Odin's Honor, page 1
Odin’s Honor
Reana Malori
Odin’s Honor © copyright 2019 Reana Malori
All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
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CONTENTS
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Epilogue
Thank You
Conall (Irish Sugar) - Excerpt
Let’s Stay in Touch
About the Author
Also by Reana Malori
ODIN’S HONOR
Summary
Being left alone was all he'd ever wanted. Too bad fate has other plans.
ODIN: All he needed was his cabin, his freedom, and his wolf. After all the pain and hurt he’d experienced, Odin Jakobson, was a broken man. Once a member of an elite special forces team that used wolf shifters to fulfill dangerous missions around the world, he now lived alone. Bitter and angry at the world. Little did he know, his world was about to turn upside-down.
LAYLA: To save her son, Layla will go to the ends of the earth and do whatever it takes to survive. Life hasn’t always been easy, but her son Christopher was the blessing she needed. Hunted by those who believe she’s seen too much, she has no choice but to run. Now she’s stuck in a cabin with a man whose strength she comes to rely on, whose touch makes her feel whole again, and whose whispers demand her submission under the night sky.
Honor demands that he protect Layla and Christopher. His wolf demands he claim them both as his.
Chapter 1
Layla
Layla pressed her ear to the wall. She knew it wasn’t good to be so nosey, but she couldn’t help it. The noises were too loud, and she couldn’t sleep. Glancing over at the clock, she noticed the late hour. She’s supposed to be on the road by eight in the morning to begin her drive home. For the last three days, she’d been at a conference in Richmond to learn more about a new procedure that would help patients heal faster after orthopedic surgery. As a nurse focused on orthopedic surgery, she did everything she could to stay on top of her field. This conference was the next step in getting a promotion. As a single mother of a small child, she would do whatever was necessary to take care of her family.
The voices on the other side of the wall became louder. It wasn’t usually her style to eavesdrop, but they’d woken her up at two o’clock in the morning. Now she wanted to know what was so damn important.
“You haven’t come through for us, John. That wasn’t the deal. He’s not going to be happy about this.”
Layla almost wanted to laugh. They sounded like two-bit gangsters trying to be tough.
“I just need a little more time. You guys know how this looks. Those damn goody-two-shoes Democrats blocked the appropriations bill. The job was going to be funded through the state. He knows I keep my promises.” The man whimpered so loudly, Layla could practically visualize him on his knees as he begged.
Man up, dude. This is a bad look. Don’t let them punk you like this. She knew this conversation wasn’t meant to be heard by anyone outside the room next door. Oh well, this was some good shit, and she was going to listen for as long as she could.
“I told you guys all there is to know…”
To Layla, it seemed his voice had faded, but she could still hear the low and deep cadence of the men in the room with him. Turning, she stepped away from the connecting door. Looking around the room, she was glad she’d completed all her packing earlier that night. Whenever she stayed in a hotel, she liked to sleep in late to spoil herself a little. There would be none of that this time.
Her home was in Alexandria, Virginia, and it was only a ninety-minute drive from Richmond. Plus, the sooner she made her way north, the quicker she would get to see Christopher. He was the absolute love of her life. For just over two years, since the first moment she saw his beautiful face, she’d fallen head over heels in love.
Being away from him for three days was hard. She missed him so much. Although she tried to talk with him every day, it was just too difficult to not see him every night before bed. Glancing around the dreary hotel room, she came to a decision. Since she was already awake, she might as well get on the road a few hours early. She finished gathering her final belongings, completed her morning hygiene routine, and prepared to exit the room when the voices on the other side of the wall caught her attention. Placing her items on a chair, she leaned in closer to hear the conversation, and then promptly wished she’d minded her own damn business.
“John. Your time has run out.”
“No. Wait. Just give me until next week. I can get the deal done. I’ll make the governor agree to everything.”
“Too late. You know, I liked you, John. I really did. But I liked your pretty wife even more. Maybe I’ll pay her a visit when this is all done.”
“No! Stay away from my—”
Pop! Pop! Pop!
Layla jumped at the sound. “Oh, shit,” she yelled, unable to keep the noise inside. Stepping away from the wall, she looked frantically around the room as if expecting the men to flash in front of her. She needed to get out of there. Grabbing up her bags, she slammed the door open and began to walk down the long hallway toward the elevator. Layla kept looking over her shoulder, praying they didn’t hear her loud exclamation. Truth be told, she wasn’t holding her breath that her luck would hold out. Arriving at the elevator door, she repeatedly pushed the button to go down. Looking down the hallway in the direction from where she came, she prayed the doors would open before anyone exited that room. She needed to get home to Christopher. She didn’t know these people and wanted nothing to do with any of this.
