Page 34 of GAF Factor

The man swiped the blood from his face, glaring at me, and at that moment, I knew things were about to get ugly.

“IRIS—”

The man shouted just as IRIS tossed something at him. “Run!”

We pushed past them for the door, shoving it open. My feet ate up the pavement, pushing harder than I ever had in my life. I glanced over my shoulder just as a loud boom wrenched through the night. Glass shattered, exploding outward as the force of the detonation sent both IRIS and me flying through the air. I landed hard on my back, gasping for air as the wind was knocked out of me.

I pushed myself up, coughing as smoke poured out of the building and flames licked the night sky. IRIS sat up beside me, grinning like the fool he was.

“That was so awesome.”

I glared at him, then sighed as I turned back to the wreckage. “Linda is going to be so mad at me when she finds out we’re not returning your suit.”

9

ISLA

Kavanaugh drove awaywith the last of his things. Pulling the sweater tighter around my body, I glanced down the road, looking for IKE, but he wasn’t there. Had he given up on me?

Riley stepped onto the porch and followed my gaze. “Huh. Look at that.”

“What?”

“Your lover boy isn’t there.”

I sighed. “What do you think it means?”

She blew out a harsh breath, rocking back on her heels. “Boy, that’s a tough call. It could mean that he’s tired of waiting. I mean, it’s been what? A week since you got out of the hospital? Maybe he’s wondering why it’s taking you so long to decide if you want him.”

“You think?”

She shrugged. “Then again, it could be that he saw Kavanaugh leaving and he thought he’d have a word or two with him. You know, man to man.”

My brows furrowed in thought. “You think he’d go after Kavanaugh?”

“He wants you. That much is clear.”

“But he said he’d wait.”

“Well, that was before when he had you in the hospital. He spouted his undying love to you in so many words. I’m sure he thought you’d come home and end things immediately. It took you three days,” she pointed out.

“Well, what was I supposed to do?” I snapped. “Should I have come home and kicked Kavanaugh out immediately?”

She held up her hands, backing up. “Hey, I’m just saying, maybe he’s a little upset you have to think about it.”

“I don’t,” I bit out. “I mean, I just want to make sure my head is in the right place. It wouldn’t be fair to jump out of one relationship and into another.”

“Well, you are still married,” she winced. “Ooh, maybe he went to kill off Shawn.”

I sucked in a breath. “No…”

“I don’t know,” she sighed. “Shawn did try to kill you.”

“I know.”

“Multiple times.”

“I know,” I gritted out.

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