Page 71 of Fractured Faceoff

And then it happened—a gasp escaped me as he pressed even closer, a soft moan slipping from his lips.

The sound pierced through me, causing my core to pulsate with want.

At that moment, my phone started ringing, but Jared didn't release me just yet. Slowly, he pulled away, his eyes dark and filled with… want?

No. I had to be seeing things.

I blinked, hoping to shake off the sensation. Instead, I pulled out my phone… only to see Brody's name flashing across the screen.

Chapter 20

Jared

Istepped out of Isla's room; the door clicking softly behind me. The air felt heavy, charged with everything that had just happened. I leaned against the wall, listening to her voice drift through the closed door. She’d handled Brody's betrayal with a steely calm that impressed me, but a part of me still itched to stay close. Especially since the fucker had the audacity to call her.

What the fuck was he calling her for?

I ran a hand through my hair, trying to shake off the protectiveness creeping in. Isla didn’t need me hovering over her like some knight in shining armor. She was strong, way stronger than she gave herself credit for. Still, I hated she had to face this mess alone.

“Damn it,” I muttered under my breath. The memory of Brody’s smug grin flashed in my mind, and anger twisted in my gut. How could he do that to her? She deserved so much better than a cheating scumbag who couldn’t keep his hands off his co-host.

The hallway echoed with silence as I paced back and forth. I thought about what it would take to break throughthat wall Isla built around herself—how much effort it would take for her to realize she was more than just thegood girlwho played second fiddle to Ava.

I caught myself smiling at the thought of us together—fake dating or not—just being in her orbit felt like winning something for once. And I always felt like that, even when we were kids. I liked being around her.

My phone buzzed in my pocket, pulling me from my thoughts. I glanced at the screen—Ava’s name lit up like a neon sign.

Funny.

I pushed off the wall and headed toward my room, glancing back at Isla’s door one last time before stepping through the door.

I tucked the door closed behind me and dropped onto the edge of my bed; the springs creaking under my weight. The room felt too quiet, contrasting sharply with the chaos buzzing in my head. Ava’s name still lingered on my phone screen, but I still didn't answer.

It was only then that I noticed she’d texted me four times.

What are you doing with my sister?

The words flashed like a warning sign, but I didn’t answer. I moved to the next one.

You can’t be serious.

I could almost hear her voice—sharp and incredulous, laced with disbelief. She’d never back down when it came to Isla.

This is low, even for you.

My stomach twisted at that one. Ava always knew how to hit me where it hurt. A sudden rush of guilt washed over me as I read the last message:

Why aren’t you answering me?

Before I could think of a way to respond, my phone rang again. Ava’s name glared at me from the screen like a siren’s call.

Part of me wanted to pick up—to hear that frustration crackle through the line. But another part understood that ignoring her would just add fuel to the fire. I took a deep breath, biting back the urge to respond right away.

Her calls usually meant trouble, and right now, trouble was exactly what I needed to avoid. If she caught wind of what I was planning with Isla—if she realized how much this whole thing mattered—I’d be in hot water before I even got started.

The phone buzzed insistently against my thigh, each vibration echoing like a countdown in my mind. The tension stretched out in front of me like an open road with no clear destination. What did she expect? For me to drop everything now that she was giving me the attention I had wanted from her? To stop seeing her sister just because she asked?

With a resigned sigh, I silenced the call instead of answering it outright. This wasn’t just about me anymore; it involved Isla too. And no matter how much Ava raged, this was a path I'd chosen. I promised Isla I wouldn't make her a fool, and I intended to keep that promise.

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