Betrayed, Then Back For Blood

Chapter 21

Ashton frowned. “Why would anyone dig into Briar’s background? She’s just eighteen. What could be worth 15 million dollars to find out?”

Xavion looked puzzled as well. “Yeah, I don’t get it either. She only came back a few days ago. Do you think it’s got something to do with her acupuncture

skills?”

Still, even though acupuncture and traditional medicine weren’t that popular in Dasmieca, if one looked hard enough, they could find a few decent practitioners.

“Don’t turn the job down yet,” Ashton said. “I’ll have Brandon check if this is connected to my grandfather.”

He was thinking the same thing Xavion was. To him, Briar seemed like a normal girl–quiet, a little headstrong at times–but if she was being targeted because she helped Griffin, then Ashton felt responsible.

Xavion nodded. “Got it. I’ll stall them for now. But if they reached out to us, they’d probably already don’t care who they sell info to as long as the money’s good.”

Ashton grabbed his keys and headed for the door. “Give me thirty minutes.”

Just the thought of dealing with the Hacker Alliance gave him a headache.

ontacted the Hacker Alliance as well. Those guys

At 6 AM, Briar went out for her usual morning run. The house staff was used to her routine by now and got back to work once she left.

But today, Halle and Beatrice were up early too.

Trying not to repeat her past mistakes, Halle didn’t start with any snide remarks. She turned to a servant and asked, “Is Briar up?”

running,”

She thinks getting up

the Jennings family and mixing with other rich girls in Shoneport, Beatrice had learned one thing: no one

reason.

grandpa gone and no one else in the

you say,” Halle warned quietly, waiting until the servant left. “Don’t forget what your

“We’re supposed to play nice for a few days so she

forward. Don’t screw it up now. If your dad gets mad, there’s nothing I can do,” Halle

Even after all these years, Halle still had no real

If she wanted more–for a dress or a party–she had to ask for it. Sometimes she even had to rent outfits and jewelry just

didn’t know how hard it

heir of Jennings Group, couldn’t make a move

if they wanted to stay, they

1/2

Chapter 21

not even knowing what

back, she’d been going against Edgar at every

then, Edgar came downstairs and saw them chatting on the living room sofa. “What are you two doing up

to a smile as she walked over and took Edgar’s arm. “We’re waiting for Briar.

chuckled. “Yeah, I actually slept well

mood, thinking about how things would fall into place once the partnership with the

downstairs a moment later, and the four of them

for Briar since she never liked eating with them anyway. Honestly, it made things more pleasant

Beatrice stayed behind to wait for Briar so they