Page 79 of Brazen Defiance (Brazen Boys #4)

RJ

G oing to the orchestra isn’t something I’d ever choose to do, but after the woman on stage plays like her whole damn soul is for sale, I might consider coming again. Only, as soon as the concert is over, I’m stuck wanting more as Clara gets rushed away, Trips glued to her side.

Watching them together, I finally see what Jansen’s seen from the beginning—Clara needs him. He draws out the part of her that fights for what she wants. And right now, that’s the piece of Clara we need more than anything.

I’m still not sure I trust him, but by the way she was looking at him, she’s starting to.

He knows he has a long way to go before he’s earned back that trust from me, but gaining her trust is a major component of winning back mine.

As much as I hate it, I can’t keep her safe in that gilded cage, which leaves it all to Trips.

And so far, it doesn’t look like he’s fucked up enough for her to give up on him.

Walker takes my silence in stride as we drive home.

And he doesn’t object when I head straight for my computer.

I know I should check in with him to make sure he’s okay after seeing her, but my brain has a thread, and I’ve got to pull it.

I can’t fix anything that’s going on with Clara, not right now.

But what I can do is figure out why I’m so stuck on GoldenRod69.

And like a gift from the gods rewarding my continued investigation, an alert gives me the best news I’ve had in a while: GoldenRod69 finally stepped into my net.

Not even thirty minutes ago, he logged into a share group via cell service rather than his highly encrypted Wi-Fi.

And that tripped my trap, pulling me in with him.

My excitement almost has me skipping important steps, but I force myself to slow down, going through everything I have access to methodically.

An hour later, I’m sweaty and shaking.

GoldenRod69 isn’t just the next name I’m handing off to Officer Reed. He’s a target for my anger, my fear, my helplessness, trapped behind a screen forty-five minutes from here.

Because GoldenRod69 isn’t just some creep.

He’s got money. He’s got power. He’s got a position in the state government and is a rising star on the national stage.

GoldenRod69 is Trips’ fucking half-brother.