Page 103 of Brutal Collateral

Bingo...

I hide my smile behind folded hands, watching him trying to push her out.

“And why am I excluded? Is it my tits?” She pushes them together. “I got rid of my hair, I can cut them off next.”

That puts me on my feet. “Enough. She stays. Let’s get on with it. Shane, go.”

Not needing any coaxing, Shane stands up and uses a remote to put blueprints up on the large screen. “We’ve narrowed it down to two building options. We can buy this block of land and build new, state-of-the-art, everything to our specs. Or buy this historical building that’s been in foreclosure for the last five years. It sits within the UN’s specs for distance from the existing site.”

“Cost difference?” I ask.

Atlas answers, “After building new, permits and everything, versus buying this building, which is pricey because of its location, it’s a wash.”

“Time to occupy?” Ares asks.

“Same,” Shane answers.

“Any issues renovating a historic building?” Ambrose asks.

“There’s a waiver for renovations,” his brother Atlas answers.

“Money and time aside,” I continue. “If buying the land means we can build directly to the specs, how hard will it be to retrofit the existing building? The UN is moving because there’s so much asbestos, they’re terrified to take down walls to install fiber optics for the new security infrastructure they need.”

“The existing building was gutted ten years ago and the asbestos was removed to OSHA standards,” Shane answers. “That’s why it’s in foreclosure. They spent a fortune, and the existing tenants couldn’t pay the raised rents.”

Ares signals Atlas, who whispers in his ear. Ambrose sits there, looking stiff and bored.

A moment later, Ares says, “We are in favor of the existing building. We value history.”

I tighten my fist. Shane and I spoke about our preference earlier, which was the new build. Glancing around, I see a problem. No one here is above the other. It has to be a majority vote.

It’s three Quinlans against three Zervas.

Perfume drifts into my lungs, and I mentally correct myself. Zervas has four. Ava is still one of them.

Shite.

Sitting back and folding my arms, I say, “We’re in favor of the new building.”

“All three of you?” Ares looks at each of us.

The room grows quiet as Shane sits down. “We didn’t anticipate a tie vote. How do we break—”

“Hold up.” Ava raises her hand. “I didn’t vote.”

My heartrate spikes. “Now hang on.”

A dark rumble of sinister laughter breaks from Ares’ chest. “Please, Ava darling, vote.”

Smiling, she stands up and walks to Atlas then sits next to him. They whisper as he shows her his reports on the existing building. Then she gets up and rounds the table. Passing me, she swipes a finger across my back that no one is supposed to see.

It wakes up my senses, her touching me.

Shane greets her with his flirty smile. A flame of jealousy burns in my chest the way she touches his arm and smiles at him.

What the fuck?

And why is he indulging her? It better be to win her vote.

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