Page 104 of GAF Factor

But he didn’t think twice about slapping that patch on Isla. He didn’t care that he was killing another person. He never thought about who she would be leaving behind. It was all for money, and Shawn probably offered him a cut of it. That was all her life meant to him.

I knew I was a killer. I understood the consequences of my actions. That someday, someone stronger, tougher, harder than me would find me and slit my throat. I knew that I wouldn’t be invincible forever. I was merciful when the situation called for it. I always tried to give a second chance when I could. But when those chances were up, I did my job without mercy, knowing one day I would be in the same position.

That was the difference between this asshole and me.

He didn’t understand that when he agreed to the job, but I was pretty damn sure he was regretting it right now. And when he took his last breath, the last thing he would see was my face, and he would know he had crossed the wrong man.

“The address,” I hissed.

Tears filled the man’s eyes, but he gave it to me.

And then I got to work.

25

ISLA

I didn’t wantto open my eyes. Nausea swirled in my stomach, threatening to make an appearance if I moved even an inch. Everything in me hurt from my hair down to my toenails. If I made it through this hell, I was never leaving my house again.

“Gorgeous, it’s time to open those beautiful eyes.”

IKE. I sighed internally at the sound of his voice. It was nice to hear him, even when I felt like shit. Not that I wanted him to see me like this. I couldn’t imagine I looked too pretty right now.

“You can’t hide from me forever.”

Yes, I very well could. When he held my hand throughout the night, I wanted to throw the table across the room. Getting the fentanyl out of my system was not fun, and I thought I deserved at least five days on the couch with Jujyfruits for what I had to deal with.

And now he was trying to get me to wake up and face the day.

I didn’t want to.

“Fine,” he sighed. “I know you’re awake, but you can lay there and pretend for another hour. I was going to take you somewhere nice and let you sleep in bed all day in front of a fire, but?—”

My eyes popped open and he laughed at me. “So, you are awake.”

“Don’t tease me like that,” I grumbled, pushing up in bed. Oof, that didn’t feel good.

“I found a place to take you that will be perfect. They have a hot tub. You can soak your muscles.”

“Mm, that sounds nice, but what about Jane and IRIS.”

“Fuck them. They can find their own place.”

“IKE,” I warned him.

“What did I tell you about calling me IKE?” he growled, fluffing my pillow.

“Fine, Knox, you can’t let them fend for themselves when they’re only out here to help us.”

He rolled his eyes and sat down on the bed beside me, pulling me onto his lap. “Don’t worry. They got their own place. It’ll be fine.”

Sighing, I rested my head against his chest. I could go back to sleep right now. It was amazing how much those drugs took out of me. I still felt like shit even after they countered the fentanyl.

He turned his head and pressed a kiss to my forehead. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there.”

“It’s not your fault. It happened so fast.”

“It was the patch,” he said, his voice rumbling against my cheek. “The way dealers make them now, all it takes is a small amount to kill a person. We were lucky we got you to the hospital when we did.”

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