Betrayed, Then Back For Blood

Chapter 16

Ashton sounded so genuine—and even a little humble that Briar couldn’t bring herself to turn him down. After a moment, she nodded. “I’ll do what i

can.”

“Thank you,” Ashton sald, clearly relieved. He gave her a small, respectful nod.

After dinner, Ashton offered to drive her home, but Briar shook her head. “I’ve got something else to do. I’m not going home yet. Let’s just say goodbye here.”

Ashton paused by his car. “It’s gonna be tough finding a cab around here this late. If you don’t mind, I can still give you a ride.”

Briar looked around and saw he was right. The place was too upscale–everyone either drove themselves or had a driver. Cabs were few and far between, and most were already taken. “Alright, thanks,” she said and walked with him to the car.

Brandon, Ashton’s bodyguard, was waiting. He opened the back door for them and greeted them with a nod. “Mr. Wade. Miss Jennings.”

Ashton motioned for Briar to get in first, then slid in after her.

Once Brandon got behind the wheel, he asked, “Should

drop Miss Jennings off first?”

Ashton glanced at Briar, and she gave Brandon an address.

Brandon didn’t ask questions. He typed it into the GPS and started driving.

Ashton didn’t ask why Briar was heading to some random neighborhood late at night, and Briar didn’t ask why Brandon was driving instead of him. But she saw it. There was something tucked into Brandon’s waistband–and from the shape, it looked a lot like a gun.

They were headed to an old apartment complex on the outskirts of the city–a far cry from the downtown lights. Briar had promised Sam she’d help him out with something there.

wasn’t the kind of place a girl like Briar usually went, and it was her first time in the area. When they pulled

a bit? I’m just meeting a friend. I’ll be quick,”

nodded. “Take

dimly lit complex, her steps steady and

“Does Miss Jennings really have friends living in a run–down

been back in the country a few days, yet there were so many sides to

felt like she was hiding something new.

or completely

of the people living in this old apartment complex were seniors. It was only 9 PM, but the place

and only a few of the streetlights

directions through the dark. When she reached building 44 and saw that most of the windows were either cracked or broken,

can he let a teenage girl live in a

Chapter 16

time she climbed up to the fifth floor, her back

stairwell was stuffy and smelled like mold. The lights on the top floor were out. Briar used her phone

a minute passed, but no one answered,

bit and knocked again, this time more gently. “Ellen? I’m Briar Jennings. I’m a friend of

voice came from

he

a little, and a pair of wide, anxious eyes peeked out. In the

a soft spot for pretty faces.

in,” Ellen said, relaxing when she saw Briar was alone. She opened the door wider and

took a quick look around. The place was tiny–just a worn–out one–bedroom. Everything looked decades old. The furniture was chipped and faded. There wasn’t even an air conditioner, just a creaky

water–hope that’s okay,” Ellen said, flipping on the main light. It brightened

much.

no coffee in the house–she simply couldn’t afford