Page 84 of Briar

Jenson hesitates, before he nudges past and sits on our battered leather couch with Briar still held against him. His eyes are like ice, but he holds her carefully. Gently. We both watchas he smooths her hair back. “Briar will be staying with us. Tell them.”

She shifts, and he releases her enough that she can sit up on his lap. The story spills out, Briar glancing up at Jenson several times, bolstered by his nods.

Kai and I exchange glances, a look of mutual agreement passing between us. Jenson catches it, his lip tilting up where she can’t see.

Philip Fitzherbert is a dead man walking.

“So,” Briar says eventually. She looks at Jenson again. “Jenson offered me a place to stay. If that’s… okay? I don’t want to impose.”

From the look on his face and the tight grip he still has on her, I doubt very much that’s how the conversation went. But it doesn’t matter. “You’re not going back there.”

We’ve been taking her back.Leavingher there.

Kai has the same nauseous look on his face.You’re staying.

“Thank you.” She glances down. “I know tonight is supposed to be our second night—,”

“No.” I snap the word, and her head jerks in surprise. “Not after last night – and then today.”

Not with her face all swollen. “Once you’re healed, we’ll discuss it.”

Truthfully, I don’t give a fuck about the agreement. I don’t think any of us do. None of us are interested in short-term anymore.

I don’t give a fuck about waiting, as long as we get to keep her. “What about your things?”

She almost bites down on her sore lip before she winces, and a fresh wave of rage rolls through me. “I need to go and get them. I’ll speak to my father at the same time.”

She doesn’t seem excited at the prospect. “Why don’t you let Kai and I pick them up for you?”

She shakes her head. “He won’t like that.”

I don’t give a shit.“Will he let you go without an argument?”

Her hesitation is enough of an answer.

“Let us go,” I say gently. “We’ll tell him you’re not coming back. You can confirm it with him over the phone. You don’t need to face that today.”

Or ever. I can see her wavering.

It’s your choice.Kai glances at me.If you want to do this, we’ll take you.

Either way, we’ll be there. Her father sounds like an untrustworthy bastard.

“I don’t want to see him,” she admits finally, staring at the floor. “Not yet. Maybe not for a while.”

I try not to smile. “That’s fine. We’ll be in and out.”

Mostly.

***

Gerald Everett, a portly, red-faced man in his late sixties, clearly isn’t expecting us. His eyes bulge as the door opens. My foot stops him from slamming the door in our faces.

Rude.

“Good. You’re here.” I grip him by his starched white collar, pushing him back as Kai kicks the door closed. “Anybody else in the house, Gerald?”

The blood has drained from his face. “If you’re here about the money, it’s coming. I’ll have it within a month.”