Page 165 of GAF Factor

“We had a deal. When I signed up for this, I was promised so much more than you’re delivering.”

“That’s politics, sweetheart. Sometimes, things don’t work out the way you want them to.”

I couldn’t believe my ears. Olivia—the woman I thought had been so sweet and naive the whole time—was not only working with the senator, but seemed to be fully complicit in the whole thing.

“If you’re too spineless to do what needs to be done, I’ll take care of it myself.”

“What are you doing?” the senator snapped.

“Either you hit me or I’ll make sure it’s done.”

I could feel the shift in the senator from out here. Part of me wanted to intervene, but the other part of me needed to know how he would handle this.

“I have never laid a hand on a woman in my entire life, and I won’t start with you all in some feeble attempt to win back my son that won’t even work.”

I glanced back at FNG, who shrugged in disbelief. Then we heard a thwack and a cry of pain. I’d heard enough and shoved the door open, glancing first at my father, who stepped away from Olivia in shock, his eyes darting to her and then me.

Olivia was holding her face, her eyes filled with tears. “Bradford,” she whispered. She pretended she was about to crumble.

“Well, I have to say, I’m a little shocked.”

“Son—”

“Don’t bother to explain. I heard it all.” My eyes shifted to Olivia. “I never pegged you as a manipulative bitch. I had you all wrong. I guess that’s what you get when you choose to believe the best in people.”

Olivia straightened, no longer playing the victim. Her hand dropped to her side as she cocked her head at me. “I wasn’t ready to give up just yet. So sue me.”

I smirked at her. “I wouldn’t waste the time or the energy on you.”

“I guess this means the ruse is over.”

“You’d be right about that. If you so much as mention my name again, I’ll come after you, but it won’t be in the court system, and you won’t like what I do to you,” I said, my tone lethal, striking fear exactly as I wanted.

She glanced at the senator for only a second before fleeing the room. Good riddance.

Sighing, the senator sat down. “Well, I guess that was a wasted trip for you.”

“It doesn’t have to be. There are things we could discuss. Things?—”

He held up his hand, his eyes moving around the room. He was worried the place had been bugged. I snatched a piece of paper off his desk and scribbledthe corner bar.

I wasn’t sure if he would show, but it was the last chance he would ever get to speak to me again. I was done with this shit.

“That’s it?” FNG scoffed. “We’re leaving?”

“Not yet.”

We took the elevator to the first floor and headed out to the street. I glanced around, checking for any threats, but found none. “I need you to be my eyes inside the bar,” I said, nodding to the corner.

“And if anyone comes close, I’ll take ‘em out.”

“Just stop them.”

“Right. I’ll smash a chair over their heads.”

I looked at him strangely. “Not everything has to end in violence.”

And for some reason, FNG looked really fucking disappointed in that. “But…If I don’t stop them, what exactly am I supposed to do? Whistle to signal their arrival? Or maybe you want me to be like Fox and sing a show tune. No, I’ve got it. I should offer them a drink at the bar and make friends,” he sneered.

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