Page 128 of Brutal Collateral

“Good girl.” I strut up to her and kiss her, relieved when she kisses me back. “And no one will be the wiser.”

“Help me,” she says, sounding chipper.

Feeling ecstatic that I made her happy, I help her into the dress. While I maintain my earlier objection that I find the style and cut of this dress abhorrently inappropriate for a wedding, it looks fucking amazing on her.

“Can you help me with the veil?” She moves to the bed, the dress swishing from the tule at the bottom of the skirt where it flares out. “It was Aunt Helena’s. She’s mad I cut my hair. She wanted mounds of curls piled on top of my head and this thing jammed into the back.”

I finger the finely crafted but old-world style lace. “Do you want to wear this?”

Ava exhales. “She wants me to.”

I hold her face. “But doyouwant to wear it?”

She thinks about that. “No. But I don’t want to hurt Aunt Lena’s feelings.”

With a tight throat, I say, “All she wants is to see you happy.”

“How do you know that?”

“She reminds me of my mother.” I shrug.

“So then what do I... Wait...what is this?” Ava finds a silk-wrapped box at the bottom of the garment bag.

I brush my fingers across her short hair swept beautifully to the side. It compliments her big sable brown eyes and her strong cheekbones.

“When I made the final payment at the store, I asked the sales girl for an edgy headpiece because you cut your hair. She recommended this.”

“Iwanteda headband, but Aunt Lena wanted me to wear her veil. Are these diamonds?”

“And onyx. It can be your something black.” I take the jewel-adorned headband with long satin ties and place it on her head. “Strength, courage, and loyalty.”

While Ava pulls whisps of her hair through, I tie it at the nape of her neck.

She looks in the mirror. “Griffin, this is amazing. Thank you.”

“One more thing.” From my suit jacket, I take out a silk purse. “I’m supposed to give you an actual gift according to Greek custom. Shoes specifically, but I thought you’d prefer something like this.”

Cautiously, she takes the purse and the way she squeezes it and gasps, I know she’s figured it out. Like a banshee, which is appropriate considering the gift, she takes out the white leather thigh sheath for the custom blade I had forged with an onyx and diamond handle.

To match the headband.

“I’ll only see you in this headband once, but I can’t wait to fuck you over and over wearing nothing but this knife.”

She smiles. “You trust me that much?”

I grip her chin. “I completely trust you.”

Even if that proves I’ve lost my mind.

She hugs me, and I go to let go, but she kisses me. Really fucking kisses me. I get lost in that kiss. I feel everything we’ve agreed to has just jumped out the window.

A tapping on the bedroom door makes me lurch back.

“Knock, knock.” Aunt Helena steps in and she doesn’t look surprised to see Ava in a different dress. “It’s time, you two. You look stunning, Ava.”

“I’m sorry about your veil,” she says breathless and guilty.

“Don’t be. This isyourwedding.” Her eyes focus on our clasped hands. “Good job, Quinlan.”

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