Time Eternal by Lily Worthington Page A

in the event backup was needed.
    She did a slow double take from Butch to Knox and then to Butch again. “And where’ve you two been?”
    Silence. She was so tired of questions not being answered. Rei, her parents, the director. And now these two big apes! She could feel the gasket on her already tightly lidded temper was about to blow. She took a deep breath before turning to Knox, hoping he would take pity on her. “Well?”
    Silence again. Goddammit! “Fine. I’ll ask the director myself.” She turned her back on them and faced the elevator door.
    Within thirty seconds, the elevator reached Level 5. As she quickly stepped out, so did Knox and Butch. She turned around and scowled at them. “Where’re the two of you going?” She didn’t even bother to hide her black mood.
    “The director’s office.” Butch’s curt reply pissed her off just as much as their refusal to answer her question barely thirty seconds ago.
    She stepped in front of them, blocking their forward movement. “Why?”
    Knox finally spoke. “You, Skyla. You.” He sounded as agitated as she was, but there was also a hint of concern in his voice.
    She took a step back. “What do you mean me?”
    “We can’t talk about our mission without prior authorization. You know that.” Knox paused as if to think better of it. “Come with us and let the director decide.” Both of them got around her and proceeded toward the director’s office. Skyla quickly followed behind them.
    When they reached the director’s office, Curtis was not there. Wherever the director was, Curtis always was too. He didn’t just turn away people who did not make appointments; he was the director’s tactical officer, her quasi second-in-command. It was very strange, but it was all the better for Skyla. She did not have the time to maim anyone at the moment, and if Curtis was his usual charming self, that would definitively push her over the edge. She wanted answers. Now.
    Before Knox and Butch could knock on the office door, a faint female voice came through the heavy steel. “Come in.”
    After they stepped inside, the director looked up from her computer. “I thought I’d given you two orders not to speak with anyone else before or after the assignment.” Her voice was stern but not surprised, as if she had expected Skyla would show up with Knox and Butch.
    Knox took a step forward. “Ma’am, we ran into Skyla inside the elevator on the way up to debrief you. And since the assignment concerns her, I thought she had the right to be here for the debriefing.”
    The director’s back stiffened slightly, and her eyes turned furiously cold. “Well, Agent Sittler. I’m afraid I didn’t get the memo from Homeland Security that you’d been promoted as the head of TSCCA. So the next time you think of not following my direct order, you’d better be ready to face the consequences.” Her severe tone made Skyla and Butch flinch, but Knox held his own. He remained expressionless.
    “Director,” Skyla stepped in front of Knox as if she could protect him from her aunt’s wrath. “I made them bring me along.” Then with measured steps, she walked up to her aunt and took her hands into hers. “Please, Aunt Laura, tell me what’s going on? Who’s Rei? He’s here because of me, isn’t he?”
    Her aunt held her gaze for a long moment, and she saw the answer to her last question in her aunt’s eyes. She was going to be sick. Her head started spinning again until Knox put his hands on her shoulders from behind, silently supporting her, soothing her nerves. His hands were like Rei’s, big and strong, but there was no sizzling electricity coming off him as she had felt from Rei, not five minutes ago. “Aunt Laura, please tell me.”
    “Agent Sittler, Agent Stone. Did you get a positive ID from your mission?”
    “Yes, ma’am.” Knox and Butch answered in unison.
    Their reply didn’t seem to surprise the director. She nodded at them. “That’s all for now.