Rocks clog my throat as my gaze lands on the trulyhorriddress she’s wearing.
It’s a short tie-dye beach dress that looks like something Ronald McDonald’s sister might’ve designed. And that’s just the fucking dress. On her feet are black army boots.
Fuck my life.
“Is… that her?” Adeline asks carefully, glancing from me to Isla.
I can’t even answer.
I force my jaw to unclench and arrange a slow, practiced smile as every eye in the room shifts from her to me. I even glimpse my brothers in the corner gaping in shock and whispering.
Then Isla’s gaze locks with mine, and she smiles.
Not anI-hate-yousmile.
Not even anI’m-trying-to-embarrass-yousmile.
Something worse. Calculated. Butsmooth.
I haven’t known her long, but I know enough to recognize this isn’t just about last night.
This is something more.
Something carefully crafted.
She knows the terms of our contract—public representation and every clause memorized to the letter. She’s not in breach. Not technically. But she knew this would make me fucking crazy. Which can only mean one thing.
The forfeiture clause.
As if I wouldn’t figure it out.
No, no. My girl is too clever for that. She would’vecountedon me figuring it out. Maybe not tonight, but eventually.
So… she thinks she can beat me at my own game?
We’ll see about that.
Isla Monroe just started a war she can’t win.
And I’m not walking away from it. Neither is she.
I won’t let her.
Chapter Sixteen
Isla
I rememberwhen I sawThe Jungle Bookfor the first time. I was five.
I loved the movie, but the tiger, Shere Khan, terrified me.
Yes, he was the villain and supposed to be scary, but what got me was the way he looked when he was stalking his prey. That look in his eyes that freezes you, and you know you have no chance of escaping him, no matter how fast you can run.
That is what Knox reminds me of now as he moves toward me.
In his crisp black suit, he walks with dangerous grace. Too calm for the barely-contained look in his eyes.
The crowd parts for him without a word, like they can sense the menace radiating from every step he takes.
