Betrayed, Then Back For Blood

Chapter 9

“So what am I supposed to do?” Tristan had calmed down a little. “I don’t have many old friends left, and who knows how much time I’ve got You can’t let me die with regrets.”

“Guilt–tripping me won’t get you anywhere,” Briar said flatly. “You do remember people are still hunting you down on the Dark Net, right? There are hitmen after your head. You really wanna test how fast they can find you, huh?“.

Tristan sighed, totally deflated. “How sure are you that you can help?”

Briar’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “About fifty–fifty. I don’t have the good stuff with me right now, you know.”

Tristan asked immediately, “What do you need? Just make a list. I’ll send it all over.

“Don’t regret saying that.” Briar grinned and immediately sent over a massive list detailing over a thousand rare and costly medicinal herbs.

Tristan stared at the list in silence, and his voice trembled. “Briar, can we talk? Maybe cut back on a few of these, okay? I’m down to my last few rare herbs. as well, you

know.”

Briar shrugged. “Sure, but I’ll have to skip a couple of treatments for him. And as for how effective that’ll be-”

“Fine, fine! I’ll get everything,” Tristan muttered, clutching his heart like she’d just robbed him blind. His years of carefully hoarded herbs were gone, just

like that.

Briar looked satisfied. “Good. Once I’ve got the herbs, Griffin will start getting better. I’ll wait for your delivery. Good night.”

She hung up before Tristan could yell at her.

The whole world was still looking for Tristan, but no one had guessed he’d been hiding on an island in North Bofloria for over a decade, dodging

assassins.

she learned that the same people hunting

herself–she helped Tristan vanish. Since then, Tristan

pretty pleased about scoring those herbs, Briar shut her laptop and got

been taking on tough gigs nonstop to prep for this trip home. A good night’s sleep was

off quickly, completely missing the

to pick you up at 2 PM tomorrow. We’ll meet at Wade

and saw Ashton’s message, she just replied with a simple

the least bit surprised he knew where she lived. If Ashton couldn’t even track her down, the Wade family would’ve

rivals years ago.

tied her hair into a high ponytail. She headed downstairs for her morning run. The house was still quiet. Only the servants were moving around. Briar jogged out onto the tree–lined paths of the fancy neighborhood. She didn’t bother greeting any of the neighbors she passed. She

whenever she wasn’t working. She kept a steady pace, knocking out 6 miles in

‘wn near

Chapter 9

to stay alert. It helped her keep an eye on

close.

her. Her eyes

speed up or slow down. Instead, she casually changed her route, leading the follower into the wooded trail. They

her in.

the woods like nothing had happened. Not

need–and kept running. She ran the full 6 miles and headed home with a slight smile

corner of her mouth.

place–aside from the unconscious man with twisted limbs now lying deep

already up and eating. Edgar was sitting at the table, reading the paper and chewing his food. Halle sat beside him,

It all looked picture–perfect–four people eating breakfast, laughing, acting like the

were talking