AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Royce scowled at his sister’s words and Briar hid a smile. She had a feeling this was a battle he wasn’t winning. Glancing back, Briar realized Raine was still watching her, a knowing expression in her eyes. Briar’s first instinct was to shake her head, to deny what Raine King was silently assuming—that Briar and Royce had slept together—but she didn’t, she let one eyebrow rise ever so slightly and gave a small shrug. Raine could think what she wanted. Because Briar wanted to do more than sleep with Royce.
Briar watched Royce while he stood next to the living room window and listened to the coroner, nodding as if Dr. Frank could see him. Abruptly, he shoved his phone into his back pocket and Briar bet herself a dollar that Dr. Frank had hung up without saying goodbye.
“Nothing we didn’t expect,” he said to the both of them. “Cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head.”
Raine’s eyes widened. “What are you talking about?” she demanded. Briar realized they hadn’t told her about their evening and what had happened at Tor’s.
Quickly, Royce filled Raine in on what had happened the night before and about the dead body they’d found, which was likely the same one Tia had mentioned. “Please don’t spread it around town. We don’t really know anything and have no idea who—if anyone—from Rexville might be involved. And I probably shouldn’t have to say this out loud, I know you aren’t going to listen, but I don’t want you investigating on your own. There’s a dead body involved, Raine. This isn’t The Case of the Missing Notebook.”
“But,” Raine darted a lethal glance at Royce, “Tia could be in danger—she is in danger. What the hell is happening around here, Royce?”
Briar was impressed. She could practically see Raine King readying herself for battle, ready to protect this young woman she knew next to nothing about. She also made a mental note to call Agent Klay again. He was probably sick of hearing from her, but he needed to know about Tia. Klay was part of an FBI task force targeting human trafficking and he was going to want to interview the girl as soon as possible.
Royce saw it, too, his lips pressing to a grim line as he contemplated his sister. “Raine, I’m begging you. Stay out of this and take care of Tia. Let me handle the rest.” Briar opened her mouth, but Royce beat her to it. “Let Briar and me handle it, we’re the experts here. Your job is to keep Tia safe. Don’t let anyone know she’s here in your house. We know she was at Tor’s when he died and we should assume she is a witness, in fear for her life.”
A chill ran up Briar’s spine. If they believed Tia was a witness, surely they weren’t the only ones.
