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?”

went out running,” the servant

thinks getting up early makes her

with other rich girls in Shoneport, Beatrice had learned one thing: no one did

reason.

mom and grandpa gone and no one

servant left.

supposed to play nice for a

If your dad gets mad, there’s nothing I can do,” Halle said, patting her

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

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 looking halfway

for being cheap. They didn’t know how hard it was for Halle and Beatrice

heir of Jennings Group, couldn’t make a

to stay, they

1/2

Chapter 21

not

at the front door. Ever since Briar came back, she’d been going against Edgar at every

living room sofa. “What are you two doing

took Edgar’s

“Yeah, I actually

was in a good mood, thinking about how things would fall into place once the partnership with the Hargreaves family went through–and how Briar wouldn’t be able to stir up any more trouble after

moment later, and the four

since she never liked eating with them

and Camden left for work. Halle and Beatrice stayed behind to wait for Briar so