Stepping out under the night’s sky, she glanced up at the moon. The full glow of the new moon kissed her skin. The night air bristled with energy she could feel down to her core. She drew in a deep breath and exhaled. She was stepping into the unknown and wasn’t sure of how it would all turn out. All she knew was the outcome had the opportunity to change her life forever.
Gravel crunched beneath Lydia’s heels as she traversed the parking lot. She raised her hand to her stomach to calm the butterflies assaulting her, hoping to keep the fear from showing on her face. Nothing seemed to be working to calm her nerves. She stopped in front of the General and gazed up into his eyes. The anticipation of the unknown had been eating away at her resolve all day but it was due or die time. She had a choice to make.
Footsteps approached from behind. She turned on her heel and took in the sight of both men walking towards her. Something she hadn’t seen coming. They were going to throw a wrench in her plans to leave peacefully. She whispered. “You’re not supposed to be here.”
FBI Agent, Rick Thompson walked over to her without invitation. The man looked even sexier in his black suit than she’d ever seen him before. There was no denying the physical attraction she’d felt for Rick. A distraction she couldn’t afford no matter how delicious he looked. His piercing green eyes threatened to see right down to her soul. Lydia shook the thoughts from her mind. Definite distraction.
His decision to follow her, had the ability to change the outcome, and that alone made her heart race with uncertainty.
She turned back to the General in time to see him cross his arms over his chest and heard him whisper. “Well isn’t this interesting.”
The general held out his hand to Lydia. It was more than his hand, it was her only hope; she recognized it for what it was. Lydia only prayed that he knew what he was doing. She lifted her chin and placed her trembling fingers in his open palm. “You better be right about this old man.”
The general gave a slight nod. “This is for the best.”
Thompson studied the General behind narrowed eyes before yanking Lydia’s hand from the Generals grasp. He took a step in front of her, a challenging look in his eyes. “She’s not going anywhere with you.”
The general let his hand drop to his side and chuckled as if Rick’s veiled threat was as annoying as a fly on the wall.
There was no way Lydia was going to let anyone stop her from getting the help she needed. The tension in the air thickened. There was too much at stake for him to stand in her way. She placed her palm on Rick’s shoulders. “I’ll be fine. Just go back inside.”
Rick’s resolve remained and his gaze set on the man in front of them. “You heard me, she’s not leaving.”
“This is the only chance she’s got to stay alive. There are bad men after her who wouldn’t hesitate to kill to get what they want. What do you think is going to happen if she doesn’t go willingly?”
“I’ll protect her.” Rick crossed his arms defiantly over his muscled chest almost daring the General to challenge his words.
“And are you going to help her harness her gift so she can stop running? As of right now, they don’t know about Mike and her sisters, but if she stays here, she’s all but signed the bounty on their heads.”
If Rick had been hesitant, he didn’t show it. He never let his eye’s drop or shoulders shrug. “She isn’t going.” Rick growled out.
Lydia balled her fist and stepped around Rick, breaking the pissing match that had ensued over her future of all things. Like any of them had a say so in her choice. This arrogant, albeit sexy, man was not going to stand in the way of her being able to learn to master her gift.
Getting a hand on the chaos that had been her life up until this point was her number one priority while keeping her family safe. No, she’d be damned if they thought they’d be making this decision for her. Lydia glared from one man to the other. “I’m going and that’s final. Rick you can’t help me.” Lydia glared at the General and poked her finger in his chest, “Quit baiting him. This is my decision.”
Lydia left the men standing there and walked over to the Humvee of armed men that were waiting to whisk them away. She turned to see if the General was going to follow. Their conversations were anything but quiet as they argued against the General’s plans. Lydia leaned against the Humvee as she watched and listened to each of them. The outcome of her vision forever altered, regardless of whom traveled along on her new adventure.
Thompson dropped his arms. “Damn woman. She’s not leaving without me.”
Maxwell Briggs stood beside him. The longtime friend and ex-military commando had been a silent witness to the Bennett families’ trouble, but he’d been there when her sisters had needed him most. The silent giant was wise beyond his years. His eyes hinted of stories untold; his loyalty was unspoken. The fact that he’d appeared also and wasn’t in her dream, deepened her uneasiness. Briggs nodded to the General. “She’s my new assignment.”
Briggs shook the General’s hand; a rare grin graced his lips. He tilted his head toward Rick. “Besides someone has to watch him, watching her.”