Redemption (Bennett Sisters Book 5) (12 page)

****

Lydia
had forgotten all about the banging on her door until he’d mentioned it. She could only imagine what it had been about. She knew she’d fried the lights in her room. Clothes littered the floor in her closet. The lamp was lying on the floor.  She knew she’d created the mess. She couldn’t help it, and she dang sure wouldn’t have changed anything about last night.

Lydia
slid from the bed and took the fastest shower she ever had. She’d wanted to soak in a nice long bath—lord knows she deserved it after their marathon of sex—but knew that time was her enemy. Rick was leaving today, and she wouldn’t make him wait.

She pulled the door open to the room and stepped out into her living room. She paused at the sight of Rick with his hands on the kitchen counter and his head hanging. He didn’t regret what they’d done, did he?

She walked up behind him with her empty cup. She placed a palm on his back. “It’s not that bad, is it?”

Rick turned to her and surrounded her in his arms. “I’ll let you decide when you hear about our visitors last night.”

Lydia
pushed from his arms and stepped around him, fixing herself another cup of coffee. “Did we make too much noise?”

He chuckled. “You might say that.” Rick picked up his own coffee, took her hand, and steered her toward the couch. He took the cup from her hands and set them both on the table before he pulled her down onto his lap. “You might say we disturbed the whole compound.”

Lydia
felt the heat rise into her cheeks, but no matter what, she wouldn’t regret it. “The whole compound?”

Rick leaned in and snuggled into the crook of her neck. “You single handily fried their whole system. I think the lights came back on at three this morning.”

Lydia
leaned out of his embrace. “I don’t think I did that single handily. I’m pretty sure your hands…and your mouth had something to do with it.”

Rick chuckled. “That’s what I meant. We’re combustible when we’re together. We’re going to have to come up with something because I don’t have any plans to stop making love to you.”

Lydia
leaned into Rick’s chest. “I guess they’re all mad at me. Do they want me to go?”

Rick stroked her back. “No, it’s nothing like that…although I can’t comment for Jonah.” Rick kissed the top of her head. “I think they’re all concerned about you. I just thought you should know before we walked out into the line of fire.”

Lydia
pushed off his lap and grabbed her coffee, downing the entire cup. “I guess we can’t hide in here forever. Let’s go get something to eat before you leave.”

Rick
deposited their cups into the sink and rinsed them out
. He glanced over his shoulder. “You know…Brody wasn’t too happy about what caused the blackout.”

She raised her brow and crossed her arms over her chest. “I guess it’s really none of his business. Is it?”

Lydia
tilted her head. Rick didn’t seem to be the type of man to be scared off by another, but the thought of someone like Brody as an enemy instead of an ally might make him pause, and that’s not what she wanted. She could choose to do what made her happy, and if a specific twin at the compound didn’t accept her choice then she’d throw his ass against the wall… again.

Rick turned off the water and turned to her. “Nope, none of his business whatsoever. I just wanted to pre-warn you in case he acts like a jerk today.”

Lydia
wouldn’t expect anything less from the playboy who didn’t get his prey. She was sure that he’d be pouting because she hadn’t chosen him. “I’ll keep that in mind. Now let’s go eat. I’m starving.”

Rick walked with his palm on
Lydia
’s back toward the dining hall. They had “morning after” written all over their faces. She was sure her face was ten shades of red, knowing that everyone in the compound had to know what she’d been doing to kill the lights.
Lydia
paused. “I guess I should probably go apologize to Jonah first.”

Rick shook his head. “Nope, food first. We need to get your strength back one hundred percent, and then we’ll go explain to Jonah that it was an unfortunate accident and one that will probably happen again.”

Lydia
threw her shoulders back and raised her chin. If Rick wasn’t ashamed of what had happen, then she wasn’t either. The sex had been amazing and worth every minute of glares she might receive.

They strolled into the dining hall. All chatter stopped, and everyone looked up at them. Brody stood from a nearby table, bringing her a glass of orange juice, and nodded once before he left the room. Rick steered her toward a table and leaned down and pressed his lips to hers before he whispered, “Wait here. I’ll grab us something to eat.”

Lydia
surveyed the room of unfamiliar faces. She could feel the energy simmering just under her skin. If she created a scene in here, she’d never live it down. Marlaina slid into a seat next to her and waved her hand at the other employees. “Don’t mind them. They’re just jealous.”

Lydia
gave a slight smile. “I’m sure that’s not it. Probably mad that they had to sta
y up all night fixing my mess
.”

Marlaina grinned. “You’re just the first to do it. They’re in awe, really. I can’t say I blame them. You must wield an amazing
power
to take out our high-tech security.”

Lydia
stole a glance toward Rick from beneath her lowered lashes. He was watching her as he grabbed some napkins and started walking back over to the table. “Nothing more than Brody is capable of. He must just control his better. I’m still learning.”

Marlaina placed her elbows on the table. “So, tell me. Did you have any more visions after the amazing sex last night? I’ve already been told about the warehouse. Anything else you want to tell me… you know, just so we can expect it.”

Her question elicited a tiny shiver to travel down
Lydia
’s spine. She didn’t know why; call it her intuition or whatever. It could have been the circumstances surrounding the vision she’d had a few days before or the fact that Marlaina, a virtual stranger, was discussing her sex life, but something felt off. She just couldn’t put her finger on it.

Rick pulled out a chair next to her and started unloading the tray full of food. He nodded toward the blonde. “Marlaina.”

