in front of her, she enjoyed the cool breeze that caught and swept through, blowing the napkin to the floor. She reached to pick it up and saw familiar legs striding towards her and groaned. She wasn’t ready to face him just yet.
His face was stern, a mask of control as he reached them. “We have a situation. I need you with the Queen in the safe room while we handle it. Blake and Liam have escorted her there and are waiting for you.”
Astrid was on her feet immediately. “Of course.” She didn’t stop to ask why but took the comms he handed her and moved beside him with Deck and Lopez following. She peeled off to the right as the men of Eidolon went left.
“Astrid.”
That sexy rumble moved through her body like a caress. “Yes?”
“Don’t come out until you hear my voice, and mine alone.”
“Okay.”
He nodded and was gone as she jogged towards the Queen’s quarters and the safe room that would hold her until this threat, whatever it was, was eliminated.
An armed Blake covered the door as Liam let her inside to the Queen.
She dropped a quick curtsey. “Ma’am, are you okay?”
The Queen was sitting on an armchair with a book in her hands and looked up at her over her sleek, stylish glasses. “Yes, of course. This isn’t my first time in a safe room, you know. Or the first time Jack has had me swept away and into one halfway through an engagement.”
She knew Jack had made it a policy that the Queen and Duke of York weren’t held together during a threat. It had caused some argument from what she’d heard but once he’d explained it, the royal family had conceded he was right.
Astrid sat on a seat nearest the door, her left leg crossed over the other. “I’m sure it isn’t.”
“Do we know what the security threat is yet?”
Astrid shook her head. “No, not yet, but I’m sure the team will handle it swiftly.”
“Yes, they will. I’m sure it is just a precaution. Mr Granger is very cautious and I’m sure if he had his way, he’d keep me locked in the Palace.”
Astrid smiled, agreeing. “I think you could be correct.”
“Tell me about yourself, Astrid. I know very little about you apart from that Mr Granger trusts you. You do not work for Eidolon exclusively, do you?”
Well, this was awkward. Telling the Queen you were a disavowed CIA agent who now worked for an all-female assassin’s group probably wasn’t the best move. “I was born in Georgia but travelled a lot due to my father’s job as a sales manager. Mom and Dad retired to Florida three years ago. I joined the army at nineteen and worked as a communications specialist. Once I left, I was offered the job with an all-female security team based in France. When my boss moved to the UK, I followed.”
“No siblings?”
“I had a sister, but she passed away four years ago.”
The Queen dipped her head. “I’m sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you.” Astrid clenched her hands together, hating having to acknowledge her sister’s death when she still didn’t believe it, but it was the official line, and her parents believed it to be true.
“You enjoy what you do?”
Astrid smiled, and it was genuine. “I do. I get to travel and meet the most extraordinary people, and I’m good at it.”
“Well, I for one am glad you do it. I certainly feel safer having you at my side and it is lovely to have another woman around.”
“I’m happy to be here.”
“How do you find it working with Eidolon? There is a lot of testosterone in that group.”
“There sure is but I enjoy it. They’re respectful and don’t treat me with deference because I’m a woman or assume I won’t handle a situation. I trust them to have my back in the field.”
“And your boyfriend doesn’t mind?”
Astrid shook her head and blushed. “Oh, I don’t have a boyfriend.” Her mind went to Jack, and she wondered if in another lifetime he would’ve been a good boyfriend.
“That surprises me. A beautiful young woman with the skills you possess would have a lot of men after her.”
“Thank you for the compliment, but unfortunately, men find strong women intimidating.”
“Ah, I see. Well, you don’t have to tell me of the difficulties there, my dear. But let me give you a piece of unsolicited advice from someone who has a highly demanding job and a position of authority. When you meet the right man, he