Elias’ expression twisted into confusion. “Privacy to look at your car?” he murmured.
“Why are there blankets and pillows?” Sinclair asked, peering inside the window. I was so busy watching Elias that I hadn’t seen Sinclair near the car. Damn him for being so stealthy.
Unlike him, when I rushed over, the crunch under me was exaggeratedly loud.
“Like someone was sleeping in here?”
Now Kyan bent over to look through the window.
Sinclair opened the door, and my blankets, the pile of them I’d made a nest from, spilled out.
“Hey,” I reproached, crouched to hug them to my chest, and glared up at him. Kyan watched me with a stricken look on his face, while Sinclair was still confused. I shoved the makeshift nest into the car. Paper spilled out from the blankets. Fuck, I forgot I tucked those in there. Crouching, I grabbed the three pictures. My face blazed with heat, and I kept my eyes down as I patted down the blanket on the back seat, more because I was trying to keep my attention away from them.
“Briar,” Elias croaked. I hummed, not looking at him. I was pulled back by a grip on my sleeve. I stumbled to the side, almost falling, but Elias tugged me against his chest, stopping my tilted fall.
I glared up at him, my lips pressed into a thin line.
“Were you living in your car? Is that why you didn’t want us here?” He shook my arm, and it rattled my teeth. I slapped my palm on his chest.
“It’s none of your business,” I hissed, keeping my arm down and squeezed the thin images until they were partially wrinkled in my palm.Please don’t ask about the pictures.
Strain flattened his lips.
“Briar,” Kyan started, his voice gentler than Elias. Kyan bunched my sleeve and plucked the crumpled paper out of my hand. He inhaled sharply.
“God! You guys aren’t going to let it be, are you?” I smacked at Elias chest until he let me go and whirled to rest my gaze on every single one of them, settling on Kyan last to snatch the pictures from his hand. One picture of each, and the only thing I’d kept from their files.
Now I knew why I hoarded them.
I ripped the pictures up until they littered the ground. “How did you think I was going to afford anything after they fired me?” My words hit their aim, and they staggered back with a gasp.
“She was living in her car?” Sinclair said, his voice toneless.
“For fuck’s sake, yes!” I shouted. “I was living in my car for a few months.” I struggled to swallow. “After I was fired, I had a notice from my complex, but it was all bullshit. Bourne Pack had to be behind it.”
I dropped my gaze to their feet. Not wanting to see the pity.
“You had nowhere to go,” Kyan whispered.
Pebbles crunched underfoot, and Sinclair stormed over to Elias and slammed his fist into his face.
An arch of blood burst from his nose. I gasped, stumbling back. Elias spat out blood, leaking into his mouth. He went for Sinclair, lashing out with his fist. Sinclair wove to the side at the last minute, forcing Elias to only clip his jaw.
“You cunt. You bloody cunt,” Sinclair hissed. “You did this.”
“You could have fought me on it,” Elias growled. “But you didn’t because you’re a coward. You didn’t want to stop fucking whatever pussy you wanted.”
My throat was so tight right now, I struggled to breathe.
Kyan stepped in the way, his chest blocking my view.
“They just need to let off some steam.”
“I . . .” I dragged in a breath and turned on my heel. I was through the front door when it registered, Kyan was following me.
“Alone, please,” I croaked.
Kyan nodded, concern lining his brow.
