Chapter b233 /b

    :

    i47 /i

    55 youchers

    When Briar woke up, it was already 6:30 the next morning. Whatever had been holding her tightly was long gone. Ashton was already up.

    After a quick wash and change into a casual sweatshirt set, she tied her hair up in a high ponytail and strolled out of the bedroom.

    At the top of the stairs, she found Ian staring at Riley and Artemus, who were looking back at him with wide eyes. They all turned to look at her when they heard her footsteps.

    Ian was the first to speak. “Briar, you’re up! Want to go out and have some fun today?”

    Briar’s phone started buzzing nonstop the moment she turned it on. As she scrolled through her messages, her eyesnded on one from Memphis. It was a set of unfamiliar coordinates for Darius’s hideout, not far from their estate.

    She looked up from her phone and caught excitement in Ian’s eyes. She smiled knowingly, but didn’t let it show on her face. Instead, she turned to Riley and Artemus and asked, “Where’s Ashton?”

    Riley replied, “He’s in the study, talking with Connor and the others. Miss Jennings, would you like me to take you there?”

    Briar had only asked out of curiosity, but seeing Riley trying to one–up Ian, she nodded. “Sure.”

    Meanwhile, Artemus headed downstairs instead of following them.

    Ashton’s study was the most heavily guarded spot in the whole estate. Even getting close was off–limits unless they had his permission.

    But Briar wasn’t just anyone. When she strolled up to the study door with Riley, the ck–d bodyguard at the entrance didn’t even hesitate before opening the door right away and respectfully inviting her in.

    Artemus, who hadn’t followed them earlier, now stood at the doorway holding Briar’s breakfast. “Miss Jennings, here’s your breakfast.”

    After Briar nodded, Artemus entered the study, set breakfast down on Ashton’s desk, and pulled out a chair for her with extra care. He waited until she sat down before quietly stepping back outside to stand guard.

    Inside the study, Brandon and Connor were both present. When Briar walked in, Ashton was lounging in his chairb, /bsupposedly listening to their reports, but he looked pretty absent–minded, and his attention seemed to be elsewhere.

    As soon as Briar entered, Brandon and Connor paused their report and greeted her. “Miss Jennings.”

    Briar nodded and sat down in the chair Artemus had brought over, getting ready to eat her breakfast.

    Without missing a beat, Ashton reached out and, chair and all, pulled Briar right up next to him. Then he motioned for Brandon and Connor to continue.

    Brandon nced at Briar, who was busy eating her breakfast, and nodded. “bYes/b, our people searched the areas

    b19:15 /bThub, /bbSep /b18 bd/b.

    65 vouchers

    outside the main power circles along the border against night. We found three possible locations where Darius might be hiding…”

    Then Connor rattled off the three locations and coordinates. No one noticed, but when Briar heard thest set of coordinates, her beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, and her hand paused for a split second as she held her bread.

    Ashton caught the subtle change in Briar’s expression. He leaned over, grabbed a pair of disposable gloves from beside her te, and took the bread from her hand. While spreading jam on it, he continued talking to Brandon and Connor. “Send people to check all three coordinates. If you find anyone, detain them. If they resist, shoot on sight. Just make sure they’re still breathing when you bring them back.”

    The bread was loaded with jam, super sweet and sticky, just the way Briar liked it. She devoured it in big bites, then shot her hand up. “Ashton, I’ming too!”

    Ashton’s brow twitched. “Honey, I have to meet with the other branch leaders here at the estate today. Stay with me until we wrap up, then I’ll take you out, alright?”

    “No, I just want to tag along and check things out. Promise I won’t run off.” When Briar realized Ashton wasn’t going with them, she got even more excited. She grinned, wrapped her arm around Ashton’s, and gave it ia /iyful shake. “I want to go. You know I’ll be good.”

    Brandon and Connor exchanged a knowing look. They knew Ashton couldn’t say no to Briar when she turned on the charm.

    Sure enough, Ashton caved in less than a minute. “Alright, you can go have some fun, but you cannot wander off. This is the border. Mercenary gangs are everywhere. If you run into them, you’ll be in real trouble.”

    It wasn’t that Ashton was afraid of those mercenaries. It was just that they had zero bottom line. Killing and robbing were business as usual for them, and looting was their idea of fun.

    Briar’s sweet face was totally at odds with her explosive temper. If she ever ran into those mercenaries, they’d end up in a fight.

    Briar nodded eagerly. “Don’t worry, I promise I won’t start any trouble.”

    ‘But if otherse looking for it, that’s on them, not me,‘ Briar added in her mind cheekily.

    Ashton fell into silence.

    Briar ignored Ashton’s worries. After finishing her breakfast, she grabbed her three bodyguards and set off.

    Connor’s people had found three possible hiding spots, so each of them took responsibility for one. Briar picked thest one, saying it was the closest to their estate.

    Brandon and Connor thought to themselves, “There’s only a one–in–three chance, so there’s no way Miss Jennings would just happen to pick the right one, right?‘

    Ian gave Brandon a friendly pat on the shoulder and shed a smile. “Alright, we’re off. See youter.”

    Brandon bwas /bat a loss for words.

    19:15 Thu, bSep /b18 bd/b.

    :

    47

    55 vouchers

    Briar sat in the car, resting her chin in her hand as she watched the scenery outside with quiet amusement. Riley was behind the wheel, while Artemus sat in the passenger seat, keeping watch. Ian sat in the back with Briar, all three of them on high alert to keep her safe.

    Out here on the border, they always had to keep guns and ammo handy in the car because they never knew when they’d run into a shootout.

    Their car carried double the usual firepower, all thanks to Connor’s extra caution. That smilen gave earlier gave Connor a bad feeling. He couldn’t help thinking, ‘With Miss Jennings rolling out three heavily armed bodyguards, it isn’t just a joyride. They look like they’re going to war.

    The car cruised along smoothly, and Riley was in a great mood. “Miss Jennings, we’re about to pass the Maysay River. The scenery there is pretty nice. I had someone pack fishing rods and some barbecue supplies. in the trunk. We can stop by the river, do some fishing, and have a barbecue right there.”

    Briar and the others all loved the idea. With their n set, they decided to head to the river first, enjoy some food and fun, then get back to business.

    Before they set out, Ashton had privately reminded Riley to make sure Briar didn’t get anywhere near danger. Riley figured that if he could keep her entertained, trouble would stay far away.

    But in the end, it backfired.

    The Maysay River marked the border between three countries. Downstream, there was endless warfare. But upriver, the scenery was gorgeous, people came and went, and everything looked perfectly peaceful.

    So when they pulled up by the river, set up their barbecue spot, and got ready for a chill camping trip, Riley and Artemus never imagined that some clueless fool would walk right into Briar’s line of fire.

    Briar sat by the campfire, legs propped up in aid–back pose, watching Ian grill the fish like it was the most fascinating thing ever.

    The sound of screeching tires suddenly broke that peace.

    “Look, there’s a pretty girl over here!” someone said aloud.