Chapter 20
Chapter 20
“Briar Louise snapped, her face flushed with anger.
Imani scrambled up from the ground, grabbing her mom’s arm.
Tears streaked her cheeks as she muttered “Mom, just drop it. My bad. If Briar’s not feeling me, fine, let’s go. Don’t poke the bear.”
All Imani wanted was to get the hell out of there. It felt like a million eyes were staring her down, judging. She’d never been so humiliated in her life.
“Imani–Louise started, but Imani cut her off
“Mom, enough!” Imani yanked her toward the exit, desperate to escape.
Imani wasn’t stupid. She knew Briar was banking on her keeping quiet about the truth, which was why she acted so smug
But Imani was stuck. That will was in Briar’s hands, and no matter how much her parents hated her, if it got out, the truth would hit like a wrecking
ball.
“You’ll pay for this. Briar Louise hissed, throwing a final glare as she steadied Imani and stormed off
Briar smirked, rolling her eyes. “Only losers talk big like that*
Louise, still in carshot, stumbled. She whipped around, shooting Briar a death stare.
Briar just stared back, her eyes screaming, “Bring it, dummy!
Melanie, loving the drama, slid up to Briar with a sly grin. “That your fam, hub!”
Briar shrugged. “Biologically, yeah.”
Anything deeper? Nope. She felt zero connection to that so–called family. No warm fuzzies, nothing
Then it hit her. “Hey, Mel, what were they doing here?
Melanie smirked, like she’d been waiting for it. “Chasing money. Schmoozing some big investors”
“Got it.” Briar flashed an OK sign, hands behind her back, practically skipping as she moved on.
“Not curious what they were pitching?” Melanie teased.
“Real estate? That dead industry?” Briar scoffed, mimicking her family’s desperate tone with a cheeky grin. “Oh, look at this market, so big and shiny!
“Check out this cash, long and pretty. Come on, make it rainf
could see the real estate biz in this country was a total dumpster fire.
Anyone with
eyes c
The Shepherds Broke as a joke. No way they’d shove Shepherd Group’s golden boy into showbiz’s money pit otherwise.
“Hah!” Melanie cracked up, nearly doubling over. “Where the hell did you two find this spitfire?”
Enzo rubbed his nose, smirking. Just a college kid.”
Just a college kid? Sure, and pigs fly. The average student wasn’t tight with the International Medical Research Institute.
Melanie glanced at Briar in her camo training gear, then at Cyrus in his wheelchair, her eyes popping-
‘Rolling around and still taking a girl out to eat? Dude’s got some serious balls, she thought.
They were chilling in a cozy private garden, a little spring bubbling nearby, giving off serious old–school charm.
Melanie slipped away to sort the food.
Briar dove into her phone, hammering away at a game.
“Let’s keep it real, she said, eyes glued to the screen. Those Institute drugs?
? Still in
the lab hungry, they’d sell their grandma for a buck. Suiff you can’t buy? Yeah, sketch city”
lab. You’d be nuts to touch ‘em. These suits are so money-
1/3
Chapter 20
She slid her gaze to Cyrus. He sat there, eyes down, not saying a peep.
From her angle, Briar zeroed in on his long, killer lashes. He was in basic casual gear, nothing extra.
But to Briar, Cyrus had this.. vibe. Straight–up gorgeous. Those sharp phoenix eyes–cool, stunning, and totally unfair.
Sunlight filtered through the bamboo, splashing his pale face with warm Becks.
Too bad Briar wasn’t exactly writing poetry.
Her real thought ‘Damn, this guy’s hot as sin?
Good thing that bullet didn’t crack his skull back then–what a waste that’d be
“Like the view!” Cyrus asked
“Hell yeah Briar mumbled, zoned out.
Cyrus’s eyes narrowed, voice low and teasing “What’s catching your eye”
“Your skull..” Briar snapped back, just as her game character faceplanted into a bush.
Five
Five enemies were camped, ready to clown her.
Screen went black. [Stats: 16-1-1. Respawn: 45 seconds.]
She caught Cyrus’s sly smirk and forced a laugh. “I mean, your skull’s primet Like, super round!”
He nodded slowly. “Wanna yank it off for a better look?
“Whon, no way” Briar yelped. “We’re civilized here! Anyone pulls some caveman crap, I’m shutting it down““
Lucky for her. Cyrus let it slide, just giving her a cool, distant stare before looking away.
Enzo was dying laughing, nudging her. “Hey, your face just now! Total jailbait vibes”
That left Briar one speechless.
Enzo grinned. “Good thing you’ve been hiding our abroad-
“What’s that mean? I’m a proud Cordanlander anywhere, alright? A shining star of the homeland” she shot back.
“Ever heard of lockup? A star like you? Perfect for some bars and a drill sergeant..
“Shut up!”
Her game character respawned, and she steamrolled the enemy base with her squad before bailing.
“Alright, deal’s this,” she said, kicking back. “I can grab those drugs, but if it goes south, don’t cry to me. Also, the Supervision Department–once I deliver, you better slide me those credentials”
Digging up old files was small potatoes now. She wanted the dirt on what these guys were scherning.
p the agency to crack that 531 explosion case, it’d save her a ton of hassle.
If she could tap
“Deal.” Cyrus said, nodding
Post–lunch, Briar remembered she had boot camp that afternoon. She snagged her jacket and bolted.
Cyrus didn’t blink, just quietly told Enzo, “Drive Miss Shepherd.”
“On it!” Enzo replied
In the car, Briar slouched, squinting at the cars whipping by outside.
