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?”

out running,”

eyes. “Seriously? She thinks getting up early makes her special,

mixing with other rich girls in Shoneport, Beatrice had

reason.

gone and no one else in the family supporting her, Briar must’ve been

the servant left. “Don’t forget what your dad told you

Beatrice muttered. “We’re supposed to play nice for a few

there’s nothing I can do,” Halle said,

shots. Even after all these years, Halle still had no real say. Edgar

monthly allowance of maybe 10 thousand dollars. 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 to show up at high–society events

rich women laughed behind her back for being cheap. They didn’t know how hard it

Camden, Edgar’s own son and future heir of Jennings Group, couldn’t make a

in the Jennings family knew one thing: if they wanted to stay, they did

1/2

Chapter 21

dead, or worse, not

Briar came back, she’d been going against Edgar at every turn. Beatrice was just waiting for

them chatting on the living room sofa. “What are

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

I actually slept

how things would fall into place once the partnership with the Hargreaves family went through–and how Briar wouldn’t

came downstairs a moment later, and the four of

never liked eating with them anyway. Honestly, it

Halle and Beatrice stayed