Page 63 of GAF Factor

Isla’s eyes flew to mine. She still thought I was the one who beat the shit out of Shawn, but I hadn’t touched him since that night in the alley.

“Huh. I thought for sure that was the Irish. Word on the street is Shawn took a cut, gambled it, and lost big. My guess is that’s why Shawn tried to kill his wife.”

I watched as Isla slid her hand up her throat, swallowing hard.

Insurance policy?I mouthed to her.

She nodded.

“He needed the insurance to pay out, but he didn’t try very hard. His attempts were lackluster, at best.”

“I wouldn’t bet on that continuing,” Donny snorted. “He’s on the run and desperate.”

“Yeah, I saw that. Thanks, Donny.”

“If I hear anything else, I’ll give you a call. Hey, you owe me.”

“For what?”

“For blowing up my favorite hangout.”

“That wasn’t me, but I’ll get you something extra for the intel.”

“Much appreciated.”

I hung up and sank down on the bed beside Isla.

“You put it on speaker.”

I frowned, wondering why that was the first thing she said. Out of all the information we’d just heard, that’s what she wanted to know about? “Why wouldn’t I? It concerned you.”

“Right, but why didn’t you listen to it first and then decide if you wanted me to know what it was about?”

Sighing, I tugged Isla into my arms. “When are you going to get it through your head that I won’t hide things from you?”

“You didn’t tell me you weren’t the one who attacked Shawn,” she pointed out.

“Because you needed me to be the bad guy.”

Her eyebrows rose at that. “Yeah? And why do you say that?”

“Because you were starting to have feelings for me, and as long as you could be pissed at me for beating up Shawn, you had a reason to push me away and deny those feelings.”

I smirked at her, knowing she was about to smack me, which she did two seconds later. And when I laughed at her, it only pissed her off even more, making her cheeks flame to the same color as her hair.

“Alright, Tiger,” I said, catching her wrists when she tried to attack me again. “Save the spankings for later. We have work to do.”

“Which would be what?”

“Well, we have to figure out how to get your ex off your back. He won’t stop coming after you until he gets the money or the Irish kill him.”

“And you want me to help with that?” she asked, her voice nearly squeaking out in surprise.

“Only if you want to.” I released her and stood, grabbing a pair of sweats out of my drawer, tugging them on as she ogled me from the bed. It was a damn shame she was covering her breasts with the sheet. She was a sight to see, and looking at her in the morning light was one of the highlights of waking up beside her.

“And what would that involve?”

I shrugged. “Fancy clothes, danger, probably a few mobsters…just a usual job.”

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