Page 128 of Shattered By the Currents

He jerked as someone hit him from behind, his eyes rolling up. Then he dropped.

Raven gasped and stumbled back at the sight of Briar Allen standing there with a rock in her hand.

Connor checkedthe entrance of Trap for what had to be the tenth time in just ten minutes.

Raven was late. She should have left her parents’ at five, and the place was barely five minutes from Trap. It was quarter past. Where was she?

He tapped the screen of his phone. No messages. No missed calls. He was about to call her when Dusty set a beer in front of him. “You look like you could use this.”

Drinking was the last thing he felt like doing right now. “Thanks.”

“Haven’t you heard?” Zac, who sat beside him, looked at the bar owner. “He’s in love.”

Dusty shook his head. “Loving someone can be a dangerous game.”

“You’ve been in love?” Connor asked.

“Once. Didn’t work out.” He threw a bar towel over his shoulder before looking back to Connor. “This bar is my only love now. She’s been good to me. You be careful with that heart.”

“Yeah, well, the owner of this heart is late.” Another glance at the door.

“How late?” Zac asked.

“A couple of minutes.”

“I’m sure she’s just taking a bit more time saying goodbye to her parents. Maybe even helping them settle into dinner. That care facility could use some help with all the escapes lately.”

“You talking about Deep River Residence?” Dusty asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Yeah, you know it?” Connor asked.

“Don’t know it personally. But a woman who works there used to come in quite a bit to see Nathaniel.”

Connor straightened. “What woman?”

“What was her name? Brielle? Brianna?”

“Briar?” Connor asked.

“Yeah. That’s the one. Got the feeling those two were close. Sometimes seemed to love each other. Sometimes fought like cats and dogs.”

Briar had never said anything about knowing Nathaniel. “I never saw her here.”

“You wouldn’t have. She used to come outside of open hours, while he was setting up. Sometimes she’d drop him off.” Dusty shook his head. “I don’t think I’ll ever get over what that kid did.”

As Dusty walked away, Connor turned to Zac. “Briar was close with Nathaniel.” He wasn’t sure if he was saying it out loud just to try to make sense of it.

“Did Ward say anything about Nathaniel dating someone?”

“I hear my name?”

Connor almost groaned when Ward came to stand on the other side of him.

“You know anything about Briar Allen?” Zac asked.

“Who’s that?”

So, no.