Page 128 of GAF Factor

But Isla melted in front of me. “You gave up smoking for me?”

“Well, you didn’t like the taste of it on my lips. I can’t have you kissing me and hating the taste of me.”

Riley snorted. “I’m sure there are other flavors of you that are just as gross.”

Isla didn’t even look as she shoved her sister over, grinning at me. “I hope you don’t think I’m giving up Jujyfruits for you. I’m addicted and I won’t give them up. Not even for you.”

“I would never ask that of you.”

“Good. Because I would end things with you before I would ever give them up.”

“I would expect no less.”

Riley stood, brushing off her clothes. “I’m fine, in case you were wondering. Just twisted my ankle as my sister viciously took me down,” she called out to anyone who would listen.

“Be happy I didn’t push you down the stairs with the armoire,” Isla grinned. “Now, where are we going?”

“Well, if you can tear yourself away from your boy toy,” Riley said, glaring at me, “I’ll take you to the creepy mansion of doom.”

Isla shook her head at her sister’s antics and turned back to me again. I pulled her in for a kiss, knowing I wouldn’t be seeing her for a while.

“I’ll be working for a few hours. I’ll call you when I can.”

The tension immediately returned to her face and her body stiffened. As much as I wanted to stay with her, I needed to end this and the only way to do that was by talking to that piece of shit husband of hers and getting to the bottom of this.

“Go with Riley.”

“IKE—”

“You know what I have to do,” I said, the tone of my voice brooking no arguments. “Go.”

She pursed her lips, pissed that I was turning her away, but she knew this was the way it had to be. She couldn’t be in that room. There was no place for her anywhere near Shawn. That would only slow us down. As soon as she was out of sight, I turned to Lock, ready to get shit done.

“Where’s Kavanaugh?”

“Out on a job.”

“Good. And Shawn?”

“Pissed and scared as fuck. How do you want to handle this?”

“The only way I know how.”

I started toward the building, but Lock put his hand up, blocking me from going anywhere.

“Just remember that Isla’s involved in this.”

“She’s the only reason that fucker isn’t dead right now. Don’t tell me how to do my job and don’t you even think of trying to stop me. I know what needs to be done.”

“As long as you don’t fuck it up.”

“That’s never been an issue,” I said, shoving past him.

It wasn’t lost on me that I needed someone else to get me through the building and down to the room where Shawn was being held. Thankfully, it wasn’t Fox who accompanied me. I wasn’t interested in his brand of crazy at the moment.

Unfortunately, that left me with IRIS. That fucker was riding my ass since the morning he found me outside Isla’s house, and he hadn’t stopped nagging me since. For some reason, he seemed to think this was some kind of bonding experience. I wouldn’t mind if he accidentally blew himself up.

“Just to be clear, your roll in there is to keep your mouth shut,” I told him as we descended into the pits of the silo.”

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