Page 100 of Lavender and Lightning

“I called our contact at the bank, and they’ll have all of your paperwork ready. They have all the new account information to start the transfers, so you won’t have to remember any of that. It’ll just be a few signatures, some obligatory disclosures they have to read to you, and then you’re done. If you’re in the bank for more than a half hour, I’ll be surprised,” Lex continues.

I nod, smiling a little. She’s been a machine making sure that every detail has been accounted for, and anything that could be done remotely has been taken care of. Speaking with the police chief about my status as a missing person, the bank manager about unlocking the account, even setting up a pack-protected account for me, nothing has been overlooked.

“Rhett has the keys to my apartment, and you’ll stay there tonight. It’s not much, but it’ll be safe. The security team has been notified, and they know who is allowed into the building and who isn’t,” she says, and I nod, having already heard this information before.

“What’s going to happen at the wedding?” she prompts sternly.

I swallow and brace myself. This is where things could get tricky. “Rhett is my plus one, but Caleb is going to be with us as my bodyguard. Between the two of them, I’m never going to be left alone. I won’t get within ten feet of Darren, or my mother if I can avoid it. I won’t talk to them, and I definitely won’t let them corner me. Even if I have to go to the bathroom, Rhett will go inside with me while Caleb stands outside and prevents anyone from going in,” I say, ticking off the checklist in my head.

“And you’re going to leave at the first possible opportunity. You’ll stay through dinner, as not to draw suspicion, but as soon as it’s polite, you leave and don’t say goodbye,” Lex adds emphatically.

“Then we go back to the apartment, wait for the all-clear from Jason that everyone’s gone back to their hotel or home to Chauvert. We’re flying out first thing Sunday,” I finish.

Lex nods in satisfaction, and I relax. Somewhere in the house, I hear footsteps and grumbling, and I smirk. Lucas must have finally gotten out of bed, and he’s making it everyone’s problem. Lex and I move in sync, standing and heading to her bedroom door. But before I can open it, she stops me with a hand on my wrist. I turn around and look curiously, finding her hazel eyes conflicted.

“Keep yourself safe, as best as you can. Rhett and Caleb will do whatever they have to do to keep you safe, but… I need you all to come home to me,” she says, speaking slowly and trailing off to a whisper.

I reach out and cup her cheek in my palm, smiling gently as she meets my gaze. I step in, pressing my lips to hers for a soft, lingering kiss that makes my lips tingle even after I pull away.

“I promise I’ll get us out of there, Alexandra. We’ll be back before you even get a chance to miss us.” I try to lighten her mood as best as I can.

She smiles, but it’s a sad sort of smile that I don’t get to think on for long as she pulls me into a tight embrace. I breathe in her mulled wine and spices scent, letting it settle my nerves at least for the moment. Her arms are steady, solid, and grounding. She’s the foundation we’ve built our family on, but it’s a heavy burden. If I can do anything to make that a little easier, then I will.

A soft knock on the door draws our attention, and we break apart as she answers. Rhett is outside, dressed comfortably but professionally. Mateo’s just over his shoulder, yawning and shifting restlessly.

“I told you that you didn’t have to get up,” I chide, stepping out into the hallway and into Mateo’s arms.

He snorts but wraps me up in a tight embrace all the same. “And not say goodbye? Fat chance,” he mutters into my hair.

I look up and smile a little, closing my eyes as he kisses me fiercely. I’m breathless when he pulls away, my smile a bit more dazed. His eyes are serious, darting across every inch of my face like he’s trying to memorize it.

“I love you, Lydia,” he declares.

“Love you, too, Matty. I’ll miss you,” I reply, hugging him again and burying my face in his chest.

We sway a little on the spot, his lips brushing kisses against my hair and temple. But we’re interrupted as Rhett clears his throat behind us.

“You can wait your turn for goodbye kisses, Rhett,” Mateo drawls.

I try to suppress my giggles, but Lex laughs outright. When I pull away and step back, I watch a look pass between the alphas that I don’t quite understand. It’s stern, a warning and a promise all in one. Rhett doesn’t back down under Mateo and Lex’s silent assessment, but only nods. Then Mateo reaches out and pulls Rhett into a brief but tight hug. Lex kisses Rhett’s cheek after Mateo steps back, then whispers something I don’t quite catch. I open my mouth to ask, but Lucas’s shout from the bottom of the stairs interrupts.

“Caleb’s here! Let’s go!” he says.

I look at Mateo and Lex one last time, giving them a reassuring smile before I follow Rhett down the stairs. As Lucas, Rhett, and Caleb pack the pile of suitcases into the back of his SUV, I dash across the distance from the porch to the car, managing to only get a little wet from the rain. I look back at the front door as the trunk slams closed, finding Lex and Mateo standing on the covered porch. They watch as the boys pile into the car, waving as we pull away.

forty-two

Lydia

Therhythmicsoundofthe wipers on Caleb’s windshield breaks up the patter of rain, the streetlights coloring the drops that slide down my window orange. September still counts as summer in Georgia, so the air is warm and sticky. We pull up to the side gate of Everton Airport, Rhett speaking with the security guard in hushed tones through the rear window. We’re waved through, following a security vehicle across the tarmac to a hangar.

Once we’re parked, I slide out of the front passenger seat and round the hood to stare up at the plane. I’ve never flown private before, but I’d imagined cramming into one of those tiny, single engine tuna can planes. But the jet parked in front of me is huge, as big as any commercial plane I’ve ever seen. There’s a short set of stairs leading inside, with two impeccably dressed flight attendants waiting at the top.

“Let's get settled. It’s going to take a bit to get everything ready for takeoff,” Rhett says warmly, coming up behind me and resting a hand on my lower back affectionately.

I turn and look up at him, returning his gentle smile with a nervous one of my own. I let him go up first, following closely. My jaw pops as it drops, eyes going wide as I take in the luxurious interior. Huge leather armchairs surround a table, with a couch along the opposite wall. At the end of the room, there are two doors on either side of a wall, where a television is mounted. Everything is clean and polished, but lacking any of the pungent smell of blocking agents.

“There’s a bedroom in the back, if a mile high club membership is something you’re interested in,” Lucas mutters in my ear before he scoots around me to throw himself on the sofa.

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