Betrayed, Then Back For Blood

Ashton wound up the hair dryer cord and set it on the nightstand. Looking into Briar’s eyes, he said, “Of course. Just like you coaxed me to sleep, I’ll coax you. Now, get under the covers.”

Without a second’s hesitation, Briar dove under the blanket, pulling it all the way up to just below her eyes. “I’m all tucked in, Ashton. You should go sit over there now.”

She thought Ashton would say something else, but to her surprise, he obediently walked over to the sofa and sat down. Except for those burning eyes of his, he didn’t look dangerous at all.

Still, Briar didn’t dare let her guard down. The intimate time they had earlier today made her heart flutter just

thinking about it. It was honestly mortifying. It was even more embarrassing than waking up to find herself sleeping in Ashton’s arms.

Ashton always knew how to squeeze every bit of value out of any situation. Even Briar could never get the upper

hand when she was with him.

But thankfully, this time Ashton seemed to be a man of his word. He stayed on the sofa the whole time, one hand

propping up his head and the other draped lazily over the armrest, right up until Briar was drifting off to sleep.

He lounged there, looking completely at ease, eyes closed. Briar couldn’t tell if he was actually asleep or just

resting. Either way, he seemed totally harmless.

Briar was exhausted. She figured there was no way Ashton would be shameless enough to do anything to her

while she was asleep. So she let her guard down and drifted off into a deep sleep.

About ten minutes after she’d fallen asleep, Ashton, who had been resting with his eyes closed, suddenly opened

them.

He got up and walked over to Briar’s bed. Looking down at her peaceful, defenseless face, with an unusually gentle look in his eyes, he cautiously leaned closer. Seeing that she didn’t react, he quietly lifted the blanket and slipped

in beside her.

If Briar had known that this sly man was planning something like this, there’s no way she would’ve let herself fall asleep so soundly.

But her body reacted before her mind could catch up. When Ashton lay down and pulled her into his arms, she instinctively buried her face in his chest, breathing in his familiar scent, her head unconsciously nuzzling against

him.

softer. ‘Nothing warms my heart more than someone trusting you without even thinking about it,‘

on one side, in a rundown warehouse on the outskirts, it was a whole different kind of hell for

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Chapter 199

man covered in blood was being beaten like a rag doll by four or five men in black. If they

I don’t know anything…” The man spat out a tooth, blood,

of the warehouse, someone sat shrouded in darkness. The dim light

only the glowing tip of a cigarette moving back and forth. “All your men have been pinned down by Ashton’s crew, and you’re

it. He had no clue how Ashton’s guys managed to track down his crew. If it hadn’t

don’t know anything! Please, Mr. Garza, have mercy… Please, just let me go!” The more Jake thought about it, the more terrified he got. He dropped to his knees, banging his head on the floor as he begged Ben for his

long as they could stay alive, they’d do anything, even if it

whole hour. For a coward like him, he was already at his

more time.

Mr. Garza, please, spare my life! I can make it right, I swear!”

him.

by Ashton’s people, he might’ve had a shot at survival.

what, it was a death

five men who’d just beaten him up.

they closed in on Jake again, raising their guns in front of his terrified eyes. Jake squeezed his eyes shut, waiting for

open one eye and saw that the man who had just aimed the

of people who had appeared at the warehouse door, mumbling, “I… I’m

none other than Brandon and his

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413)

Brandon, practically offering up his hands to be tied without a fight. ‘Thank God. If I’m caught by Ashton’s people, at most it’s just a beating. Beats getting dragged off