Technical Threat (Westin Force #4) - Julie Trettel Page 0,2

whatever I want.”

“And as long as you are actually eating and drinking then I’ll let that slide, but it’s clear you aren’t,” Micah, the pack physician, explained to her.

“You have to drink,” I said ready to kick myself for opening my big mouth.

“Who are you?” Micah asked.

“That’s my grandson. He’s new in town,” Nonna had told him.

My jaw dropped opened, but no words came out.

Micah looked confused. “I didn’t think you’d ever had children.”

“He’s adopted,” she said as if that explained everything.

“Oh, well, good. Make sure your grandmother drinks plenty of fluids. Trust me, trying to hold her down for an IV is like battling a force of nature.”

I snorted. “I don’t doubt that.”

My life had been in a whirlwind since the moment I laid eyes on that woman. If only I’d known then what was yet to come.

“Nonna,” she corrected Micah. “I’m far too young to be a grandmother.”

Micah and I shared a look as he bit back a grin.

“Okay then. I’m going to leave her to your care. Good luck.”

He slapped me on the back and left despite my protests to the matter.

I could have been absolutely anyone, a serial killer even. The way he’d left her in my care hadn’t sat well with me at all. It opened up a protective nature I didn’t know I possessed. Foxes were known to be over-protective of those closest to them, but at the time there was zero reason for me to feel that connection to this crazy old woman.

“Look Miss.”

“Nonna. You can call me Nonna.”

“Nonna, look I just arrived here and I’m starting a new job in two days and I cannot stay and take care of you.”

“Who’s asking you to? I can take care of myself,” she said stubbornly.

Having only known her for a few hours, I wasn’t entirely sure of that, but we’d said our goodbyes. I shifted into my fox and ran back to my vehicle.

The next day I officially joined Westin Force. It hadn’t been easy and came with a lot more baggage than just hacking. I suddenly was expected to run and get in shape, not that I’d been horribly out of shape to begin with, but I was more desk jockey in shape, not elite special ops in shape. It had been hard at first, but I kept to myself, my head down, and did whatever was asked of me.

A week later I was ready to quit and move back home. I didn’t think I was cut out for this line of work and wasn’t sure I wanted to be either.

I’d been assigned to Bravo company. They were the best of the best of the elite. I didn’t stand a chance.

I drove up into town to the one small grocery store there to buy a few things. The woman working the register was cute. I smiled at her popping a lone dimple on my left cheek. These days I wore a tight beard that hid it well. I’d found it was too memorable for my line of work, but back then while still clean shaven, I had frequently used it to my advantage.

“Hey there, handsome. I don’t think I’ve seen you around here before. I’d remember.”

“Are you flirting with my grandson?” a voice I recognized all too well said from behind me.

I slowly turned and there she was. Her spikey hair was now dyed a hot pink at the tips, and she glint in her eyes told me she was just as feisty as I’d remembered.

“Your grandson?” the girl had asked.

I genuinely smiled this time.

“Didn’t expect to see you here, Nonna. Are you feeling better?”

I wasn’t trying to play along with her grandson bit, it was just that Nonna was the only name I knew to call her. It clearly pleased her that I had too.

“I’m feeling much better, thank you. Of course, if you ever bothered to stop by for a visit, then you’d know that.”

The cashier’s breath caught, and she glared at me.

I groaned, but when I looked back at Nonna, she was well pleased with herself. Apparently that girl hadn’t been worthy of me for a variety of reasons that only an old gossip would even know. But that was the start of the weirdest and greatest relationship I could ever have imagined.

She was nothing that I wanted and everything I had needed. When she invited me to dinner, I’d surprised us both by accepting. Because of her I had stuck it out with the Force too and faced the