material. Anything you guys want to see in coming chapters? Charcters or plot lines?