Page 24 of Painting Her Fate

It took a few deep breaths before my grip loosened on him, my hand sliding down his bicep to his forearm before letting go. That is when I discovered the scars under all that ink of his.

Just what has this man been into?

Before I could say I’m fine, the other man who tackled the perpetrator called out.

“Ford! Call nine-one-one, I see a knife.”

My attacker moaned as he came to, *Groggy addict* “What the hell?”

“Already on it, boss.” Ford booms, talking with a dispatcher on the other end, calmly relaying the incident, location, and other details.

I couldn’t focus. My mind raced. I was too busy trying to sink into my safe space. Not a bad place to be right at this moment.

A deep voice shook me from my contemplations.

“Are you injured?” Ford asks. It takes a minute to register the question.

My body trembles with hatred.He came at me with a knife. A bloody knife! What the hell?!

He repeats the question when I do not respond right away. “Are you hurt at all, miss?”

I shake my head, not able to gain my voice. I cross my arms and grab my elbows, a protective measure.

“I think she’s okay, a bit shaken is all.” He relays then turns away and yells to the man pinning the other on the ground, “Boss, squad car is one minute out. Think you can hold him ‘til then?”

“This piece of shit isn’t going anywhere.” He says through a clenched jaw as he stand over the creep and clutches his shoulder.

The rest of the incident felt like a blur. I remember the police sirens wailing and the arsehole cuffed and set inside the car. I’m sure I waved away the need for an ambulance more than once.

“Miss.” Ford’s deep Southern timbre skitters through the fog, concern

etched in his stare, “Hey miss, maybe you should get checked out.”

I glance to the ambulance and find my rescuer sitting on the back step his left arm in a sling and two medical personnel wandering about.

Next thing I recall, I’m sat next to him, the female EMT stopping to check on me.

“Miss Hayes, my name is Linda. Can I see your arm? Looks like you fell, there is a pretty good-sized scrape.”

I see now she has gauze and bandages at the ready and can confirm the side of my arm does indeed have a scrape.

“Oh, I didn’t realize.” I say dazedly.

Ford is quick to speak, “No problem, little lady, Linda here will fix you right as rain.” He winks at Linda with a cheesy grin on his face then turns a watchful gaze on his friend. My rescuer. I let Linda do her thing as I observe the two men and listen in on their chat.

“How’s it goin’ boss?” He crosses his arms and shakes his head, ready for whatever his friend has to say. “Don’t say it-”

“I’m Fine.” He bites. My knight huffs and shifts his gaze around, clearly agitated to be here. He gave me a hard glance before shifting his eyes back to Ford.

Oh dear, a little testy, is he?Well, he did just knock out a person for you, so, yes, I can see why he might be alittlegrumpy. He hurt himself during the ordeal, something I feel responsible for conjuring.

Ford let out a chuckle, startling me, “HA! You’re not foolin’ anyone,

Zander. You need to go get that damn shoulder checked out.”

“I’m not going to the hospital.” Zander denies.

Ford’s baritone raises an octave, his accent thickening, “Emma, and I are this close –” he pinches his thumb and forefinger close together and shakes it near his boss’s face, “to kicking your sorry ass. You got your momma worried about you too – that’s what.” He retorts then mumbles Spanish expletives under his breath. Ford is on his last nerve with his boss, “We all know you’ve been dodgin’ your appointments.”

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