Page 147 of GAF Factor

Sweat coated my palms with every second that passed. Not much got to me, but answering her questions—knowing that itmight end everything between us—that made my heart skip a beat.

My phone buzzed again, and I knew this time I couldn’t let it go to voicemail. I slid my thumb across the screen and brought the phone to my ear as my heart pounded in my chest.

“Yes?”

“You haven’t answered your phone.”

“I’m aware.”

“I need you for a job.”

“I assumed as much.”

My eyes never strayed from Isla’s as the silence grew by the second. To her, I was cool and calm, but inside, I was terrified that everything was about to come crumbling down.

“We have some matters to discuss. Be there at the usual time tonight.”

“I’ll be there.”

“And IKE…if you fuck this up, there will be no second chances.”

I hung up and pocketed my phone, finally tearing my eyes from hers. “I need you to move,” I said quietly.

She shifted to the side and I pulled the door open, stepping out onto the porch.

“If you walk out and don’t tell me what’s going on, don’t bother coming back.” Her voice quivered with the threat, but I knew she absolutely meant every word of it. She didn’t tolerate lies or secrets, and this was one that might just end things for good. If I stayed and explained things, at least there was still a chance. If I left…

With nothing left to do, I walked back inside and slammed the door behind me. “Fine. What do you want to know?”

“Everything.”

“Be more specific.”

Her mouth dropped open as she tried to think of what to ask. There was a hell of a lot to tell her and not enough time in the world to get through it all. I had a limited amount of time to explain things before I had to leave, so I cut to the chase.

“I work for some nasty people. I already told you that I do some pretty terrible things. It’s not exactly the kind of life you leave. I can come and go as I please as long as I’m there when they call. But lately, I haven’t answered them at all. First, it was because I was locked in a shipping container. Then, I was too busy watching you to give a fuck if they needed me. After that, I started chasing down your dirtbag ex-husband.”

I shrugged, glancing away from her. “On Christmas Eve, I was going to head back. I had no reason to stick around, but I wanted to see you one more time. I missed you so fucking much. And then you called. You know the rest. So, I’ve pretty much been ducking their calls since then, and they’re pretty fucking pissed about that.”

“So…what does that mean for you?” she asked anxiously.

“It means that when I get there, it’s not going to be pretty. They have a job for me, and they need to talk.”

“IKE…” Her voice quivered with fear. I fucking hated that for her, but she wanted the truth. I had to go all in.

“Isla, I will do everything I can to come back to you.” Her head snapped up and her eyes widened. “But that might not happen.”

“But—That’s not possible. You’re IKE. You’re Knox Thorne!” she shouted. “It’s not possible!”

“It is possible. I’m only one man. There’s not a lot I can do against all of them.”

She shook her head wildly, shoving her fingers through her hair. “Why would you say that? Why would you even think that?” she shouted, rushing up to me and shoving me hard, pushing me into the door.

My back slammed into the door right before she slapped me across the face. “Why the hell would you say that?”

I grabbed her by the wrists and tried to calm her down, but she was like a fierce rabbit, trying to kill me as much as she wanted to kiss me.

“Isla. Isla!”

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