Read Conviction: Devine for Free Online

uncontrollable. However, she laughed and waved her hand at me, shooing me off. “Go, the guys need you. I’ll be ready for eight.”
    I grinned at her and shook my head. “Make it naked and on the bed for seven forty-five.”
    She snorted. “Nah, make it seven fifty-five. That gives you loads of time!”
    “You cheeky. . . .” I chuckled and turned as she poked out her tongue at me.
    “See you later, lover,” she shouted as I closed the door.
    I grinned all the way to Adam’s, even though my stomach was in knots with the worry that she would find out. If she ever found out I knew she would never forgive me. Fuck, I couldn’t forgive myself.
    I’d gone too far this time but my heart had ruled my head. Something I’d sworn in my life to never allow. Yet, Isla had this hold on me, a hold that seemed to warp each and every thought in my head until the wrongs seemed right and the rights seemed wrong.
    Gen had a lot to answer for and I knew I should have listened to Adam. But she was virtually family. I couldn’t just abandon her, chuck her away like an old plaything. But Isla would never see it that way. I swore to Gen that I would protect her. She was the only one who could get me an in with Freddy and whatever happened in the future, I needed the security he could offer.
    I was going inside for a long time and although I wasn’t afraid of being locked up, I was a man, and I was willing to do whatever it took to make it an easy stretch. Freddy could guarantee me a comfortable sentence and when everything came out, I would lose Isla anyway. Twenty odd years inside was a lonely time, and I had to think about that now. For the first time in my life, I had to be selfish. It was the fact that I knew it would cripple Isla that tortured my soul.
    For the first time in my life I had everything I ever wanted. And as was custom in my life, it was about to be crushed underneath the shit and lies.

J AKE WAS AT MINE for seven forty-five on the dot which didn’t come as a surprise. At eight forty-five we pulled up to a small but tidy house on the outskirts of London.
    Keegan opened the door with a huge smile for Jake and a hug for me.
    “Happy birthday!” I kissed his cheek, holding out the salads and gift as Jake scurried through to the kitchen with the crates of beer and various bottles of wine.
    “Thank you, love.” Keegan grinned appreciatively, adding the gift to the mounting pile on the side before leading me out into the garden.
    My nerves ramped with the sight of all the people either stood around drinking, talking and laughing or dancing and singing to the rock music blaring from some huge speakers at the back of the garden.
    Keegan, sensing my nerves, planted his arm around my shoulder and pulled me tight against him. “Don’t worry. They’re all house trained.”
    “Well most of us,” a voice came from behind us, making me jump.
    “Seth!” Keegan turned and hugged a large blond-haired guy who looked familiar. I watched them, confused for a moment before it hit me that Keegan and Seth were twins. Gawping at the pair of identical men, Keegan turned to me and laughed at my expression. “Isla, this is Seth, my brother.”
    “I gathered.” I chuckled as Seth leaned over and placed a light kiss on my cheek. I didn’t miss the way he lingered a little too long. I also didn’t miss the way Keegan twitched nervously and his eyes flicked Jake’s way where he stood in a throng of men.
    “So, Isla,” Seth started as the three of us walked towards where the few women were stood in the shade underneath a huge tree. A small child also sat on the grass making daisy chains with a teenage girl. “Who are you and what do you do?”
    “She’s Jake’s!” Keegan cut in quickly, both Seth and me turning to stare at him after his rude interruption.
    “Kee,” I warned, “I’ve had this conversation with Adam before. It didn’t end well.”
    “So you’re not Jake’s girl then?” Seth asked with a raised brow