The sound of a hotel room door opening caught her attention. Looking toward the sound, she saw two men step out of the room next to hers. One had dark brown hair that hung down to his shoulders, while the other one was completely bald. They began walking in her direction, twin looks of determination on their faces.
Fear reverberated in her body as she saw her life flashed before her eyes. She began shaking as she looked for another way out. The elevator doors opened, caused her to scream out in shock. Quickly stepping inside, she began pressing the button to close the doors. As the heavy metal box began to descend, she pulled her cell phone out and almost press the button to call her friend Romi. She’d know what to do. They’d been friends since junior high. Both had grown up in neighborhoods that were situated somewhere in the middle of the lower class and the working middle class. They’d vowed to each other that they’d both get out one day. They’d go to college, moved to the suburbs, raised the families together, and leave all the other Bolshevik behind.
Some of their dreams had come true, others not so much. While Layla had gone to nursing school, Romi had found the military was her calling. When she’d come home after serving for eight years, her best friend had changed. Her time in the military had given Romi an edge. Although she protected Layla, and by extension Christopher, with her life, Layla still worried about the trauma Romi experienced while serving in the U.S. Army, but it wasn’t something her friend spoke about in any detail. That also meant that Romi would know what to do about this situation exiting the elevator Layla committed to calling her best friend once she got on the road. Running out of the hotel as if the hounds of hell were nipping at her heels, which it seemed as if they were, she made it to her small SUV and climbed in. Turning over the ignition, her only focus was getting the hell out of dodge. Tires squealing, she pulled out of the parking structure and immediately began to speed toward the on-ramp for I-95.
Glancing in the rearview mirror, her eyes widened at the sight greeting her. The two men stood at the entrance to the hotel, their gazes locked in on her vehicle. “Oh, fuck.” Pressing even harder on the gas pedal, she pushed the hands-free calling but and tried to calm her breathing. After a few rings, Romi picked up.
“This shit better be important, Layla. I was dreaming that I was in the middle of a man sandwich, and that shit was just getting good.”
Layla wanted to smile at her frie
“Wait, Layla. Stop talking.”
There was movement on the other side of the phone. Layla knew Romi had this phone masking whatchamacallit she used on occasion. She could hear her engaging that system before she spoke again.
“Are you safe?”
“I’m not sure. I think they saw me.”
“Okay. How long until you arrive?”
“Around ninety minutes,” her voice shook as she spoke. Scared didn’t even begin to describe how she felt. “I need to hide. I need to protect Christopher.”
“Don’t talk about it anymore. I closed the line but wait until you get home. Give me an idea of what we’re dealing with.”
Layla thought about the best way to communicate what she’d witnessed without giving away too much. “High profile 187 behind locked doors.”
Romi’s deep breathing was all Layla could hear for several seconds. “Fuck. I got you. Okay, you just watch your six and get your ass here as fast as you can. Don’t stop driving for any reason. If they saw you, and if you think they can find you, then I need to act fast.”
“Okay. I’ll be coming in hot.” She paused, taking a deep breath. “If something happens to me—”
“It won’t,” Romi interrupted. “You know I’ll take care of it. I’ll do everything I can to make sure nothing happens to you.”
“Yes, I know. But if it does, he’s yours. You have to protect him.”
“Stop that bullshit talk right now. I’m not going to let anything happen to you, or to my nephew. I already have a plan, but I need you to drive faster.”
Hanging up, Layla couldn’t help the smile that came over her face. Yeah, her best friend is bat shit crazy, but she’s also family. She was the only sister Layla ever had or would ever need. They’d find a way to keep her and Christopher safe. There was no other choice.
Chapter 2
Layla
On the drive to West Virginia the next day, Layla was scared shitless. She was so damn nervous about what was going on and what she’d seen, her entire body was shaking in fear. She continuously looked over her shoulder every few minutes to see if there was anyone following her. They had to be. She just knew they were. After the way they looked at her last night outside the hotel, she knew they were going to try to shut her up. There was no way in hell those motherfuckers were going to get her or her son. She’d do whatever was needed to protect her baby, even if it meant she had to run.
