Page 116 of Brutal Collateral

“Next, you wore this getup to annoy me. I pay attention. I see what you wear around the house. You stroll around in my oversized T-shirts, leggings, and ugly sneakers. You go out of your way to look plain and not sexy aroundme. Then you get a call from your cousins and you dress to the nines with clothes I bought. Now an afternoon with my brothers comes up, and you wear something so they can see your pussy and watch your tits bounce.”

I bite my lip. He’s got me there. I can’t let it go, though. “I was in a cage.”

“Do youwantme to treat you like a victim?” He squeezes my knee.

“No!” I suck in a breath, unsure if I’m having a panic attack.

So much is catching up to me. I consider asking Bourne when I get home to bring me to my aunt’s apartment. I have the right to spend one night with my relatives. At this rate, Griffin is going to keep me tied up until the wedding. I should give him time to cool off.

“Ava, this wedding is happening. Deal with it. We’re getting married, and you need to act like a proper wife for six damn months.”

“I’m telling my aunt to call off the big wedding,” I say softly. “Let’s just do something quiet.”

He turns to me with a cold stare. “Something quiet, huh?”

I shiver at how he’s seething. “Yeah.”

He leans forward. “Gus, take us to City Hall. Right fucking now.”

“Really?” I wanted City Hall in the first place! “Let’s go home and change. I’ll—”

“No,” Griffin sharply bites out. “You wanted to wearthatoutfit, now you get married in it.”

“What?” I claw at his arms. “You’re not serious.”

“I’m fucking deadly serious.” He gets on his phone. “Shane, it’s me. I’m going to City Hall right now to get married. Is there a license on file?”

“No. Don’t do this.” I try to grab Griffin’s phone and even yell, “Shane, he’s kidding. We’re having a good laugh. Ha, ha!”

“No, this has nothing to do with what just happened.” Griffin pushes me away. “Shane, do it, or I go there with my gun and... That’s better.”

“Boss, it’s a Saturday,” Zeke says cautiously from the front seat.

Griffin radiates fury and the car goes quiet, only our ragged breaths punctuating the silence. And if I’m not mistaken, I can hear my heart pounding.

Griffin’s phone rings again, making me jump. He picks it up, and I worry when Shane tells him they’re closed, Griffin will explode and the SUV will roll over from the shockwaves.

“What?”he answers and a second later, his right eyebrow lifts. “Is that so?”

My life passes before my eyes, thinking of the hell I’ll get.

“Thank you, Shane.” Watching me, Griffin twists his phone in his hand. “They’re open until noon on Saturdays in June to accommodate summer weddings.”

My heart drops, seeing it’s eleven forty-seven. “Oh shit.”

I grab a hold of the handle over the window, and it happens in slow motion.

Griffin takes out his gun, and screams to Gus, “Get me to City Hall in ten minutes or you die.”

The Escalade weaves in and out of traffic and by some damn miracle, we arrive at City Hall in four minutes.

Griffin pulls on a nylon track jacket and shoves his gun into the inner pocket. “Zeke, out of the car. Get to the officiant’s office andmake sure it stays open.”

The guard flies from the car, not even closing the passenger door.

Griffin hops out and closes it. Facing me in the backseat, he growls, “Come on, my lovely bride.”

I give us a once-over. We’re both sweaty, wearing shorts with grass stains, and my T-shirt now has Shane’s blood on it. I’m pretty sure I smell bad. I shake my head, watching the time tick down. I know I can force the delay, although I’ll be right back here on Monday. For all I know Griffin will tie me up all weekend and then bring me back wearing a bathrobe or something worse, like a bathing suit.

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