b19:15 /bbThu/bb, /bSep 18 bd/b.

    Chapter b234 /b

    b56 /bvouchers

    A few SUVs with cked–out windows sped past their car, but the lead SUV suddenly mmed on the brakes and screeched to a halt.

    The other vehicles screeched to a halt behind them. The passenger door of the lead car swung open, and out stepped a burly man, built like a tank, gripping an AK–47. That stupid remark earlier came right from him.

    One after another, the doors of the other SUVS flew open, and more men stepped out, each one clutching rifles and pistols. Their eyes were cold and vicious. These were the kind of guys who’d killed people before.

    Ian and the other two didn’t hesitate for a second. The moment the burly guy finished talking, they already had their guns up and aimed right back at them. Muzzles stared down muzzles. The tension exploded in a heartbeat.

    Riley and Artemus had a reputation around here, so even if they were worried deep down, others couldn’t see it on their faces.

    Riley took a step forward, without a hint of emotion, shielding Briar, who was still sitting there unmoved, behind him. “Who are you people? We’re from the mercenary group. If you know what’s good for you, don’t ask for trouble.”

    Artemus stepped up right after him. “Back off, or don’t me us for what happens next.”

    But no matter how tough they looked, there were only three of them. As for Briar sitting on the stool, the mercenaries didn’t take her seriously.

    To them, she was just some scrawny woman, so how much trouble could she possibly cause?

    ‘She’s been too scared to look up since we stepped out of the car. We all saw it, they thought.

    These mercenaries just assumed Briar, who kept calmly grilling her fish, was some ordinary girl scared out of her wits.

    After all, this was the border, a man’s world through and through. In their eyes, women showing up here were good for nothing except being men’s essories or outlets for their urges.

    These mercenaries had just finished a job, and after two weeks of running on high alert, they were desperate to unwind, maybe find a brothel or some other den of pleasure. Then, they spotted Briar by the river, sitting with three men.

    Even from a distance, they could tell she was gorgeous. Just seeing her face was enough to draw every one of their eyes.

    So, the convoy came to a halt.

    “There are only three men on that side,‘ they thought. ‘No matter how tough they are, with over a dozen of us here, we can easily overwhelm them in a brawl. As for that woman, we’ve already set our sights on her, and there is no way we’re letting her get away!

    Ian had been standing right next to Briar the whole time. He nced at the group of idiots who were

    b19:15 /bThu, bSep /b18 bd /b

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    55 vouchers

    practically begging for trouble, then looked back at Briar, who had taken over grilling the fish with total focus. In his mind, he might as well have said a prayer for those doomed bastards.

    ‘Of all the people to mess with, they just had to run into the real boss herself?‘ Ian thought.

    Riley and Artemus knew there were only four of them on their side. If things went south, their odds weren’t great. So when the leader of the mercenaries started striding over, they didn’t fire first.

    Of course, they also knew the mercenaries wouldn’t dare shoot so easily. After all, they were with a mercenary organization. Anyone who crossed them would be asking for trouble.

    The leader of the mercenaries stared at Briar with lecherous eyes, and the closer he got, the more he could appreciate her alluring curves. His mind conjured up all sorts of filthy scenarios and positions. ‘No wonder she could handle three men at once… he thought.

    Seeing that she still didn’t dare look up, pretending to focus on grilling fish, the leader’s eyes shed with cruel amusement. He figured she was just some helpless, spineless woman. ‘A quick scare is all it’d take ito /iget her,‘ he thought.

    So, without a second thought, he raised his foot and kicked over the grill. With a loud crash, the sizzling, oil- dripping fish tumbled to the ground along with it.

    They were right by the riverbank, and the ground was all dirt. Even though it wasn’t a muddy mess, anything that hit the ground was not going to be edible anymore.

    Briar was still mid–turn of the grill when it slipped from her grip, her eyes tracking the rack as it crashed down. She stared at the fish, still sizzling and smoking in the dirt, and suddenly, a chilling light shed in her gaze. It felt like the temperature around her just plummeted.

    Ian, who’d witnessed Briar’s terrifyingbat skills before, started to stammer, his voice shaky with fear and respect, “Uh… Briar, are you alright?”

    Riley and Artemus were stunned, too. They thought, ‘Miss Jennings was radiating such a terrifying presence…

    Briar slowly, painfully slowly, lifted her head. Her eyes locked onto the smug grin of the lead man. When she spoke, each word dripped like ice. “You knocked over my grill.”

    The lead manughed, totally dismissive. “Yeah, so what? Your men don’t even have the guts to go head–to- head with us. What, you want to fight me yourself?”

    Briar turned to Jan. “Ashton said we can’t go around starting trouble, but he never said we can’t hit back if someone picks on us, right?”

    Ian nodded hard. “Exactly! Mr. Wade never said we can’t fight back. Briar, go teach him a lesson!”

    Riley and Artemus froze there.

    They both had the same uneasy thought, ‘How did things suddenly get so out of hand?‘

    Briar took a deep breath, and when she looked back at the leader, there was already a cold, deadly glint in her eyes, yet she rolled up her sleeveszily. The contrast was almost elegant, her delicate features softening the

    …

    b19:15 /bbThu/bb, /bbSep /bb18 /b..

    violence coiled beneath.

    55 vouchers

    The leader still hadn’t realized he was about to walk straight into the biggest crisis of his life. He stood there with his arms crossed, watching with a pleased grin, clueless about what wasing.

    Riley and Artemus couldn’t stand the way the leader was eyeing Briar with that filthy look.

    Their expressions darkened, and just as they were about to step forward to stop him, Ian grabbed them both, pulling them back a few steps and quietly blocking the other mercenaries‘ path.

    “Briar’s making a move! Everyone else, clear out, unless you want to get caught up in the mess,b” /bIan warned.

    Riley and Artemus were confused.

    They both looked at Ian like he’d lost his mind. They thought, ‘We’re Miss Jennings‘ bodyguards. She’s getting harassed right in front of us, and instead of stepping in, we back off to watch like it’s entertainment? What kind of bodyguards are we?‘

    But in the very next second, they witnessed a scene that would shock them for centuries.

    Briar suddenly darted forward with agile speed, grabbed the leader’s arm, and twisted it back hard before he could even react. There was a crisp crack, and a bone snapped. His scream tore through the air, raw and animalistic. “Ouch!”

    Before that man could even think about fighting back, Briar let go of his arm and mmed a kick right into his chest. He sailed through the air in a perfect arc before crashing into the Maysay River with a huge ssh.

    It was a hulking brute, at least six feet three and 170 pounds, and yet he got sent flying by a petite girl whose legs didn’t even reach his waist, just like that!

    bAD /b