Chapter 5 Trust No One, Not Even Kin
Black Wolf: [Yup. Supervision Department.]
Briar’s head pounded like a cheap drum.
Fox: [Wait, the Supervision Department nabbed the files? No way.]
Black Wolf: [Yo, Snake, you’re in deep. Word from the boss: no files, no future.]
Briar rubbed her temples, staying quiet. She got it.
No files didn’t mean she’d have to eat a bullet—the old man still needed her for his shiny new weapons. But trouble? She’d be drowning in it.
The Supervision Department was government-level. Snatching those files back was gonna suck. Especially in Cordanland.
Lamb: [It’s that bad? ]
Black Wolf: [Forgot you, huh? You let the guy bolt. Now you’re stuck with Snake.]
Silver: [Cold-blooded.]
Lamb: [Oh, shit.]
Briar slouched in her chair, fingers lazily drumming the desk.
Black Wolf: [Yo, Snake? Still breathing?]
Black Mamba: [Quit screwing around and talk!]
Black Wolf: [Someone’s digging into you. Traced ’em to Limond City.]
Black Mamba: [That’s it?]
Big whoop. If the thief wasn’t in Limond City, she wouldn’t be stuck in this hellhole.
Black Wolf: [Same guy’s dropping big bucks on the dark web—ten times market price for some test drugs.]
Black Mamba: [What, like painkillers?]
Black Wolf: [Nah, that special batch you cooked up. Still in trials.]
Briar’s face went stone-cold.
Black Wolf: [Bet he doesn’t know it’s Strueze-region stuff. Deal’s going down soon. I’ll send the spot. Wanna set a trap?]
Black Mamba: [Just gimme the info.]
Right as she sent it, a knock hit the door. Briar scowled, slammed her laptop shut, and dragged herself to open it.
Imani stood there, all dolled up in silk pajamas.
“Hey, Imani, what’s good?” Briar leaned on the doorframe, eyeing her like a hawk.
Imani took a big breath, like she’d rehearsed this. “Briar, I feel like you’ve got a problem with me. Can we just… clear the air?”
Her voice was sugar-sweet, her face all innocent—like some perfect older sister.
But Briar wasn’t fooled. Imani was the same snake as always .Four years ago, same game. Four years later, still playing it.
“What’s good?” Briar slouched against the doorframe, clearly not rolling out the welcome mat for Imani.
Imani flashed a fake smile. “School’s around the corner. You’ve been gone forever—bet it’s weird being back.”
Briar got snatched as a kid. Nobody knew what she’d been through, but her vibe screamed rough times.
‘And she thought she could just waltz in and throw down with me?’ Imani thought.
Imani sneered inside but kept her face sweet. “Relax, I got you at school. Need anything, just hit me up.”
Before she could get closer, Briar snagged her wrist.
Briar smirked, eyebrow raised. “What’s that you’re trying to slip me? Let’s see it.”
“Nothing,” Imani muttered, tugging her hand. No luck—Briar’s grip was a vice.
“Let go! What’s your deal?”
Briar took her time, prying Imani’s fingers open one by one. Bingo—a diamond necklace, the rock at least 20 carats, worth a mint.
Imani went pale. “I-I just took it off! I wasn’t doing nothing!”
Briar locked eyes, voice cold. “Imani, didn’t I tell you to cut the crap with these games?”
Four years ago, Imani trashed Louise’s dress and pinned it on Briar. Briar beat her senseless for it.
‘Still no lesson learned?’ Briar thought.
Even though Imani had planted that necklace, so what? Frame Briar for theft? Any halfwit could see that plan was trash.
“I didn’t!” Imani stammered.
“Try again,” Briar said, her grin sharp.
“I—”
Briar’s eyes glinted. Before Imani could blink, Briar grabbed her chin, forced her mouth open, and shoved the necklace in.
“Swallow it,” Briar said, cool as ice. “We’re done here.”
Truth was, Briar thought scrapping with Imani was a waste.
One solid hit, and she could spin Imani’s head like a top. But she needed teaching.
“You—mmph! Help!” Imani choked, tears streaming. Briar slapped a hand over her mouth, keeping the necklace in.
“Really, Imani? Still this dense?” Briar’s tone dripped with shade. “Everyone’s got a brain—where’s yours?”
“Mmph! Help!”
Martin and Louise rushed over, faces stiff at the scene.
“Stop it!” Martin barked.
Briar didn’t blink, just kicked Imani away with a lazy nudge. Imani hit the ground, coughing up the necklace in a fit.
Louise hurried to pull Imani up. “You okay, hon?”
“Mom!” Imani sobbed, collapsing into her.
“Briar, you’re out of line!” Martin’s face was red as he swung at Briar.
She dodged like it was nothing. “So, I’m your real kid, and you’re swinging at me for her?”
Briar sighed, all dramatic. “Y’all hate me that bad?”
Either Briar was Oscar-worthy, or Louise was clueless to the sarcasm.
Louise hushed Imani, then looked at Briar. “Sweetie, we love you. Just chill with the attitude, and we’ll treat you and Imani the same.”
Sure, as long as Briar coughed up her inheritance.
“Treat us the same?” Briar blinked, voice pure snark. “Like telling everyone I’m the adopted kid?”
It wasn’t always like this. Four years back, Briar returned to the She pherd family after training abroad, full of hope.
Big mistake.
Martin and Louise called her their “adopted” daughter to the world. Then Imani trashed Louise’s fancy party dress and blamed Briar.
Just like that, they shipped her back overseas.
Briar learned early it was a dog-eat-dog world. She’d fought like hell to survive.
But this “family” nonsense? A brutal reminder that even blood could stab one in the back.
