Page 48 of My Grumpy Billionaire Protector

I glance up, surprise to find myself face to face with Isaiah himself.

He steps into the room wearing a crisp navy suit with the tie hanging askew and the jacket draped over his hand. “You shouldn’t exert yourself too much.”

“So now you’re going to act like you care?”

“I know being forced to stay here has been difficult, and it’s made a lot of you restless. However, until this thing with Evie is resolved, we have to try and keep our heads down.”

“This is for your benefit not mine, Isaiah. I’m not the one who kidnapped the governor’s granddaughter, so why don’t you stop pretending like you and I planned this?”

Isaiah comes to a stop a few feet away and tosses the jacket onto a chair. Then he rolls up his sleeves, revealing his tan and muscular forearms. “I know you don’t like it, but I also know that you understand why it’s necessary.”

I push myself up to my feet and use my towel to wipe my face. “The least you can do is tell me how the meeting with the governor went.”

Because I need to know what my options are.

Or if my window of opportunity is rapidly closing.

Isaiah steps out of the light and into the darker part of the gym. “He’s resistant.”

I frown. “What does that mean?”

“It means Miss Coombes will need more convincing.”

My stomach twists. “I don’t think it’s in your best interest to do anything to her. She’s still the governor’s granddaughter, and you know what kind of man he is.”

And how he’ll hunt Isaiah down if anything happens to Evie.

I’m sure of it.

But it doesn’t stop me from trying to offer her what little protection I can.

Like an idiot.

Isaiah leans against the window and glances out. “I’m not going to harm a hair on her head. She already knows what’s at stake. The problem isn’t her lack of cooperation. It’s the fact that she isn’t convinced we’re serious.”

I toss the towel over my head and bend down to reach for my water bottle. “And how are you going to convince her she should be helping you?”

Isaiah twists to face me, half-hidden in the shadows. “I knew you’d come around eventually.”

I take a swig of water and use the back of my hand to wipe my face. “Don’t flatter yourself. I just want to get out of here.”

Isaiah slides his hands into his pockets and strolls over to where I stand. “If you want to get out, what you’re doing isn’t enough. You need to do more.”

“No.”

“If you help me convince her, maybe I’ll let Pierce and your cousin go. Hell, I might even let you go too. None of you were a part of the plan anyway. You’re a smart man, Shane. I know you know she’s the answer here.”

I search his face, a sliver of unease rising up my spine. “You can’t be fucking serious. I’m not going to seduce her just to get myself out of here.”

“Not seduce,charm,” Isaiah maintains, his eyes never leaving my face. “Have a nice dinner with her out on the veranda. Get her to warm up to you.”

I scowl. “Fuck you, Isaiah. You might have me and my friends here against our will, but I’m not your puppet. You don’t get to pull on my strings to make me do what you want.”

Isaiah reaches over and pats my shoulder. “I know you’re going to come to your senses sooner or later. I’ll make the arrangements.”

Because what other choice do I have?

Isaiah has us all right where he wants us, and we all know it.

---