Free Lydia's Secret (The Secret Series Book 1) by Ditter Kellen Page A

her back with me.”
    “Where is she now?” Roman’s gut tightened with dread.
    “At the compound.”
    “With Madison? Have you lost your mind?”
    “She’s locked up behind silver bars, Roman. She couldn’t hurt Madison even if she wanted to.”
    Roman stood so fast his chair toppled over behind him. “She won’t be able to help herself. She’s newly turned. Bloodlust will be inevitable if she gets a whiff of Madison. She is human, in case you forgot.”
    Max rose also. “How could I forget that? She reminds me of it daily. Look, Ivy’s different. I don’t know how to explain it, but she is and she won’t hurt anyone.”
    “I’m more concerned about Svetlana coming after her fledgling, and Madison’s there unprotected.” Roman shot to the guestroom to grab his cell and was back before Max could bat an eye.
    “What are you doing? And Madison isn’t unprotected. Sawyer is there and so is Niko.” Max took another sip of his hot chocolate.
    “I’m calling Madison.”
    “The phones are down.”
    Roman dialed his office only to encounter a busy signal. “Fuck.”
    “Listen. Svetlana would have a hell of a time getting past the silver-reinforced doors. If Madison doesn’t buzz her inside, she can’t get in. And we both know our little human potty mouth isn’t stupid. Not in that area at least.” Max stayed on the receiving end of her verbal jabs enough to know how quick she was.
    “You’re right. Nothing can get past the doors, which is why I’m taking Lydia and Jacie there. Now.” Roman moved toward the hallway as he spoke.
    “Wait. In this storm?”
    “We don’t have a choice. Svetlana doesn’t go anywhere without a small army. We’re sitting ducks in this house.”
    Max nodded. “I’ll go warm up the SUV.”
    Roman dug the keys from the pocket of his jeans and tossed them to Max before rushing to Lydia’s bedroom.
     
    * * * * *
    Lydia lay in bed, listening for any sign of Roman. Her body ached for him to climb under the covers with her and continue his sinful torture, but her head prayed he stayed away. She was already attracted to the man beyond reason. Any more time spent alone with him, and she’d be in danger of losing her heart.
    He’s a monster. What am I doing? But even as she thought it, she knew it wasn’t true. He might not be human, but he was certainly no monster.
    Was Max a vampire too? He didn’t look like one. Of course, neither had Roman until he’d sprung forth a pair of fangs. And what of herself? Apparently she’d been cursed since birth, as well as every female in the Barbatus line that came before her over the last two thousand years.
    Jacie. Lydia sat up and threw off the covers. If Simon couldn’t get to Lydia, what would stop him from coming after her daughter?
    “We have to get you out of here.”
    Lydia bit back a scream. Roman’s sudden appearance in her face nearly did her in.
    “Jesus. You scared the crap out of me.”
    “Get dressed. We have to go. Now.”
    Something about the way he spoke frightened her even more than his abrupt arrival in her room.
    “Is it Simon?” She knew her voice shook, but fear tended to do that to a person.
    “Worse. You need to hurry. Grab a few things for you and Jacie. I don’t know how long you’ll be gone.”
    Worse than Simon ? Lydia almost swallowed her tongue.
    She rushed to the dresser and began opening drawers, grabbing the first items she could find.
    “Where are we going?” She shimmied into a pair of jeans and turned her back before yanking her sleep shirt over her head and donning a soft black sweater.
    “You’re not wearing a bra.” It wasn’t a question.
    Startled that he’d been watching her, she snagged a pair of socks and picked up her sneakers off the floor. Heat flushed her face as she glanced at him. There was no mistaking the lust glittering in his eyes.
    “They’re all in the dryer. I’ll grab one when I take down the overnight bag from the hall closet.”
    He cleared his throat and