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.

girl like Briar usually went, and it was her first time in the area. When they pulled up to the entrance, she looked out the window

I’m just meeting a friend. I’ll be

nodded. “Take your

into the dimly lit

really have friends living in a

was wondering the same thing. She’d only been back in the country a few days,

saw her, it felt like she

or completely

in this old apartment complex were seniors. It was

high, and only a few of the streetlights actually

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

girl live in a

Chapter 16

climbed up

like mold. The lights on the top floor were out. Briar used her phone flashlight to find apartment 502, then kno on

one answered, and there were no sounds

“Ellen? I’m Briar Jennings. I’m a friend of

nearly two minutes, a quiet, nervous voice came from behind the

replied. “Didn’t he call

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

a soft spot for pretty faces.

relaxing when she saw Briar was alone. She opened

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 old fan

that’s okay,” Ellen said, flipping on the main light. It brightened the room a little,

much.

in the house–she simply

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