Chapter Three
It started a pattern for the next three months.
Firmly having placed himself in the friend zone.
Odin started to stop by once a week. She’d be working late, mixing up the day each week depending on her day, the paperwork demands and clients.
How he knew that she didn’t know and he’d bring dinner.
And that intensity with him. Plenty of conversation and great food couldn’t take away from how he took up the whole room.
Just his presence was enough to take her breath away but she’d not had another panic attack.
She seemed to be over that or had accepted him and her own fears had slowly disappeared.
Maybe that’s why he did it. He knew she needed some time around him.
Time to get used to how he looked at her.
Trying to keep it light and friendly was becoming difficult.
Trying to avoid him a little or maybe challenge him by changing up her paperwork night wasn’t working either.
He always seemed to know. After dinner taking her home and staying over in her house taking her back to the office in the morning.
Wasn’t easy. Having him in her house wasn’t easy either.
His presence always seemed around, his scent on everything.
His kindness making her feel unkind. She could have found a way to tell him no but in all honesty, she didn’t want to.
Her conflict all too clear. She liked it. Having him around.
Was she that desperate for some male company?.... She’d take anything?....
The weeks passing, her mind in turmoil she kept her thoughts to herself. Seeing her staff out for the day and locking down the shop front, going about her routine when the last one in, taking her time to check on the animals making sure everything was in order before going to her office.
And in that moment, deciding there were better things she could do than paperwork.
Going out the back door locking up behind her, she walked to her car. The night all around her. She didn’t look for him it was way too early. When he came it was a couple of hours later giving her time to do her work and maybe for him to check she was still there working.
But not tonight. Beginning to feel hemmed in, she was glad of the cooler air.
She was being a coward, and she knew it. Just not up to dealing with him this night.
Sooner or later she’d have to make a decision. He still wanted her but the ball was firmly in her court since the panic attack. He wasn’t making any moves.
She felt like a fraud.
After the first time in her office and her reaction he was holding off.
Not pressuring her at all. His attentions kept cooler.
She was in no doubt he was holding back because of what happened.
Because of how she’d reacted. Or maybe he’d lost his interest and ‘friends’ keeping an eye on her was a role he’d taken on. Whatever, it was beginning to grate.
Why was he still around…..
Her stupid reaction was stopping her living….
Shocked at her own mind, she wasn’t sure where that thought came from. She’d not taken his money, or his attentions but he’d made up for that by being kind. Always coming with gifts. Animal food. Bedding. Medicines. As well as dinner. He was killing her with kindness.
Maybe she just needed a holiday….
Nodding, gazing around at the sky. That sounded so good.
She couldn’t remember the last time she’d taken a holiday.
Opening the car door sliding in. The screech of wheels came from nowhere.
Shutting the door. Turning toward the noise wondering if someone was in trouble.
As the large 4 x 4 crashed into her. On impact it threw her across the front seats, she’d not had time to put her seatbelt on.
Her car moving with the impact she screamed trying to reach out and hold on to something.
Her head smashing against the windscreen her arm caught under the seat trying to brace herself.
The 4 x 4 hitting her again and again her weight thrown forward each time bouncing her round.
Unable to stop herself, her head fuzzy, her arm pinned awkwardly floundering around she couldn’t get a grip to readjust herself, it broke.
Her scream rang out.
Everything going dim. The pain excruciating almost blacking her out she tried to stay focused. Tried to breathe through it. But it was so damn hard to do. Tears running down her face. Her head banging, her body shaking. In shock. she could feel the blood running down her face.
Voices reaching her.
“You were told a light touch man! Look at the state of that car! The buyer needs her for leverage!”
Hearing it she knew then whoever it was, was part of Odin's life and now at her door. This was everything she’d worried about.
Reaching for her bag she found the pepper spray, pulling her arm free of the seat frame she held back another scream.
A quick look at it and she knew it was probably broken in two places.
Fuck….. She’d not be working with that for a while….
Their words repeating in her mind. Needed her for leverage?......
Yeah, she wasn’t happy with that. Touching her PID it killed her to move but did it. “Message for Odin.” She breathed out.
“Ready.”
