Betrayed, Then Back For Blood

After dropping Briar off at the upscale neighborhood, Ashton said from the back seat, “Start looking into houses for sale near Shoneport University

tomorrow.”

Brandon was caught off guard but nodded. “Got it.”

He figured Ashton was only interested because Briar mentioned wanting to buy a place there. Brandon thought, ‘Wherever she moves, Mr. Wade is probably planning to buy the house right next door!

Briar, of course, had no clue about this. The next morning, she rode her motorcycle to Ellen’s place. When Ellen came down, Briar tossed her a helmet. “Come on,” she said. “Let’s go have some fun.”

Ellen hadn’t slept well the night before. She kept worrying that everything had just been a dream.

It wasn’t until Briar called her that morning that she felt a little more grounded. Her brother really had found her, and he really did send someone kind and cool to look after her. Now that person was right in front of her.

Ellen fumbled with the helmet and climbed on the back of the bike. She didn’t know how to sit properly and wobbled a bit, but Briar didn’t laugh at her or say anything mean.

They rode to a small diner near Shoneport University for breakfast. They had pasta and waffles, and Ellen swore it was the best pasta she’d ever tasted.

At 8 AM, right after they finished eating, Briar got a call from a real estate agent. After confirming the meeting point, she drove Ellen to their first choice- Moonspring Estate, a small, upscale villa neighborhood near Shoneport University.

The agent was already waiting at the entrance, but when he saw that the potential buyers were two teenage girls, his enthusiasm noticeably cooled.

The cheapest home in the neighborhood started at 6 million dollars, and the one Briar had asked about was 18 million dollars. She might’ve looked put together, but the agent seriously doubted a girl her age could afford something like that.

Still, he stayed professional and showed them around, explaining the details of the house.

wasn’t paying much attention to him. She already liked the house and was busy imagining how she’d design a

do you think, Miss Jennings?” the

“I’ll take it. I’ll pay in

full?” The agent

possible.” Briar pulled out a bank card and handed it over.

and was about to dial when Briar suddenly

His voice was practically trembling–this would be

any other houses for sale in the

phone steady from excitement. “There’s a smaller place to the southwest–around 2,000

the jackpot–two villas in one deal. The commission alone would cover half

said. “I’ll take

our manager right away to assist you with the paperwork,”

Chapter 18

phone.

real estate agency in Shoneport, they prided themselves on handling everything for clients as long

he sounded thrilled. He said he’d be there right away to help Briar close the

dollars on

the deed in her hands, her head felt light, her steps unsteady, like

had a house–a 6–million–dollar house–in her name. Just yesterday, something like that would’ve

felt like a stretch.