Revisited (Redemption Series) (12 page)

“No,” Sam stated firmly. “We think it best her name stay out of this for as long as possible. She has something she is . . . adjusting to right now.” Sam rubbed at the back of his neck in a show of his unsettled thoughts.

Gideon eyed the angel and wondered why he would be upset about his daughter’s new powers as he thought it was every father’s dream for their child to follow in their footsteps. Even with the regrettable fact she was Sam’s daughter, Gideon looked forward to the experiences that awaited him at the hands of his very own angel. “What do you want me to say?”

Gideon had no past experiences to compare to the one he had found himself in now. He had always intended to keep a low profile, but by choosing Ian Holt as a vessel, he learned the hard way that was never going to be possible.

He sat at a long table in front of over a hundred members of the international press. Ian’s mother and father were seated at his left, while Marla Palmeri stood at the podium to his right and addressed the gossipmongers.

Gideon turned his attention to Marla as she finished her speech.

“Mr. Holt will not be answering any questions at this time. As this investigation is ongoing, the details are on a need-to-know basis.”

All her words were just noise to Gideon. She could have been reciting the phone book for all the excitement in her voice. He thought “monotone” would be too kind a word.

“Mr. Holt?”

Gideon nodded his head as Marla addressed him. He rose and took his place at the podium while she stood behind him. “Thank you, Deputy Director.” He looked up, still only able to see clearly out of one eye, and addressed the crowd. “Since January third, my life has been turned upside down. I arrived in Iceland on vacation to visit friends, and was abducted shortly after I arrived in Reykjavik. Though my captors never made their intentions clear, I am grateful my friends and I have made it through this experience . . . battered, but alive. I don’t remember many of the events leading up to my discovery, but I hope in the coming weeks my friends and I will be able to piece together enough of what happened to get to the bottom of it. I ask that you please respect my privacy as I take time to heal and help the authorities with this investigation.”

The crowd began to fire off questions as he stepped back from the podium. One caught his ear, and he wanted, in the worst way, to answer.

“Was it your girlfriend that you were abducted with?” a male voice screamed again once Gideon turned his eye toward him.

“Yes,” Gideon answered quietly and gave a nod. That would give them something to work on for a while. It was a known fact Ian hadn’t publicly had a girlfriend in over two years. Ian had never been seen with Lily, so the press would have their hands full with trying to figure out who the mystery woman was.

He followed Ian’s parents as several dark suited goons ushered them into another room.

“What was that?” Marla screeched.

“I haven’t had a girlfriend in years ̶ ̶ none that the press knows of anyway. That should keep them busy, looking anywhere but at the actual case. A thank-you will suffice.” Gideon grinned.

Marla squinted her eyes and then grumbled before leaving with her entourage. He realized he was alone with Marian and Bradford.

“Our flight leaves in just a few hours. We don’t have much time to get ready,” Marian said, attempting to get her son’s hair to behave.

“Mother.” Gideon grasped her wrist and brought it down to hold at his side. “I am not going back to Boston today or anytime soon. I am going to be with Rebecca. We need to figure these things out together.”

Marian’s bottom lip quivered before a solitary tear slipped down her cheek. She then stepped back and quickly composed herself. “Well, if this is how you choose to live your life, don’t let me stop you.”

“Hasn’t ever stopped you from trying though, right?” Gideon tried to give her a loving smile in the hope she would let it rest, so he could get the hell out of there.

“I’m your mother. I will never stop trying to do what is best for you.”

Gideon nodded with a tight smile, and she gave his uninjured cheek a kiss.

“I’ll see him to the mansion and be back in time so we can catch our flight. He’s in good hands. They’ll keep him safe,” Bradford said.

“They better.” Marian hugged her son, forcing Gideon to accept her embrace. Bradford pulled his wife away from their son. Without another word, she walked out of the room.

“I’m ready.” Gideon rocked back on his heels.

“I’m only allowing this because Sam has assured me that your safety will be their top priority.” Bradford put his hand on his son’s shoulder as he stood in front of him.

“I don’t think Liam would dare show his face around Becca again, or me, for that matter.”

Bradford took a deep breath and gathered his thoughts, scared of what the future would hold for his son. “They are going after him. I don’t want to see you put yourself in the middle of this.”

“I’m going with Rebecca. She’s my life now.”

Bradford let go as he shook his head. “Two weeks ago, Lily was your life.”

“Don’t make light of this, F-father.” Gideon stumbled over the last word, as it was so unfamiliar rolling off his tongue. “I would die for her.”

“That, my son, is what I’m afraid of.”

Lily shut off the television in the kitchen when she heard footsteps in the hallway.

“You catch the whole thing?” Sam asked, sitting down next to her at the table.

Lily knew what he meant. “Yes.”

“Some press conference. I hate to sound like a shrink right now, but how does it make you feel?”

