Chapter 30
Reece thought, ‘Interesting. That kind of skill is from such a young girl.
With his sharp memory, Reece was sure Briar was a new face–definitely not
asan
omeone
who’d ever shown up in Shoneport’s inner circle.
Just as he was heading upstairs with his girl, Reece said suddenly, “Babe, send me the video you just recorded.”
“What? Reece, you don’t want me anymore? Did I do something wrong?” the girl blurted, panicking instantly. She thought Reece had taken a liking to that other girl.
Tears welled up in her eyes like flipping a switch. She clung to Reece’s shirt, rubbing against him in a desperate attempt to save herself from being tossed
aside.
“Knock it off,” Reece growled, a hint of irritation in his voice as her softness pressed against him. He grabbed her slim waist with a sigh, “I’m not dumping
you.”
“Really?” Her tear–filled eyes and pitiful face could’ve melted stone.
Whatever amusement Reece had felt watching Briar was gone now. Scooping the girl up in his arms, he carried her straight into his office.
Meanwhile, Briar sat at the bar for another two hours. She drank a lot, but nobody dared come near her again.
Sure, the rose was beautiful–but the thorns could cripple you.
By 4 a.m., Briar took her last sip of her drink, pulled out a wad of cash, tossed it onto the bar, and got up to leave.
She’d had plenty to drink, and though her steps were a bit unsteady, she wasn’t drunk.
A lot of men had been watching her all night. Now that she was finally leaving, their hungry gazes followed every move she made, eager to see where she might go next.
The owner of Blue Bar didn’t allow any forceful behavior inside the bar, but once someone stepped outside, it was no longer Blue’s responsibility.
Therefore, a woman like Briar–gorgeous and wild–might still be fair game out on the street.
Briar’s alcohol tolerance was high, and she walked steadily enough/So when she noticed someone following her after she stepped outside, she didn’t pay much attention.
Not far away, Ashton had just been dragged out for drinks by Reece on a whim. When Ashton spotted the petite figure stepping out of the bar, his brow lifted in surprise.
Then his gaze shifted to the shady–looking men trailing behind her. Ashton’s face instantly darkened.
Maybe it was stuffy inside the bar, but Briar had taken off her jacket and was holding it in one hand.
At that moment, Briar was wearing a black camisole, her smooth shoulders half–hidden by her long hair.
Her pale skin glowed under the dim streetlights–a breathtaking sight.
Brandon and Morton, walking behind Ashton, both swore under their breath.
Brandon asked, “Isn’t that Ms. Jennings?”
Morton said, “Mr. Wade, it’s so late and Ms. Jennings is coming out of a bar. And those guys behind her are clearly up to no good.”
Before either could finish, Ashton had already stormed over to Briar.
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Chapter 30
When he got close, Ashton yanked the jacket out of her hand and threw it over her head, completely covering her figure and hiding the enticing wa from behind.
His eyes were sharp as knives when he turned to glare at the group of men behind her. As a man himself, Ashton knew exactly what kind of thoughts thr were having:
The creeps hadn’t realized this thomy rose had already taken. But when they saw who it was word. They just turned and ran.
So that’s why the rose had thorns. Ashton was behind her. No wonder, She was off–limits.
Shoneport’s most untouchable man they didnt say
Briar had noticed Ashton as soon as he’d appeared, but before she could say a word, she was suddenly wrapped up in a coat, totally caught off guard.
From under the jacket, her soft voice came out muffled, innocent–sounding. “Mr. Wade? What’s going on?”
Ashton pulled the coat off, and when his eyes met hers–wide and trusting, still a little dazed–his chest tightened unexpectedly. His irritation evaporated instantly. Without a word, he started guiding her toward his car.
Now that he was closer, Ashton could smell the alcohol on her. He wondered if she was already drunk and lowered his voice, speaking gently “Yeah, it’s me. Come with me to the car, okay?”
Briar nodded and followed without fuss.
The way she quietly obeyed made Ashton’s eyes darken.
After settling her in the car, the first thing Ashton asked was, “Are you drunk? Why’d you just follow me without question? What if I’d been some creep?”
Briar blinked at him. “But you’re not a creep. You’re Mr. Wade.”
Briar had plenty to drink, but her mind was still clear. Otherwise, Ashton couldn’t have gotten away with snatching her coat.
Ashton exhaled quietly. ‘Okay. Fine.‘ That response completely defused his
Sanger.
“What are you doing at a bar this late?” Ashton asked, changing the subject. “Trying to drink away your sorrows?”
Briar nodded. “Yeah, but I’ve got a high tolerance. Can’t get drunk.”
Ashton raised an eyebrow. “You sound proud of that.”
Briar was speaking clearly and her eyes were steady–didn’t look drunk at all.
Briar glanced at Brandon and Morton outside the car. “You guys were drinking too, Mr. Wade?”
Ashton leaned back in his seat, relaxing a little. “Yeah. Couldn’t sleep. Met up with some friends.”
Ashton tried hypnotherapy again tonight with Frederick, but it still didn’t work.
Just then Reece called him to hang out, so he came. And he didn’t expect to run into Briar right outside the bar.
“Oh, I see. Well, I won’t bother you then. I’ll get going.” As she spoke, Briar reached for the door handle, but Ashton caught her hand. She loc confused.
“Hold on. I’ll take you home,” Ashton said. There was no way he’d let her go back alone this late–it wasn’t safe.
ck
Briar smiled and pointed to the luxury hotel nearby. “It’s fine, really. I had too much to drink, so I couldn’t take a car. I was planning to get a room over there.”
Honestly, Briar didn’t want to go back to the Jennings estate. She was afraid she’d lose control and tie Edgar up for an interrogation,
Chapter 30
But no she’d held back this long. She finally had a lead on her mother’s death. She couldn’t blow it now.
Ashton followed her finger to the hotel sign–Spring Hotel. One of the best in Shoneport. It happened to be one of his family’s businesse
Finally, he let go of her hand. “I’ll walk you in.”
Seeing the insistence in Ashton’s eyes, Briar did
trefuse. Sh
nodded. “Okay.”
As soon as they got out of the car, Brandon and Morton looked over. “Mr. Wade?”
“Let them know I’ll need my room prepped,” Ashton said.
Morton understood instantly and took off toward the
tel.
Briar tilted her head. “The hotel is yours too?”
“Yeah. I’ve got a private suite here. No one else stays
- it. It’s clean,” Ashton replied as he led her toward the entrance.
O
