Page 112 of Brutal Collateral

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

Griffin

Ava. Ava. Ava.

I want to ring her cute little neck. What the hell is she trying to prove driving to the park on her own? At least she took her guard, not that she’d get past all three of them if she tried to leave the house. Or the eight others on the street.

She’s trying to get a rise out of me, and I won’t give her any ammunition. I had some stupid fantasy when I got out of the shower that I’d find her on the bed naked, legs spread begging me fuck her.

She wasn’t even in the bloody house!

I’d given her guard simple instructions that appear to have backfired. She can go anywhere she wants so long as he is with her. I didn’t restrict her movements and relied on his judgment that he would keep her from doing something dangerous or stupid.

She grew up in this world and so far, it appears she understands the importance of her safety. Better than marrying some spoiled billionaire or celebrity’s daughter who only wants to party and take risks.

Zeke confirms they drove to the park, saying something about stopping for drinks and snacks.Snacks?

I arrive at the park, and for a few glorious moments, I’m back to being just me, and not the head of a massive crime family on the brink of chaos. Only, we’re making headway in that department. Connor assured me again last night his team of capos are roaming the neighborhoods quelling dissent and trouble.

He and Shane arrive in separate cars, sweet rides they’ve had forever. Connor emerges from his Lamborghini with the wind in his hair. Shane climbs out of his Corvette, a toy he bragged about a couple of years ago.

I consider telling them to get new cars to tone shit down. Manhattan isn’t Astoria. We’re running a criminal organization in a new neighborhood where we don’t have the cops and Feds in our pockets yet.

My Escalade is only a few years old and with the black-on-black trim package, it blends into other high-end cars used for carting around celebrities. I’m also comfortable in it. Although, I haven’t driven it in months. Gus gets that pleasure.

“Have you seen—” I stop, spotting a limo pull up and out pour the Greeks.

I spin toward my brothers. “What aretheydoing here?”

“I invited them,” Shane says, stretching. “Atlas heard me reserving the field. Said he and his brothers played at Uni. Remember, we’re a family now. People need to see us together. Getting along.”

“What’sAvadoing here?” Connor says, pointing like that’s more of a shock.

I turn around and every cell in my body roars to life. She’s wearing lime green silk shorts that are ridiculously short and a body-hugging white T-shirt. Looking closer, I can see her tits bob freely.

She’s not wearing a bra.

Biting my lower lip, I tamp down my anger. She’s doing all this to get a rise out of me.

Something’s rising all right.

Again.

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