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.