bChapter /bb218 /b

    Brandon, watching from the sidelines, couldn’t help but grin as he saw how close to madness Briar and Sasha had driven Hayden.

    Of course, he didn’t forget to record this spectacr scene and send it to Ashton.

    By his calctions, Ashton and his men should be arriving soon.

    Hayden truly felt like dying. Briar and Sasha were driving him insane. “Briar, I really don’t know what you want from me. Just ask. Just ask, and I’ll tell you, okay?”

    Right now, Hayden was full of regret. ‘What the hell was Grandpa thinking with this stupid n?‘ he thought.

    If he’d known Briar was this ruthless, he never would’ve bothered escaping to Qathana. This was no different ifrom /iwalking into their trap.

    Maybe if he’d just stayed in Shoneport, at home, even if Briar came knocking, she would just beat him up a bit. At least he wouldn’t have to get stabbed.

    His parents and sister would’ve had his back.

    Now he was all alone, with no one to rely on. He had no idea if Briar, that crazy woman, would really let Sasha finish him off.

    He was not done living. He didn’t want to die.

    Briar asked, “Where did you send all those people you abducted? Whichb did you send them to be turned into guinea pigs?”

    This question was almost too easy, like handing Hayden the answer on a silver tter.

    But only Hayden knew just how vicious Briar could be. She was asking this on purpose, setting a trap.

    If he told the truth, he would be spilling secrets he should never reveal. But if he imed he didn’t know, with Briar’s ruthlessness, she would probably stab his other thigh without a second thought.

    Either way, he was the one who would end up suffering.

    Seeing Hayden’s eyes darting around, it was clear this bastard was scheming something again.

    Sasha lost her temper again, waving the knife at Hayden’s other thigh. “Briar asked you a question. Spit it out!”

    Hayden shut his eyes tight. “Bersy Ind. We moved the human experimentb to Bersy Ind.”

    “Whatever, let it end here,‘ he thought. ‘If she stabs me one more time, I’ll be dead anyway.’

    Briar nced at Brandon, who gave a quick nod. “Leave it to me, Miss Jennings. I’ll have my people on it right away.”

    ‘Miss Jennings is something else, Brandon thought. ‘Ashton’s men have been searching for that ce forever, but her subordinate got the answer out of Hayden with just one stab

    Briar turned to Sasha and gave a little wave. “bSasha/b, do whatever you want with him. Just make sure he doesn’t die too fast.”

    Sasha shed an “okay” sign. “Rx, Briar, People in my hands never get to die that quickly.”

    Just as they finished, hurried footsteps echoed from outside. Briar turned at the sound, and when she recognized who it was, the cold, vicious look on her face melted away, reced by a sweet smile. “Ashton, what brings you here?”

    Ashton walked over to Briar, his eyes sweeping over her from head to toe, lingering on her face for a full five seconds. “I was worried about you, so I came bto /bcheck bon /byou.”

    Then Ashtci’s gazended on Hayden, who was being dragged away by Sasha. Noticing the blood dripping down Hayden’s legs, Ashton arched an

    10:19 Sat, 23 Aug

    eyebrow. “You’ve finished questioning him?”

    “Yeah, I asked everything that needed asking.” Briar nodded, then told Ashton what she’d learned.

    Ashton’s eyes lit up with interest. “He said they moved the human experimentb to Bersy Ind?”

    55%

    b+33 /b

    “That’s right. I’ve already had Brandon send people to verify it. Until we get results, my subordinate will take her time torturing Hayden,” Briar replied.

    Ashton tried to hold back augh. Briar was totally fishing forpliments, and honestly, it was adorable. He reached out and gave her head a gentle p?t, his voice soft. “Good job.”

    Briar didn’t say a word, but her eyes crinkled up. She obviously loved the praise.

    Just then, Brandon walked in. He nced at Hayden, who was being dragged into theb to be roughed up some more, before turning to Ashton and Briar.

    Ashton, Miss Jennings, I’ve already sent people to check out Bersy Ind. It’s about a two–hour trip from here. How about we head back and wait?”

    Brandon asked.

    The Garzas would find out about the mess at the scrapyard soon. To keep them from doing something desperate, Brandon was hoping Ashton would get Briar out of here as soon as possible.

    They could handle things here.

    If anything else happened to Briar, Ashton would totally go ballistic.

    If that happened, the Garzas would really be finished.

    “Should we head back and wait, or stay here?” Ashton turned to Briar, clearly leaving the choice up to her.

    Briar considered it for a moment. “Let’s head back and wait.”

    Then Briar walked over and whispered a few words to Sashab, /bwhose eyes sparkled even brighter. “Don’t worry, Briar. You can count on me. It’ll be done.”

    Ashton took Briar with him and left. Not only did Brandon finally heave a sigh of relief, but even the tied–up bodyguards secretly rxed too.

    They were scared of Briar, but even more terrified of Ashton and his intimidating aura. When Ashton showed up, they were practically holding their breath, terrified he might notice them.

    Luckily for them, Ashton only had eyes for Briar and didn’t even bother looking their way.

    As Briar followed Ashton out of the scrapyard, Reece and Hamish, who were standing by the car smoking, quickly stubbed out their cigarettes. Hamish grinned at Briar. “Briar, is Hayden still alive?”

    Briar replied, “He’s not dead. Not yet, anyway.”

    Reece burst bout /bughing “Brandon sent us a video of your heroic performance. Briar, you weren’t kidding about being badass. You really are.”

    That was when it clicked for Briar. Ashton had told her she could handle things however she wanted, yet he suddenly showed up. It turned out that Brandon had secretly tipped Ashton off

    “Don’t worry about it. Even if Brandon hadn’t texted me, I would’vee looking for you anyway. The Garzas already know Hayden is in trouble. They’re definitely going to send people to try and save him,” Ashton guided Briar into the car as he exined.

    Briar was surprised. “The Garzas already know? That’s quick”

    “My people in Shoneport told me the Garza’s made Hayden check in every hour. It’s been two and a half hours since you captured him. Geoff would’ve figured out something’s amiss by now.i” /i

    10:19 Sat, 23 Augj

    Briar nodded. “Alright, I guess I was a bit careless.”

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    Ashton unwrapped a candy and gently fed it to her. “You’ve already done an excellent job. You got thetest location of the Garzas‘b. Even if Geoff realizes something’s amiss and warns theb on Bersy Ind to pull out, there’s no way they’ll get away in such a short time.”

    +33)

    Reece chimed in, “That’s right. The Garzas might have some pull in Qathana, but we’re no pushovers either. It won’t be so easy for them to escape this

    time.”

    As long as both the sea and air routes were locked down, Bersy Ind would bepletely cut off, stranded, and helpless. No one and nothing on that ind would be able to slip away.

    Hamish, who was driving, clicked his tongue. “Do you guys think Geoff is now regretting sending Hayden iout /iof the country?”