“I’m under attack. Shop car park. Sounds like 3 guys. Want me for leverage? Car going into emergency lockdown. Need you.” Turning the PID off.
“Computer, emergency security lock down the vehicle.” Grimacing she breathed through the pain hearing the men coming nearer trying to lift her arm and wrap her bag strap around it and her neck.
She wanted to scream. How the fuck had she got here?..... Her time was running out…..
Wiping roughly at her tears. “You are inside a damaged vehicle it is not safe to do so.” The car computer answered her.
“Yes. I know. Bad guys outside. Life at risk.”
“Emergency lockdown in operation. Do not try to leave the vehicle. Security has been alerted.”
A bit bloody late but she’d take it. Hearing the car lock down.
The safety net engaged. The surface of the car would now be electrified.
The panels reinforced by the net it would take a jackhammer to get in now.
The men nearer she lay across the front seats panting.
Cursing for not carrying some painkillers.
Lifting the bottle of water she always carried she drank.
Shadows moving around her the men attacing her were talking. Their voices strained. It wasn’t going as they’d expected.
Good…. Assholes….. “Get her out. This deal is up if we cannot get her.”
Hearing them right outside she kept her head down. The car glass now opaque, they wouldn’t be able to see her, or hear her with the dampening in place but she could if she chose to see them. Hearing them not an issue.
“Warning anti-theft measures are in operation do not try to access the vehicle.”
“Shit man, she’s locked down. There’s no way to get her out now. We’d have to break the vehicle comp. Don’t have the equipment for that.”
“We were paid to get this done!”
They were arguing. It seemed surreal.
“Well we’re not getting it done now unless….”
There was rushing about. The arguing going on. She had the feeling this was far from over. Her PID ringing. Lifting her good arm she answered it. “Yes.” Wincing in pain.
“Female? What has happened?”
Odin. Tears hit her eyes. She was so relieved to hear his voice.
“3 men outside my car. They rammed it twice. It's damaged. My arm is broken in two places I think. Hit my head it’s bleeding. They said they were paid to take me. I was supposed to be leverage Odin. But I locked the car down put on the Emergency safety. They can’t get in but, they are trying.
Looking for an angle. I can hear them.” Her voice choked as she tried to wipe her tears.
“Female. Do not give up I’m coming. I’m near.”
“The pains bad. No meds. Head hurts….”
“We’ll fix that soon. Stay with me.”
“Not sure I can…” She panted. Her eyes closed, she was so tired.
His voice filled the car. Speaking to her to keep her with him.
Comforting her to hear him still there. Half asleep she knew to try and stay awake with a head wound it could be dangerous but it was a struggle.
Everything dimming. And then the drilling started the security field fritzing around her.
Shit, they were fazing it out around her…..
“They’re going to get in….”
“No. I’m here. Stay with me.”
She tried, she really did but the fazing and noise, the voices of the men, strangely lulled her.
The pain radiating through her taking her over.
Her mind unable to focus any longer. Her body shaking.
The roar penetrating through the fog, the banging and crashing, raw fighting going on around her was the backdrop to her awareness.
“System shutdown.” The vehicle computer told her. She guessed they were either getting in or Odin had done what he could so easily. Too far gone to do anything she lay there waiting for what next and must have blacked out.
“Female. I am here.” Odins voice penetrating the fog. Gently holding her damaged arm, his roar carried. “They dare damage what is MINE!”
“Focus Odin. We have the men. The female needs you.” Another voice she did not know. The hand holding her head was shaking. She could feel it. Her mouth open, flesh was placed in it. Blood pouring into her mouth she was encouraged to swallow. Odins voice gently coaxing her.
In moments, her mind cleared a little and she could open her eyes and look at him. “Better.” She whispered. “I see you.”
“Let me see her.” The other voice told them.
Odin growled snapping at the male but moved aside allowing what she could see was another Cyborg in.
Assessing her, he looked at her head injury and then her arm.
“The head is concerning, she will need monitoring for 24 hours. The glass is cracked on impact with force. Her arm needs human fixing. It needs splinting now. Your blood will start to heal it and it needs to be right if she’s not to lose the use of it. It will be painful.”