The Scarred One(17)

“The last person you need to ask that is me. I don’t give a fuck what happens to them. They hurt you, and they’re going to die.”

She grabbed his hand and locked their fingers together.

“You’re going to go to sleep now, Lydia. Nothing is going to happen to you. Caleb’s home, and I’m here.”

“Why do I feel happier and safer knowing that you’re here?”

Henry smiled. “I hope it’s because of my dazzling personality.”

She laughed at his teasing.

“Go to sleep, Lydia. Everything will be okay. The bad guys are not going to hurt you. I’m going to take care of you.”

She closed her eyes as his breath fanned across her face. Every now and then she opened her eyes to see Henry staring back at her. “Trust me, baby.”

“I trust you.” She closed her eyes and tucked his hand between her breasts, holding onto him.#p#分页标题#e#

Slowly, she started to relax. Henry’s even breathing along with the masculine scent soothed her enough to finally fall asleep.





Chapter Five



“I don’t think this is right,” Lydia said.

Henry stood in the corner of Caleb’s office while his friend told her what was going to happen. They’d spent the night together in his bed, and he didn’t know what to say to her. She was the first woman to be in his bed, and he didn’t even need to leave a payment as no services had passed between them.

She wore one of Donna’s maternity shirts and drawstring pants. The clothing swamped her and looked completely out of place. She looked maternal in the clothes even though there was no baby.

“You’re Donna’s best friend. I can’t let anything happen to you, and this is our fault that we’ve brought you into this. After Darren, I hoped not to draw you into any of our shit, but it happened and I can’t apologize enough.”

Lydia held her hand up. “I don’t care. It wasn’t something we knew was going to happen.” She looked behind her at him. “We made a mistake arguing like we did.”

“I know, but you’ve got to listen to him. I’m going to be the one to take care of you, Lydia. After what happened the last couple of days I don’t want you alone.” If any of the bastards started sniffing around Lydia, Henry wanted to be around to kill them. No one was going to help him take the men out. Henry wanted that privilege all to himself.

“If you’re happy to be with me then I’ll agree to it. I don’t want Donna worried either.” Lydia turned back to look at Caleb. “Thank you for responding quickly.”

“Henry can be a total bastard and piss me off, but I wouldn’t let anything happen to him either.”

Caleb stood as Donna entered carrying Luke.

“What’s going on?” she asked.

“I’m going to take Lydia home so she can rest. I’ll deal with her job and take care of her.” Henry stood away from the wall, offering his hand to Lydia. He noticed this morning that she moved a lot slower than normal.

She joined him, smiling at Donna.

“Oh, you don’t have to leave immediately.”

“Yeah, I do, Donna. If I don’t go home now I never will.” Lydia pulled Donna in for a hug. “I’ll keep in touch, I promise.”

Henry moved toward Caleb. “I need to borrow the car.”

Caleb was already passing him the keys before he finished talking. “Take care and try not to find trouble or hurt Lydia. I don’t want to have to deal with Donna being pissed.”

Donna was rarely pissed with Caleb.

Taking the keys, Henry broke up the women’s hug and helped walk Lydia down to the car.

Both of their friends stood at the entrance waiting for them to leave. He secured Lydia into the car then moved toward the passenger side. Giving Caleb a wave, he got behind the wheel and started the car up.

“Would you take it slowly? Donna squeezed me a little too tightly.”

He took the drive slowly, easing out of the gates and taking off into the city. Henry missed the potholes in the road, making sure to go easy.

“Why didn’t you scream or yell or something?” he asked, annoyed that Donna hadn’t hugged her easily.

“I don’t know.” She tugged at the bottom of the shirt. “God, I can’t believe I’m wearing these.”

“They’re cute.”

“I’ve no intention of being a mother. Donna’s sweet. Motherhood suits her, but God, these are a nightmare.”#p#分页标题#e#

He laughed at the disdain in her voice.

“You better not tell her I said that.”

“Don’t worry. I won’t. If I said anything awful to Donna, Caleb would kick my ass and be happy while he did it.”