A Gift from the Goddess novel Chapter 113

“Pretty name,” Miles said, sliding into the driver’s seat. “Where to?”

“My apartment isn’t far. If you could drop me off there, I would appreciate it.”

Miles promptly started the ignition of the car and began driving per the instructions I gave him. It wouldn’t be a very long journey but I used every second to think over all the little details in my head. Making sure there was absolutely no room for error.

Because errors could mean death.

However, the entire time I could feel the gaze of some of the men in the back, making my skin crawl uncomfortably. I knew what they were thinking about me. I could tell without even looking. A pretty, vulnerable girl alone in their car? Yeah, it didn’t take a genius. But interactions like this were just a part of the job. I was used to it.

We arrived at the location I requested before too long had passed and I turned to Miles with a now more timid smile.

“My place is just around the corner…,” I started, brushing some of my long black hair behind my ear nervously. “Um… if it’s not too much trouble, would it be okay if you walked me to my door? I think I’m still a little bit shaken from earlier….”

He looked as though he were about to decline, turning his head a few times to look between his men and me. As if you could see him internally debating whether he should ditch them for another errand.

But I couldn’t allow for that to happen.

“Please,” I stressed, reaching a hand over to gently touch his knee. “I would… really appreciate it.”

That seemed to do it.

“Alright guys, I’ll be back in a bit.”

Two of them instantly smiled in a way that made me feel gross, the others sighed in frustration and leaned into their seats instead. I didn’t care though. They weren’t important for what I needed to do. I just needed them to stay out of my way.

“If you’re longer than fifteen minutes we’re leaving your ass here,” one of them said.

Though if that threat was enough to deter Miles in any way, he didn’t let it show.

We exited the car and I started leading us towards one of the larger buildings in the vicinity. And with every step I took, I made sure to do little subtle movements to keep his attention. A sway of my hips, a flick of my hair. Anything to ensure he didn’t spend too long thinking about what was really happening.

“The elevator is accessible via the underground garage,” I said, pushing open a door to let him go in first. “Hope you don’t mind walking me there, Miles.”

“That’s fine.”

But entering into what looked to be a rundown building under construction, I was sure he was going to notice at any moment.

Notice how there were no cars parked anywhere… nor was this even belonging to an apartment complex.

“Where’s the elevator…?” he asked, slowly coming to a stop. “—Wait did you call me ‘Miles’? How did you….”

And it was almost as though I could physically see the gears begin to turn in his head, the realisation that something wasn’t right now dawning on him.

…A moment I was waiting for.

Before he could turn around to face me, I came up behind him and grabbed his hair, quickly throwing him against the wall. Using enough force to do serious damage but still light enough that he should have considered himself lucky. It was far better than the alternative. An alternative that held a more permanent outcome.

No, my instruction had been clear; I was to hand him over alive.

A hindrance more than a benefit and one that required more effort. Normally, I would have just been done with it in a matter of seconds. This way required more… restraint.

“What the hell?!” he yelled out in pain as I threw him to the ground.

Dammit. It hadn’t been enough. I’d held myself back too much.

I moved towards him again with now more serious intent in my stride and reached down to grab him by the scruff of his shirt. Immediately, he began struggling against me, trying to get loose, but he wasn’t anywhere near strong enough to get me to relinquish my hold.

“Get off me!”

But I held on easily, lifting him up as I measured internally the right height to drop him once more. Or maybe it would just be easier to hit him direct—.

“—What are you doing?!” someone suddenly yelled behind me.

I instantly spun my head around towards the voice, Miles still held firmly in my grasp, and saw one of his men had walked in on us.

Fuck.

“Guys! Get in here! That bitch is attacking Miles!”

Oh, c’mon. Seriously?

One or maybe two men would have been okay. But five heavily built men who knew how to fight?

That was concerning.

I dropped Miles to the ground again, hoping that the force was enough to keep him down for good this time, and turned my attention to the newcomers. The four new opponents I’d worked extra hard to avoid dealing with.

However, unlike Miles, I didn’t have any orders for how to handle them.