brother’s jaw tightened. “I know what’s at stake.”
Knowing there would be no arguing with his brother’s—his commander’s—order, Sloan walked out of the study, holding back the rising bitterness. It was the same bitter taste he felt when his brother defied their father’s order not to leave the country and went back to Florence looking for Elizabeth. The memory of their father and brothers and countless countrymen falling at the Last Battle rushed through his mind. Sloan had to slow his pace and force himself to breathe slowly so he wouldn’t charge back up to Rei’s study and shake some senses into his brother for risking his men again for that mere girl.
When he was sure he had regained his composure, he went to look for Bo and Tory. They were in the weapons room cleaning their gear. “Let’s go hunting.” He nodded at two of his best soldiers and charged out of the townhouse front door. The brilliant sun and a gust of rigid, cold wind blasted him unexpectedly and ruthlessly. It tempered his still-boiling anger and gave him a clearer mind. After all these centuries, he knew what he must do.
•●•
Skyla drove back to her parents’ house as soon as she finished debriefing the director on what happened at Rei’s townhouse back in 1933. She had questions for Mom and Dad, on top of the questions she had wanted to ask them last night before her abduction.
Passing the security gate at her parents’ house, she immediately noticed the increased security details—one full team was patrolling the premises, instead of half of the team patrolling the grounds while the other half manned the communication control room inside the security gate. If one full team was on the ground, there must be a second team shadowing and taking up strategic sniper positions. Well, at least that’s how she would’ve configured her team when she was the lead Secret Service agent for some of the presidential events.
“Skyla!” Her mom rushed up to her, half-dragged her out of the car, and hugged her tightly. “Are you all right? We were so worried when we realized you were not in the house or within the compound.” It felt so good in Mom’s fierce embrace, so she held on just a moment longer before speaking.
“I’m okay.” Skyla hugged back. “I’m sorry I’ve made you and Daddy worry.” She saw her dad standing on top of the front steps, and her arm automatically reached out. “Daddy.”
Her dad came down and wrapped his arms tightly around both of them. A long moment passed before he loosened his hold. Relief mixed with deep sadness in his hazel eyes. Thin white stress lines bracketed his lips. “You have questions for us, don’t you?” There was hint of foreboding in his normally strong, soothing voice.
She nodded.
“Come in.” He gestured to the house. They walked inside and to the family den. “Laura called us after your debriefing. She told us what happened yesterday during your mission inside the bank vault and where they found you last night.”
Now that was a surprise. The Agency forbade its personnel from discussing the Agency’s business with anyone, including family members, without prior clearance from the director or Curtis.
“Daddy? Why would—”
Her father held up his hand so he could continue. Her father, a brilliant litigator, seemed to be at a loss for words.
She waited for a long moment. “Daddy?”
Her dad kissed her mom on the cheek affectionately, as if giving her mom and himself courage before continuing. “Laura said you told her about seeing a painting of someone who looked like you in the study where the man held you captive.”
Another surprise. Skyla had never heard the director discussing any of the Agency business, let alone in this level of detail, to anyone outside of the Agency or her chain of command.
“Laura also said that you thought you knew the man who disarmed you inside the bank vault. He was the same man who kidnapped you last night. And you’ve
Knowing there would be no arguing with his brother’s—his commander’s—order, Sloan walked out of the study, holding back the rising bitterness. It was the same bitter taste he felt when his brother defied their father’s order not to leave the country and went back to Florence looking for Elizabeth. The memory of their father and brothers and countless countrymen falling at the Last Battle rushed through his mind. Sloan had to slow his pace and force himself to breathe slowly so he wouldn’t charge back up to Rei’s study and shake some senses into his brother for risking his men again for that mere girl.
When he was sure he had regained his composure, he went to look for Bo and Tory. They were in the weapons room cleaning their gear. “Let’s go hunting.” He nodded at two of his best soldiers and charged out of the townhouse front door. The brilliant sun and a gust of rigid, cold wind blasted him unexpectedly and ruthlessly. It tempered his still-boiling anger and gave him a clearer mind. After all these centuries, he knew what he must do.
•●•
Skyla drove back to her parents’ house as soon as she finished debriefing the director on what happened at Rei’s townhouse back in 1933. She had questions for Mom and Dad, on top of the questions she had wanted to ask them last night before her abduction.
Passing the security gate at her parents’ house, she immediately noticed the increased security details—one full team was patrolling the premises, instead of half of the team patrolling the grounds while the other half manned the communication control room inside the security gate. If one full team was on the ground, there must be a second team shadowing and taking up strategic sniper positions. Well, at least that’s how she would’ve configured her team when she was the lead Secret Service agent for some of the presidential events.
“Skyla!” Her mom rushed up to her, half-dragged her out of the car, and hugged her tightly. “Are you all right? We were so worried when we realized you were not in the house or within the compound.” It felt so good in Mom’s fierce embrace, so she held on just a moment longer before speaking.
“I’m okay.” Skyla hugged back. “I’m sorry I’ve made you and Daddy worry.” She saw her dad standing on top of the front steps, and her arm automatically reached out. “Daddy.”
Her dad came down and wrapped his arms tightly around both of them. A long moment passed before he loosened his hold. Relief mixed with deep sadness in his hazel eyes. Thin white stress lines bracketed his lips. “You have questions for us, don’t you?” There was hint of foreboding in his normally strong, soothing voice.
She nodded.
“Come in.” He gestured to the house. They walked inside and to the family den. “Laura called us after your debriefing. She told us what happened yesterday during your mission inside the bank vault and where they found you last night.”
Now that was a surprise. The Agency forbade its personnel from discussing the Agency’s business with anyone, including family members, without prior clearance from the director or Curtis.
“Daddy? Why would—”
Her father held up his hand so he could continue. Her father, a brilliant litigator, seemed to be at a loss for words.
She waited for a long moment. “Daddy?”
Her dad kissed her mom on the cheek affectionately, as if giving her mom and himself courage before continuing. “Laura said you told her about seeing a painting of someone who looked like you in the study where the man held you captive.”
Another surprise. Skyla had never heard the director discussing any of the Agency business, let alone in this level of detail, to anyone outside of the Agency or her chain of command.
“Laura also said that you thought you knew the man who disarmed you inside the bank vault. He was the same man who kidnapped you last night. And you’ve
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