Technical Threat (Westin Force #4) - Julie Trettel Page 0,1
was my drug of choice and I had no regrets or shame about it.
I started my own company when I was twenty-one and sold it on my twenty-fifth birthday. I had become jaded and bored. My heart didn’t lie in business. I was a hacker, and I missed the thrill of the hunt.
Being offered a job within the shifter community utilizing my skills had been a dream come true for me, so I’d jumped without even knowing the details.
At first, I had been shocked by what I had done. Despite my excitement for the actual job, the strings that came with it almost had me running for the hills, or down the hill I supposed since Westin Pack sat on top of a mountain.
In fact, I’d been doing just that when a little red Toyota Corolla pulled out in front of my SUV. I’d slammed on my breaks with my heart pounding and somehow, I’d managed to barely kiss the little car, leaving the faintest of scratches on the paint.
It still made me sick to my stomach to think about it. If I hadn’t seen her. If I hadn’t been paying attention. If I hadn’t just had the brakes repaired. So many “If I hadn't.” scenarios.
I’d jumped out with my blood boiling with fear and ran to check on the driver. I was mad and I was frustrated with the current events of my life. I was unleashing it all on that driver before I even saw her.
The thing about wolves though—they have super hearing.
As I approached the driver’s door mid-rant, it swung open and a tiny old woman with spikey gray hair got out looking a little disoriented, shaking, and a whole lot pissed off.
“Now you listen here, sonny. You can’t be flying up the road around this place.”
“What the fuck? You pulled out in front of me. You’re lucky to even be alive right now. If I hadn’t been paying close attention you would likely be dead right now.”
She had calmed at my words and glared at me until it turned my blood cold.
“That’s no way to talk to an elderly woman. You’re in my territory, sonny, and I will be respected. You will not speak such vulgarities in my presence ever again. Are we clear?”
When I scoffed, she reached up and grabbed hold of my ear and dragged me back to my vehicle.
I was so shocked by her actions and strength that I never crossed her again. In fact, since that day, I’d never even considered dropping another F-bomb fearing she’d be just around the corner waiting to punish me for it.
For all her bravado, she was pretty shaken by the entire interaction. I felt bad for it too once I started to calm down.
“You shouldn’t be driving in that condition.”
“I’m fine,” she said, but when she started walking back to her car she swayed. I rushed to her side. I felt terrible and feared I’d harmed her in some way.
“Let me help,” I had told her.
“It’s nothing. Just a little woozy.”
“You shouldn’t be driving in that condition.”
I could tell she had a stubborn streak a mile long, but for some reason she’d let me help. I pulled my SUV to the side of the road and then got her into her passenger seat while I took the wheel.
“I’m not sure where the closest hospital is,” I admitted.
“I’m not going to no hospital. Just take me home. It’s only about a mile from here.”
I groaned. “I’ll feel better if you see a doctor.”
“Fine,” she said jutting out her chin, but she still directed me back to her house.
I muttered something under my breath when I realized. Her hand flicked out faster than I could even process and squatted my hand.
“I warned you.”
“I didn’t curse,” I insisted. “I swear.”
“You don’t swear in my presence.”
I sighed in frustration. I was done with this crazy old bat. I decided I’d help her into the house, call Kyle or Patrick and report her as a danger to herself and society and wash my hands of it all.
Somedays I still wished I’d stuck to that plan.
Instead, she manipulated me into coming inside, cooking her dinner, calling Doc, waiting with her until he arrived, and staying even after he was gone with instructions for her to go on a strict diet and ensure she got her necessary fluids in.
“Basically, you’re dehydrated. This diet will help you get extra hydration because I know you aren’t drinking like we talked about.”