Betrayed, Then Back For Blood

Chapter 17

Ellen nodded, keeping her head down. “My brother told me,” she said softly.

She looked like the was about to cry, and Briar felt a little awkward. She wasn’t great at comforting kids, so she

cleared her throat and tried to keep her tone calm and gentle.

“Yeah, your brother's tied up with work and can’t cback right now. He askedto look after you for a bit,”

Briar explained. “I'm two years older than you, and | grew up here in Shoneport. I'll be starting at Shoneport

University in September-it's near your school. You can just callBriar

Ellen was polite, despite everything she'd been through with her foster family. She nodded again and said, “Okay.

I understand, Briar”

Briar raised an eyebrow. Ellen was honestly kind of adorable. Something softened in Briar’s chest. After Briar's

mom passed, she'd lived with her grandpa and grown up as the youngest in the family. Her older cousins always

doted on her like she was still a little kid.

Even when she started working with soldiers at fourteen, she’d still been the baby of the group.

Now, at the Jennings family, Camden and Beatrice also called her “sister” in that fake, mocking way that made

her want to punch them in the face.

“Good girl,” Briar said with a small smile, pulling out a bank card and handing it to Ellen. “There's 1 million

dollars on this. Your brother transferred it for your living expenses. We kept it under my nso no one shady

could get to it.”

Ellen’s hands trembled a little as she held the card. She’d never seen this much money in her life. Back when

she lived with her foster parents, even after doing all the housework, she barely got enough pocket money to

buy breakfast now and then.

After they kicked her out, she went to school and worked part-tat a small restaurant. The boss always

shorted her pay, using her age as an excuse.

“Briar, 1... | can’t take this much,” Ellen said, scared to even hold the card. It was light, but in her hands, it felt

heavier than a brick.

“Why not?” Briar asked with a soft laugh. “Are you afraid someone's gonna rob you?”

Sam had told Briar about the bullying Ellen dealt with at school. With no parents and no one to stand up for her,

she turned timid and scared of

everyone.

Good thing it was summer break. If school had still been in session, Sam probably would've dropped everything

and flown back just to punch someone.

Ellen’s eyes started to tear up again. She bit her lip, trying not to cry. “They always take my stuff, and I'm scared

to tell the teachers.”

For someone who'd never felt much warmth growing up, it only took a little kindness to break her down.

But Ellen had learned the hard way that crying never helped-sometimes it just made things worse.

“Don’t worry. If anyone messes with you, call me. I'll deal with them,” Briar said. “Do you have a phone?”

Ellen nodded and hurried to her room. “Yeah. I'll go get it.”

Then, she cback with an old, outdated phone-the kind one would throw away without a second thought. It

took three whole minutes to power an.

Briar rubbed her temples but didn’t say anything. She added her number to Ellen’s contacts. “That's my number.

Callanytime, okay? Until your brother comes back, I've got your back.”

“Okay,” Ellen whispered. She glanced down at her junky old phone sitting next to Briar’s sleek one and felt a

little embarrassed.

Briar saved Ellen’s number in her phone as well. Just to be sure, she looked Ellen in the eye and said, “Seriously.

Don’t be afraid to call me. F Got it?”

hing

Ellen nodded quickly. In just a few minutes, Briar had shown her more kindness than she'd seen in years. “I got

it. Thank you, Briar,” she said sincerely.

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13:35 Mon, 28 Jul G

Chapter 17

55.0

“Good girl,” Briar said as she finished her water and stood up. “It’s getting late. You should get srest. I'll

cby tomorrow, and we'll go look for a better place for you to live.”

Ellen walked her to the door. “Goodnight, Briar.”

“Goodnight. Lock the door behindand stay htomorrow, okay?” Briar said, giving her a small wave before

heading out.

Once she heard the door lock, Briar went downstairs and texted Sam.

[Just saw your sister. She's sweet. No major health issues-just a little underweight from not eating well. She'll be

fine with sproper care. But you really should bring Alex back with you. She needs someone who knows how

to handle emotional stuff.)

When she’d handed Ellen the bank card earlier, Briar had also quietly checked her health. Physically, Eller was

mostly fine and would bounce back soort enough.

But when it cto emotional or psychological stuff, Briar wasn’t an expert.

Sam replied quickly: [Got it. Thanks.]

Briar put her phone away and walked out of the complex. Ashton’s car was still parked outside, and he was

leaning against it, smoking. The night breeze tugged at his shirt, stretching his shadow long across the

pavement.

Brandon stood nearby, alert and watchful in the unfamiliar neighborhood.

Briar jogged over with a smile. “Hey, Ashton. I'm back.”

“Did you find your friend?” Ashton asked, flicking his cigarette away as he saw her coming. He walked over and

opened the car door for her.

“Yeah, we're hanging out tomorrow,” Briar said casually, like they were old friends.

“Do you know where you're taking her?” Ashton asked as she got in.

Briar shook her head. “Not yet. | want to help her find a better place first. This area’s not safe, and she’s still

underage. She shouldn't be living here alone.”

“Need any help?” Ashton offered.

Briar waved him off. “No, thanks. I've got it. I'm already house hunting near Shoneport University anyway, so I'll

bring her along while | look.”

As for buying a place for Ellen, Briar planned to ask Sam to cover it. After all, she wasn’t running a charity.

AD

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