Invisible string | Harlan Briggs

Chapter 010

Tiny Smut warning for this chapter

I was still perched on Harlan's lap, his warmth enveloping me as we both struggled to catch our breath. My face rested in the crook of his neck, my lips ghosting over his skin, when I felt his smirk before I even saw it. A slow, teasing thrust had my breath hitching, a sharp gasp breaking the quiet between us. He was insatiable, and I was more than willing to indulge—until the sudden chime of his phone shattered the moment.

Harlan reached over, his brows furrowing as he checked the screen. His expression shifted almost instantly, tension rippling through his body as he quickly typed a response.

"What is it? What's wrong?" I asked, my voice laced with concern.

His gaze flicked back to mine, relief washing over his sharp features. "It's about Garrett," he said, exhaling deeply. "They found him."

I stilled, absorbing the weight of his words. Slowly, I lifted myself from his lap, both of us letting out quiet, involuntary moans at the loss of connection. A hollow ache settled between my thighs as he gently guided me back into the passenger seat, his touch lingering just a little longer than necessary.

With practiced ease, Harlan buckled me in before adjusting his own seat, his jaw set with quiet determination. Then, without another word, he started the car, the hum of the engine breaking the charged silence as we sped toward the hospital.

The second we pulled up to the hospital, we were out of the car and moving, not wasting a single second. Harlan reached the front desk first, his voice sharp with urgency.

"Briggs. Garrett Briggs. He should be here by now," he demanded, his fingers drumming against the counter as his eyes flicked between the nurse and the entrance.

I turned just in time to see Luna rushing in, her expression tight with stress. The tension in her shoulders was almost suffocating. Without thinking, I reached for her hand, letting my touch absorb some of the weight she carried. She gasped slightly, her wide eyes snapping to mine in surprise.

I just smirked. Yeah, I'm full of surprises.

Before she could ask, the chaos around us escalated. A group of medics stormed through the doors, wheeling in who I could only assume was Garrett. Harlan's whole body locked up beside me, and I instinctively rubbed slow, calming circles into his back, grounding him.

And then—just as I thought things couldn't get worse—a scent hit me.

Familiar. Unwanted. Infuriating.

I stiffened, my head snapping toward the entrance as a face from my personal hell sauntered into view.

"Oh, you have got to be fucking kidding me," I muttered, already feeling my patience shrivel up and die.

Harlan gave me a questioning glance, but before I could elaborate, an all-too-smug voice cut through the room.

"Harlan and Elizabeth Briggs?"

I barely resisted the urge to roll my eyes as I turned to face the absolute joke of a cop standing in front of us. Detective Douchebag himself.

"It's Luna," Luna corrected, her voice steady despite the tension.

Jang—the sorry excuse for a law enforcement officer—turned his attention to me, and I could see the exact moment recognition dawned on his pathetic face. A slow, sleazy smirk curled his lips.

"Well, well, well. It's been a while, little Hale."

I met his gaze, deadpan, and spat, "Fuck you, Jang." Every ounce of venom I possessed laced into those three words.