She gave a soft laugh before taking a sip of Jefferson’s concoction from her mug. “Unsettled.” She looked up to meet his eyes. “Ian’s voice was saying everything I’m sure his parents wanted him to say, but I could tell that wasn’t him. I think Liam broke him.”

Sam laughed at her assumption. “I don’t know about that. He seems much more confident now than he did before. He knows what he wants.”

Lily furrowed her brow. “And what is that?”

“My daughter.”

Lily nodded as she heard Jefferson enter with Becca. 

Sam stood and met Becca with a warm hug. “I’m so glad you’re back.” He held on a little tighter.

“I’m fine. A little shocked, to be honest, but fine.” Becca pulled back to assure him. “Really.”

“Peter told me what happened. Please promise me you will come to one of us if anything becomes too much.”

“I promise. Cross my heart.” Becca lifted two fingers and made an X over her heart.

He released her and turned to Lily. He understood Lily and Becca needed a chance to talk.

Thankfully, Jefferson came to his aid. “I have tea set up in the front room if you would like to join me, Sam.”

Sam smiled. “Yes, we’ll leave you girls to it.” Sam kissed Becca on the forehead before he and Jefferson left to enjoy their tea.

Becca grabbed a mug and poured a cup of coffee. She sipped on it, taking a seat across from Lily. “Ooh. You must have reminded Jefferson this was my favorite.” Becca grinned against the lip of the mug.

“Yes, I did. I know it’s not much, but I want you to feel as comfortable as possible.”

“Not likely.” Becca laughed. “I’m not sure the last time I felt like this. Maybe never.”

“And what exactly are you feeling? Last night you were acting as if you had done something trivial, like getting your hair done, instead of receiving powers above any ever bestowed before.”

Becca placed her mug on the table with a loud thud. She wrapped both hands around it as she stared into the dark brown liquid. “What am I supposed to do? My life is pulling me in what feels like a hundred different directions. I have Abe professing his undying love and eternal protection. Then Ian is so grateful we’re both alive, he wants to spend every waking moment with me. Peter is freaking out because he didn’t get the memo I was getting all these extra powers. And me? Me? I feel like I have this huge new part of me heaped on top of the tremendous weight I was already carrying.”

“You are still part human. All the chemicals in your body are going haywire right now because of the transition. It will all settle down eventually, but we can do some testing to see—”

“Stop.” Becca slapped her palm on the table. “This is not something you can fix. It’s not a skinned knee you can just slap a Band-Aid on. I have all these powers now and they come to me as easy as breathing. I need to focus on those feelings.”

“I’m scared for you,” Lily admitted, rubbing her hand up and down Becca’s spine.

“I’m scared for me, too, but you’ve got to let me do this on my own.”

Lily didn’t agree, but for her daughter, she would step back and let her fly on her own.

The black limousine’s tires crunched on the gravel as it curved along the drive leading to the front steps of Leatherby Manor.

    “I will tell you, once again, this is a mistake.”

Gideon sighed and rolled his eyes. “Father, I’m doing this.” During the drive, Gideon had listened to Bradford’s endless objections, while thoughts of the upcoming confrontation with Lily grated on his nerves in the background. He had made the decision long before he had taken over Ian’s body. Once he had Becca, he would follow her to the ends of the earth and beyond.

“You don’t need to be part of this. You should be back home getting ready for your concert.”

Gideon shook his head. He could hear all the notes floating through Ian’s memories, but he had yet to sit down at the white and black keys. “I don’t think I can do it right now. I need to work things through with Becca and . . .” Lily’s name seemed stuck in his throat. “Umm . . . Lily.” The memories of Ian and Lily together made him physically ill.

Gideon could tell that even though Bradford was not at all happy, he would do almost anything for his only son.

“This is the first step then. They are both in that house. I hope you know what you’re doing.”

Gideon felt as if Bradford was attempting to be supportive, but his support was not what he needed, nor wanted at the moment.

The car door opened and Gideon stepped out to find a strange man in front of him.

“I’m Jefferson, the caretaker. Welcome, Mr. Holt, Senator Holt.”

“Nice to meet you.” Gideon extended his hand in an effort to be friendly.

“You as well.” Jefferson shook Bradford’s hand. “Sam is in the front room, Senator. I’m sure he would love you to join him for tea. Lily and Becca are in the kitchen.”

Gideon took a deep breath. “Now or never,” he whispered to himself and walked into the manor through the open front door.

“Just through there.” Jefferson pointed the direction out to Gideon.

“Good luck, son.” Bradford squeezed his shoulder.

Gideon walked into the kitchen while Ian was mysteriously silent. Of all times, Gideon assumed if Ian would be screaming or even crying, it would have been at that moment. He hadn’t heard even a whimper out of him for several hours.

Gideon stopped as he noticed Becca and Lily deep in conversation. He had to clear his throat to get them to notice him.

“Ian.” Becca rose from her chair to meet him with a soft hug.

Gideon wrapped his arms around Becca and kissed her temple before opening his eyes to see an uneasy Lily stand.