Page 69 of GAF Factor

“You do. It’s actually quite cute. You even woke yourself up once.”

“I have never snored in all my life.”

“Well, you wouldn’t know because you’re asleep.”

“I would know because—because I would know!” I said, having no other comeback.

“Alright,” he sighed, “You win. You don’t snore.”

“Thank you.”

“But if you ever want to see evidence of it, I have a great video on my phone.”

“Knox Thorne, you will delete that video immediately.”

“Why would I do that? You don’t snore,” he chuckled.

I glared at him, wanting to smack him and kiss him at the same time. He pulled into a private airfield and drove to a hangar where a man stood outside.

“What are we doing?”

“Taking a private plane.”

“Why?”

“Because I didn’t think putting your name on a flight registry was a good idea,” he answered. “And driving across thousands of miles of open road didn’t exactly sound enticing either. Especially with IRIS.”

“With who?”

A knock on my window scared the shit out of me and I screamed, spinning around and slamming my palm against it. “What the fuck!”

The man stepped back, clearly disturbed by my outburst. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath as IKE chuckled at me, rubbing his hand up and down my back.

“Deep breaths, gorgeous. That’s IRIS. He’s coming with us on this one.”

“Why is that?”

“Because he was with me when I tracked down Shawn last time. I wanted some backup and he seemed like a good choice.”

IRIS… “Wait, isn’t he?—”

“IKE!” A girly scream sounded outside and I cringed as a woman came running over to the driver’s door, tearing it open. The woman ducked in, shoving her head inside. “Hey, I told IRIS I was coming with.” Reaching across the seat, she thrust out her hand. “I’m Jane! It’s so good to meet you.”

I was a little disturbed by the woman, but took her hand and shook it, noting how IKE smiled at the woman a little too fondly. So, this was Jane—the woman he had been in love with. And she was coming with us. That was just great. This was going to be a great trip.

But, I smiled at her anyway. “Isla.”

“I know. I wouldn’t stop bugging IRIS until he told me where he was going. And when he said he was going with IKE, I made him tell me everything. So, you’re going to find your ex? I can help. I write mystery novels. Maybe I can help come up with some clues. Ooh, maybe I could write a novel based on this story. Would you mind? It could be really good. I heard you were blown up and then nearly gunned down. It sounds intriguing.”

Her face contorted suddenly as she was hoisted in the air out of the car. “Alright, that’s enough, babe.”

IKE chuckled, getting out while I sat there stumped. Was I really going to jet around the country with a woman who once held IKE’s heart? That sounded like the worst time ever. But he needed backup, and I didn’t want to sound like a petulant child throwing a temper tantrum because I didn’t want to be friends with his non-ex-lover.

I shoved my door open and got out, putting an uncaring, free-as-a-bird look on my face. I could do this. I was an adult, and there were more important things than fighting over a man. Not that it was a contest anyway. IKE chose me. Well, he chose me after she chose IRIS, but that was beside the point. I was his spark. He never said he sparked with Jane. And if he had, he wouldn’t be standing here with me.

“Isla?”

“What?” I asked, jerking my head in his direction.

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