Marlaina rose from her chair and put her palm on
Lydia
’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure no one gives her a hard time about what happened. She’s in good hands until you get back.”

Rick nodded. “I appreciate that, although I won’t be gone long, maybe a week at the most.”

“Oh, that shouldn’t be too bad. You must be flying out. When does your flight leave?”

Rick glanced down at his watch. “I have to leave in an hour to make it to the airport.” Rick smiled at Marlaina. “So, if you’d excuse us, we have some things left to take care of before I leave.”

“Oh sure… I didn’t mean to interrupt. Have a good flight.” Marlaina sauntered out of the room, pulling out her phone as she walked away.

Rick nodded toward the door. “What did she want? She didn’t give you a hard time, did she?”

“No, nothing like that. She asked if I had any dreams last night and told me to ignore the sneers, that everyone is just jealous.”

Rick pointed toward her food with his fork. “Eat up, Red.” He swallowed around a forkful of eggs. “Did you have any dreams last night?”

Lydia
picked up her orange juice and took a sip, letting the smooth liquid run down her throat. It wasn’t her coffee, but it had to be healthier for her. “No, no dreams. For once I slept in total oblivion. No images, no dreams that I remember. Just complete calm and peace.”

They talked a bit more through their breakfast. Everyone around them eventually tuned them out and went back to their own business. She was going to miss having him around when he was gone. Somehow he’d become a fixture, a support system of sorts that she relied on.

After breakfast they went in search of Jonah. They found him huddled over a piece of equipment. To
Lydia
’s surprise, he didn’t yell at her. He didn’t judge her. He just smiled. “I know it was an accident. If anything, it’s really Brody’s fault. He should have taught you how to control it better.”

Rick patted Jonah on his back. “Is there anything we can do to keep
Lydia
from blowing everything up next time?”

Jonah pointed toward the conference room. “They’re already in there brainstorming.”

Lydia
and Rick glanced toward the same room they’d been in several times since they’d arrived. Brody strolled out with a smile on his face. He approached them. “It seems I’m your ride to the airport. The general has a sick, twisted sense of humor. Are you ready to go, Romeo? The quicker we get this over with, the better.”

Rick put his arm around
Lydia
’s waist. “Give us five minutes.” Rick kissed the top of her head. “Walk with me to get my bags.”

Lydia
nodded and left Brody standing there with his arms crossed over his chest.

Rick shut the door to his quarters behind them. He pulled
Lydia
into his arm. “I shouldn’t leave when you’re this close to finding the asshole that’s after you.”

Lydia
’s eyes met his. She could see the regret in his gaze. He meant what he said, but that didn’t change the fact that he needed to go. “I need you to go. I need to know that Winters has been taken care of for good and that my family is safe. Besides, Briggs is here to watch out for me, and I trust him.”

Rick pressed his lips to hers. “A week max. That will give me time to make my report and handle everything I need to do. Are you sure you’re going to be okay?”

Lydia
lifted onto her tiptoes and gave him a quick peck. “I’ll be fine. Go take care of business.” She let her hands slide down over his chest. “I’ll give you a full debriefing when you get back.”

Rick opened one of the cabinet doors and pulled out a revolver. He handed to it to her. “The safety is off, all you have to do is aim and pull the trigger. I’ll show you how to shoot when I get back.”

Lydia
pushed the steel back toward Rick. “I’m not going to need this.”

Rick picked up his bag and walked with
Lydia
into her room. He laid the gun on her coffee table. “Humor me. Keep it handy just in case.”

Lydia
ignored the gun and threw her arms around Rick. She placed a light kiss on his chest. “I’ll be fine…now go.”

Chapter 13

Rick pulled the SUV door shut behind him. It was evident that Brody had the hots for
Lydia
, and he didn’t really blame the twin. He wouldn’t put it past the man to make a play for her while he was gone.

“Don’t worry about
Lydia
. I’ll keep her busy while you’re gone. Feel free to stay as long as you want.”

Rick glared at Brody. He didn’t want to spar with the jerk, but he felt like he needed to stand his ground. “I’m not worried, hotshot. I trust
Lydia
to have good judgment. She picked me over you after all.”

Brody let out a
humph
, and his grip tightened on the wheel. Rick knew he shouldn’t try to bait the man. Brody was the only one, after all, that could train
Lydia
to use her gifts. He was the one who wielded the power to decide if he’d help her overcome her issues with her gifts. They pulled out of the compound, and Brody took a left. A thick forest full of trees lined the road. Rick turned in his seat. “Listen, I know you like her, and I totally understand it. But right now,
Lydia
needs more than I can give her.”

“You got that right.” The energy Brody was sending out prickled his flesh. A pressure he couldn’t explain pressed against his chest.

“Drop the pretense, Brody. I’m talking about her training. She needs you. You’re the only one who can help her and show her how to take care of herself. As much as it kills me to say it, she does need you more than me right now.”

Brody’s grip on the steering wheel loosened. The energy in the SUV subsided. It felt like someone had opened a window and let the fresh air in, making it easier for Rick to breathe.

“You must really care about her if you’re willing to admit that you can’t give her what she needs.”

Rick let his head fall forward. It had been a blow to his ego to realize that what Brody said was true. He couldn’t give
Lydia
what she needed. Where their future might lead, he hadn’t had a clue. “I do care about her. So regardless of how mad you are with me, don’t take it out on her. Be the better man and help her... If it means I have to back off for you to train her, then I will. Her safety means that much to me.”

“You’d really let her go or at least back off?” Brody glanced in his direction and snapped his fingers. “Just like that?”