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,”

thinks getting up early makes

family and mixing with other rich girls in Shoneport, Beatrice

reason.

was trying to win favor. With her mom and grandpa gone and no one else in the family supporting

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

supposed to play nice for a few days

there’s nothing I can do,” Halle said, patting her daughter’s

how things worked in this house. Edgar called all the shots. Even after all these years, Halle still had no real say. Edgar kept

10 thousand dollars. If she wanted more–for a dress or a party–she had to ask for

cheap. They didn’t know how

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

stay, they did what

1/2

Chapter 21

not even knowing what hit

Edgar at every turn. Beatrice was just waiting for

and saw them chatting on the living room sofa. “What are

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

I actually slept well

once the partnership with the Hargreaves family went through–and how Briar wouldn’t be able to stir up any more trouble

later, and the four of

never liked eating with them anyway. Honestly, it

stayed behind to wait for Briar