12. Bennett
BENNETT
By the time we pull through the gates at my parents’ house, I notice that security has been increased. There are two men at the gates, and instead of waving us through like normal, they stop us.
Knox lowers his window. “Seriously?”
The guard shrugs his shoulders. “Orders.”
I nod. “Let them do their job.”
We get closer to the house, and there are more men that have us stop the SUV. They check the exterior of the car and then wave us on.
“Wow. Is that normal?” Audrey asks.
I shake my head. “No. The security detail has been increased.”
She leans her head back on the seat. “Because of my father?”
Neither of us respond.
We get parked, and Knox and I stand on each side of Audrey as we walk into the house. The second we enter, Mom comes to see us. Her eyes widen. “Is everything okay?”
Audrey gives her a small smile. “Hi, Eleanor.”
Dad walks out of his office and seems surprised to see Audrey. I step in front of her. “Dad, we need to talk.”
He motions for us to follow him as he goes back into his office. Mom goes ahead of us and sits at the chair next to his desk. Knox, Audrey, and I stand facing my father.
“We have a lead on Grant,” I tell him.
“My brother,” Audrey chimes in.
My dad nods at her. “Okay.”
I grimace as I say it. “Knox and I are going to talk to him, and we want to leave Audrey here with you.”
Audrey chimes in again. “Or I can just go with them.”
I give her a look. “You’re not going with us. We need to focus. We need to get Grant to safety and capture your dad. If you're there, we’ll be focused on your safety instead of the job at hand.”
She puts a hand on her hip. “I can take care of myself.”
This woman is going to drive me crazy. “I know you can.”
“No, you don’t.” She points at me. “Because every time something happens, your answer is to lock me up somewhere.”
I shake my head. “I’m not locking you up anywhere. I’m asking you to spend a few hours with my parents. That’s all.”
She blurts out a laugh. “You act like this is a social call. You’re putting your parents in danger by bringing me here, you know that, right?”
My dad stands even taller. “I hope your dad is stupid enough to come here. I’ll end him.”
I barely resist rolling my eyes. “Audrey, I’m bringing you here because this is the safest place in the city.”
She laughs, but there is no humor in it. “And what am I supposed to do? Sit here while the two of you go after my brother?”
“Yes.”
Her mouth drops open.
Knox mutters, “Uh, you could have phrased that better.”
I glare at him. “I’m not going to hurt your brother. I’m going to bring him to you.”
Audrey puts both hands on her hips. “I’m going.”
I shake my head. “No, you’re not.”
“Bennett.”
I step closer. “If you’re there, Knox and I won’t be focused on what we need to do.”
She just glares at me.
I soften my voice. “We’ll be watching you and making sure you’re safe. If you’re there, you are our number one priority. If you’re here, safe, then our priority will be your brother.”
I reach for her hand and thread our fingers together. “I need to know you’re safe so I can think clearly.”
Knox nods beside her. “Same.”
Audrey looks between us. She’s still angry, but at least she’s listening to us now.
Dad clears his throat. “She’ll be safe here.”
Audrey sighs heavily.
As if that is settled, Dad looks at me. “And when you get Victor, I want him brought here to the cellar. Do you understand?”
Every part of me wants Victor for myself, but I know what I have to do. “I will bring him to you alive,” I assure him.
He nods, and I turn to Audrey. “We need to go.”
She looks at Knox first, then me. “Call me.”
I nod. “We will.”
She reaches for Knox and holds his hand too. “Please, don’t do anything stupid.”
She releases my hand and pulls him in for a hug, holding him tightly. Knox presses a kiss to her forehead and then to her mouth. Their tongues touch, and I know it kills Knox not to take her mouth the way he really wants to.
When they pull apart, Dad makes a sound behind me. “What the hell?”
I almost smile, but instead Audrey throws her arms around me and holds me tightly.
I do the same as Knox and kiss her forehead and then her mouth.
I kiss her deeply, putting all my feelings into that kiss and almost forgetting that we’re standing a few feet from my parents.
I pull away and brush my thumb along her swollen lower lip. “Stay here.”
She rolls her eyes. “I will.”
I smile.
Behind me, Dad says, “Would somebody like to tell me what the fuck is going on?”
I look over Audrey’s shoulder. Dad looks completely stunned, but Mom is just smiling like she’s known exactly what was happening all along.
Knox claps me on the shoulder. “We should probably go.”
I nod. We definitely should go because taking down Victor Sterling might be easier than explaining our relationship with Audrey to my father.