When she'd arrived at Romi's house last night, she'd been a bundle of nerves. Although she knew how to handle herself in any situation, this one seemed a bit out of her comfort zone. Something in the eyes of the men who followed her out of the hotel made it very clear to her that they would never stop looking for her. She didn't know why she had that feeling, but she knew it was the truth. Her and Christopher’s life were in danger. All because she happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Looking in the rearview mirror at the backseat, she smiled at the small child sleeping peacefully. Wetness pooled in her eyes as she gazed at her son. All his life, she'd been the one protecting him from all the bad stuff in the world. Ever since his father died under suspicious circumstances—which she’d never fully gotten an explanation for—she’d been overly protective of him. There was too much uncertainty in this world, and even good people could be hurt.
Roberto, Christopher’s father, wasn’t the type of person who got in trouble. Not like that. But then he was killed when she was only six months pregnant. A robbery gone wrong, and he was caught in the crossfire. She’d been devastated, but there was nothing else she could do but keep moving forward. Once Roberto was gone, Layla knew raising their son would rest solely on her shoulders. They’d begun planning for their child’s arrival, but since things didn’t work the way she thought, adjustments had to be made. She’d called Romi to tell her the news, and the two of them planned how they’d raise her child together. Layla, the amazing mom who would make a difference in the world by saving lives every day. Romi, the ass-kicking aunt with a gun case full of fire in her basement.
Getting her attention back on the long road in front of her, she sighed. She still couldn't believe what she’d overheard at the hotel. Had they really killed Congressman John Dean? It seemed almost unbelievable that she had been at that exact place at that exact moment.
Her life wasn't all that exciting anymore, especially with a child in tow. Her party days were behind her, and she was more apt to be seen watching cartoons with Christopher than going out and getting into trouble. But that all changed after one night in a hotel. Now she had no idea what she was going to do with her future or her life. She and her son were now on the run from some very bad people, and she had no idea how long she’d be in this situation.
Calling into work this morning, she told her boss she needed a few days off to take of Christopher, who wasn’t feeling well. Considering she’d worked at the hospital for the past five years and was one of the most reliable employees, her boss didn’t give her any trouble about the days off. Since she’d already planned time off for the holidays, she may just put in for the additional vacation.
No less than thirty minutes after she called into work, one of her colleagues reached out to her by cell phone. The message she had to relay was spine-chilling. She told Layla that two men arrived at the hospital looking for her that morning. When the Hospital Administrator asked why they needed to see her, the men were very vague and just kept demanding to see Layla. When they refused to leave the hospital unless someone told them where Layla was, things escalated quickly. It had become so contentious, one of the nurses had called security to come and help. As soon as they heard her other colleague call for security, the two men quickly left the hospital entrance without leaving their names.
Layla knew precisely who the two men were. Which meant they were already tracking her.
Tears flowed down her face as she wondered why this was happening to her. She wouldn't have said anything to anyone about what she’d seen. She knew how to keep a secret. Hell, she grew up keeping secrets. All she cared about was protecting herself and her son. If they’d simply left her alone, everything would be okay.
They’d already been on the road for a couple of hours, and according to the GPS, they had another two to go before they arrived where they were headed to. The cabin Layla was driving to was owned by Romi’s friend, and she’d promised they’d be safe. Before Layla arrived at her house, Romi had called them and had everything arranged. Knowing Romi’s friends, Layla had no doubt the home she was going to would be one of the most secure locations there was. She was so thankful that she had a friend like Romi. Someone who knew how to get things done, even if they weren't always on the up and up.
Layla turned her eyes to look in the rear-view mirror at Christopher and couldn't help but smile at his chubby cheeks and baby face. She would never get over just how much she loved her little boy. Growing up, she never thought she would be a mother. Not because she didn't like children, but because she'd been so focused on creating a career for herself and getting out of her old neighborhood. Love, marriage, and kids were not on the agenda. And then she'd met Roberto. He'd turned her entire world upside down. Made her fall in love with the idea of having someone to come home to at night. She’d loved him so much, and he’d loved her in return. When they found out she was pregnant, they'd both been elated at the prospect of having a child. She’d finally get her happily ever after. That was until someone snatched it from her hands without a second thought to the shell of a person they’d leave behind.
Just thinking of Roberto’s young life being snuffed brought tears to eyes. He was taken from this world too soon, and they’d taken him from her and Christopher. It wasn’t fair. “Your daddy would be so proud of you,” she whispered to her sleeping son. “Although I don't know if he would be so happy with me right now. If he knew what was going on, I know he would do whatever it took to protect us, because that’s what daddys do. I'm so sorry, baby.”
