Page 127 of The Marine

“Here, I’ve got it,” Savannah says, lifting her phone into the air.

Ryder is looking less and less impressed with how his wedding day is turning out, and I don’t blame him.

I’m furious.

Why the hell did she run?

Where the fuck are you, Briar?

“Ring them.” I instruct, meaning Trina and Alice. It’s likely she went to one of their houses.

We listen as Savannah calls Trina and updates her on what’s happened. They have a discussion about where she might have gone.

“I’m surprised she left without telling you. That’s not like Briar,” Trina says, and I can hear the worry in her voice. “Did Kael show up?”

“Yes.” Savannah glances at me and I shake my head. The news will break soon, but we don’t have time to go over that with her now.

It’s not a priority.

“Where could she have gone?” I ask.

“Did they go back to his house? If they did—”

“No. He’s...not with her,” I say briefly. Again, not important right now.

“Actually, that’s a good thing,” she replies.

I’m not surprised by her response. It’s highly likely her friends know about what has gone on in their marriage, especially as she is separated from him—now by a set of prison bars. Plus the way Trina showed up last Sunday at the coffee shop as her getaway driver hints strongly that she’s fully informed.

Which is why I can’t help but ask my next question. “Is she planning to divorce him?”

I hold my breath.

I need to know the truth.

“Yes. This was meant to be their final date. Then she was going to order her attorney to demand the divorce.”

I let out my breath.

Does it change anything?

“Wow. I had no idea all of this was going on.” Savannah looks at me, then Ryder.

“She didn’t want to upset or worry you.” Trina shares.

“I didn’t know either.” Cassy leans into Josh and he wraps his arm around her.

“She’s very private.” I tell them and eyes come flying at me. They’re still wrapping their head around the fact I’ve known her since she was eighteen. But then again, not since then.

Do I really know her?

She lied about divorcing her husband. I know why. At least I think I do. Briar doesn’t believe this can work between us. And it’s for one reason.

Her mother.

The one person I least want to speak to, but after crossing the girls off my list of places Briar went to, it looks like I will need to.

“She is.” Trina agrees. “I’ve just messaged Alice, and she hasn’t seen or heard from her either. Honestly, she’ll probably come here. It’s what she usually does.”

---