“Relax, Sharidon. I agree with you. Agent Taylor wouldn’t expose herself or my son up there. But I do think she’ll be close by. I’m using the ridge as a launch pad to scan the area.”

Despite Harry’s irritation with the talkative Irishman, he was grateful Nigel had sent him.

“Your son? Nigel never mentioned the lad was your son.” Sharidon tilted his head, concern etched in his voice.

“He’s a plucky boy. Agent Taylor will see to his safety until we retract them.”

“A thoroughly worthy agent,” Sharidon agreed. “I’ve heard tell she can take down half our men.”

“The numbers are probably higher than that when she’s healthy. But she’s only partially healed after her last injury.”

The humor leached from Sharidon’s features. “And your only backup was late.”

Chapter 32

Elise woke, her senses instantly alert. Lifting her arm from around Sammy, she checked her watch: 6:25 a.m. She never slept that late. Once she and Sammy had barricaded themselves inside their shelter last night, it had taken her forever to doze off.

Lying on her bed of fragrant boughs, she had pondered the events of her life. In the middle of it all, the realization had crashed upon her—if she didn’t regain field-agent status, her life would not be over.

Several things mattered more to her than her profession.

Even though her family annoyed her beyond belief, she loved them and had actually enjoyed their recent time together. She had missed shooting with her father and helping raise money for their various charities.

Her parents weren’t just fluffy society people. They served the community, and their fundraisers served dozens of worthy causes by increasing awareness among their peers to environmental and societal issues.

Yes, her family enjoyed the finer things of life, but they worked hard and served in the community every bit as much. Why had she refused to see their goodness before?

Instead, she had blamed her parents for their part in Harry’s dismissal. As a result, she had turned her back on her upbringing and avoided her family whenever possible. She had rejected her parents for what they were—loving, hardworking, and fallible people.

She vowed to do better.

Light filtered through the chinks in the moss above her. Today, she and Sammy needed to move their camp. Staying in one place for any length of time led to complacency. That was something they could ill afford.

Sammy stirred beside her. “Is it morning?”

“Aye.”

“Can we eat the rest of that pheasant for breakfast?”

“After we wash it in the burn. It’s probably covered with ants by now.”

The tarp crackled as she rose to her knees and pushed aside the fir boughs across the shelter’s entrance. A faint mist fell, beading the leaves and organic matter outside. They were in for a dreich day. At least the pine needles had kept them dry overnight.