Chapter 5
Chapter Five
Briar
T he tomato soup looks delicious, and the single dunk of my grilled cheese into it says it should be fantastic. Only, every bite tastes like ash. I was starving when we got here, but I manage three bites of my sandwich before my stomach aches so badly that I have to put it down and shove away the plate. The reddish-orange color of the soup turns my stomach, so I move it away too.
Flashes of my wedding day to Avan Barrett play through my mind on repeat. I never wanted anything to do with Barrett. It was purely a political union arranged by our families to pool their resources and power.
Except, we never even got to say I do before the bullets started flying.
At first, I was relieved. So unbelievably grateful that I wouldn’t be tied to that awful man, but the reality of where the bullets were landing quickly caught up.
Both of our families were slaughtered.
I’m only alive because Barrett had an undercover DEA agent who was hiding on his security team. He got me out and took me into the closest FBI office, since he was part of a joint task force with the two agencies.
I was questioned for days before they even allowed me to sleep. And they made me all kinds of promises…if I could testify.
Only, my father made sure I never knew much, and the little I did know was useless. Everyone I could have testified against was dead, meaning the government had no use for me. They said I didn’t qualify for their witness protection program, and without one of the agents helping me claim several of the crime information rewards, I would have walked out with nothing.
It’s funny to think about it, but I was just as disposable to the government as I was to my family.
It’s rude to rest your elbows on the table . I can almost hear my mother’s voice echoing through my mind.
Exhaling heavily, I glance out the window to keep from bursting into tears. She wasn’t a bad mom; she just had no hope in hell of controlling my father. Even when she tried to stand up to him to protect me, all it did was cause her more misery.
She’s gone now too .
One of Barrett’s guys took her out immediately after the bullets started flying. It took a while for the two sides to realize it was a third party and not each side turning on the other.
I’m so lost in thought, I barely notice the cushion moving under my ass.
Keir slides in at my side, wrapping an arm around my lower back. “Are you doing okay?”
My head shakes, and my hair nearly falls into the bowl of soup.
Keir pushes the food farther away. “Tell me who that man is and why he’s a threat to you.” His tone makes him sound every bit the mercenary he is.
“Dylan? He’s not. Not at all.” I bite my lip.
Well, not unless he goes back to Boston and blabs about seeing me.
My brother would know exactly where to find me to drag me home.
I’m not sure if he would kill me on sight for working with the feds or if he would have something even worse up his sleeve, but I know it wouldn’t be good. Putting a bullet in my brain would probably be more merciful than what he’s capable of.
The waitress comes over, asking if everything is okay with the food.
Keir’s huge hand soothes up and down my back. “It’s great as always, Darcy. Can I trouble you for a couple to-go boxes?”
“Oh yeah, of course. Do you want containers for the soup?” she asks as I try to regulate my breathing.
“That would be great,” he replies.
My stomach rolls.
I’m going to have to leave.
The thought of leaving Jameson doesn’t make me half as sad as the realization that I was just making friends and gaining some independence after a life of being told to shut up and look pretty.
Dammit.
I really was starting to like it here.
The wind is biting and seems to cut straight through every layer I have on. That, or the fear has me physically shaking.
Keir opens the passenger door to his truck, and I climb inside. I barely notice as the door clicks closed.
Will Jameson try to stop me? He’s been so distant lately, he might not even notice until I’m gone.
Keir climbs into the driver’s seat and twists to place the food containers on the back floorboard.
My entire body jolts when the truck turns on.
He bumps up the heat and turns to face me. “You know we can protect you from whatever it is that has you so terrified. You don’t have to run.”
My chest gets tight.
I purposely inserted myself into their lives so that way they would want to protect me if the need arose. Only now, I consider these people friends and bringing them into my drama is dangerous.
“All right,” he says, sounding defeated. “We better get back to the office.”
“Thanks, Keir.”
He nods, his hand coming to rest on the top of my seat as he prepares to back out of the parking space. He opens his mouth but closes it just as quickly. His jaw clenches and his nostrils flare, but he still doesn’t say anything. It makes my instincts uncomfortable.
Omegas are meant to soothe alphas, not upset them, but I don’t have the first idea of how to start fixing the mess I’ve found myself in.