Page 25 of Covert Past

“I grew up going to church every Sunday, but I never really believed in God until I was on the battlefield. Seeing someone die for the first time, well, it changed me. I thought about all those messages I’d heard about God’s love, and I realized I didn’t really know Him. It didn’t take long for me to remedy that.”

She looked at him curiously. “Did it help?” She tried not to flinch when another lightning flash lit up the sky. Ellie turned toward the cloud bank.

“It did. Knowing there was Someone up there watching over me made it easier to get through those dark days.”

She thought about what he’d said. Could she have this type of relationship with God? She sure wanted to find out.

“According to Declan, we should be at the cabin in about an hour.”

She shifted her attention back to him and realized he was watching her. Not as someone assessing her reactions like before, but as a man looking at a woman.

Ellie caught her breath when he tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, his fingers brushing her skin. Touch. She’d gone solong without it. Ellie had forgotten what a simple touch felt like. She closed her eyes, her breath growing shallow and her heartrate racing. She was falling, and she couldn’t afford to let down her guard.

Ellie cleared her throat and faced forward. Boone’s hand dropped to his side. Regret made it hard to hide her sadness.

She expelled a breath. “Let’s hope they don’t locate us on the island.” The enemy had a way of finding her she didn’t understand. Being secluded on an island made for a good place to hide out unless the enemy tracked them there.

“Doesn’t look as if we’re being followed.” Boone’s voice held a roughness. “With the storm I doubt anyone would venture out on the water.”

The last light of day slowly faded. With the settling dusk, the temperature on the water dipped lower.

“Hang on. I think I have a jacket in the stuff Janine brought from my place.”

Before she had time to protest, Boone disappeared, returning a few minutes later with a camo jacket. He slipped it over Ellie's shoulders.

“Thank you, but aren’t you cold?”

“Naw. I love this kind of weather. It’s bracing. It reminds me I’m alive.”

She could almost feel his smile though she didn’t look at him. Boone was a complex man. Caring and kind.

“Are you glad to be done with the CIA?” The question popped out without her meaning to ask it.

He was silent for so long she wondered if she’d overstepped. “Sorry, I can imagine it’s hard to talk about.”

He inclined his head. “Some things are. I mostly think about the people who lost their lives along the way.” She waited for him to elaborate. “We believed we were doing what was best for our country and others, and I honestly think we were. But on the flip side, the ones we were fighting against believed the same way.”

She understood what he meant. “I felt the same. Our country is tiny, and yet there are enemies that want nothingmore than to wipe us off the face of the earth simply because of who we are.” An age-old battle that went back to her long-ago ancestors.

“I get that. A jealousy that dates to Isaac and Ishmael.”

She brushed the spray from her face. “Something like that.”

Up ahead, a dark silhouette appeared on the horizon.

Declan idled down the engines as they neared Breakers Island. Almost there. Almost safe.

As much as she wanted to believe she’d get the breathing room she needed to find answers, Ellie remembered the number of attacks she’d survived. Some happened so close together she’d barely had time to gain her bearings before she had to leave again. Like the small country of Israel, she felt surrounded by the enemy. They were closing in. This time she sensed the beast breathing harder down her neck. If she and the members of Hope Island Securities didn’t figure out what had happened that night long ago, she might die without ever knowing the truth.

Chapter Ten

“So you failed.” The condemnation came through in every syllable. “Like every other time before, you failed.”

“We’ll find her,” he said with more confidence than he felt. The signal had grown weak, though. Not the first time through the years. It was subject to weather like most GPS signals.

“No.I’llhandle it.” The boss’s anger burned through the line. This was the first time he’d wanted to get his hands dirty.

“That’s not necessary. We’ve got it.”

---