Betrayed, Then Back For Blood

Chapter 17

Ellen nodded, keeping her head down. “My brother told me,” she said softly.

She looked like the was about to cry, and Briar felt a little awkward. She wasn’t great at comforting kids, so she cleared her throat and tried to keep her tone calm and gentle.

“Yeah, your brother’s tied up with work and can’t come back right now. He asked me to look after you for a bit,” Briar explained. “I’m two years older than you, and I grew up here in Shoneport. I’ll be starting at Shoneport University in September–it’s near your school. You can just call me Briar

Ellen was polite, despite everything she’d been through with her foster family. She nodded again and said, “Okay. I understand, Briar”

Briar raised an eyebrow. Ellen was honestly kind of adorable. Something softened in Briar’s chest. After Briar’s mom passed, she’d lived with her grandpa and grown up as the youngest in the family. Her older cousins always doted on her like she was still a little kid.

Even when she started working with soldiers at fourteen, she’d still been the baby of the group.

Now, at the Jennings family, Camden and Beatrice also called her “sister” in that fake, mocking way that made her want to punch them in the face.

“Good girl,” Briar said with a small smile, pulling out a bank card and handing it to Ellen. “There’s 1 million dollars on this. Your brother transferred it for your living expenses. We kept it under my name so no one shady could get to it.”

Ellen’s hands trembled a little as she held the card. She’d never seen this much money in her life. Back when she lived with her foster parents, even after doing all the housework, she barely got enough pocket money to buy breakfast now and then.

After they kicked her out, she went to school and worked part–time at a small restaurant. The boss always shorted her pay, using her age as an excuse.

“Briar, 1… I can’t take this much,” Ellen said, scared to even hold the card. It was light, but in her hands, it felt heavier than a brick.

“Why not?” Briar asked with a soft laugh. “Are you afraid someone’s gonna rob you?”

Sam had told Briar about the bullying Ellen dealt with at school. With no parents and no one to stand up for her, she turned timid and scared of

everyone.

thing it was summer break. If school had still been in session, Sam probably would’ve dropped everything

tear up again. She bit her lip, trying not to cry. “They always take my stuff, and I’m scared to

up, it only took a little

the hard way that crying never helped–sometimes

you, call me. I’ll deal with them,” Briar said. “Do you have a

nodded and hurried to her room. “Yeah. I’ll go get

old, outdated phone–the kind one would throw away without a second thought. It took

anything. She added her number to Ellen’s contacts. “That’s my number. Call me anytime, okay? Until your brother

whispered. She glanced down at her junky old phone sitting next

in her phone as well. Just to be sure, she looked Ellen in the eye and said, “Seriously. Don’t be afraid to call

hing

kindness than she’d seen in years. “I got it. Thank you, Briar,”

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Chapter 17

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she finished her water and stood up. “It’s getting late. You should get

walked her to the door.

behind me and stay home tomorrow, okay?” Briar

heard the door lock, Briar went downstairs and texted

saw your sister. She’s sweet. No major health issues–just a little underweight from not eating well. She’ll be fine with some proper care. But you really should bring Alex back with you. She

she’d handed Ellen the bank card earlier, Briar had also quietly checked her health. Physically, Eller was