Page 29 of GAF Factor

“Glad to see not all your life is in the shitter,” Red muttered as he walked past.

8

IKE

“Shouldn’tyou check in on Isla?” IRIS asked.

I turned down the alley, parking about two car lengths in. “Isla can take care of herself.”

He snorted derisively. “Didn’t you just get kidnapped with her?”

“There were extenuating circumstances. Isla’s not in danger.”

“Then what the fuck are we doing out here?”

“Hunting,” I muttered, shoving open the car door and getting out.

The darkness of night wrapped around me, reminding me how good it felt to be in the city again, to be surrounded by the life I knew so well. It was also a reminder of what I would need to leave behind if I had any chance of winning Isla. My life could never touch her.

“I love it when you say all that cryptic shit. Hunting. Like that’s a fucking answer.”

“We’re going to visit a friend.”

“I didn’t know you had any,” he muttered.

I glanced over at him, stopping when I saw what he was wearing. “Don’t you ever wear anything more…fashionable?”

He glanced down at his tactical pants and then back at me. “What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?”

“IRIS, we’re going into a nice establishment to talk to the type of men who would never take you seriously dressed like that.” Sighing, I turned around.

“Where are we going?”

“You can’t be seen like that.”

“So, we’re just giving up?”

“Nope.”

I pulled out my phone and placed a call to my favorite girl. She was always there when I needed her, and this was a desperate situation. Twenty minutes later, IRIS and I walked into my favorite shop. There were no fancy labels here. But everything was tailor-made. However, we’d have to buy one of his samples for tonight.

“Linda,” I grinned, holding out both hands, giving her a kiss on both cheeks.

“It’s been a while, IKE. Are you here for another fitting?”

“Not tonight. My friend is in need of an emergency makeover.”

Linda looked past me to IRIS and nearly fainted. Her eyes bulged when she saw the boots he wore. “Oh my. I will do the best I can. How long do we have?”

“An hour tops.”

She nodded and got right to work. I turned back to IRIS and grinned, knowing he would hate every second of this.

“I’m not getting rid of my clothes.”

“For tonight, you are.”

“But I need my pants.”

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