Page 147 of Brutal Collateral

“I fought back because I had training. I was lucky. That’s why I’m here.” I smile. “To share that with you ladies.”

“Thank you. I appreciate all your help. Ted is... I’ll see you next week.” Jenna leaves, her back a little straighter.

Private car service picks her up, something Isabella provides at no charge when the women leave here after dark. When the rest of the women leave one by one, I feel the weight of my words about Jenna’s right to defend herself sink in. I hope she truly believes me.

It’s almost nine p.m. and my phone remains silent. No texts. No calls. Griffin hasn’t called me. He knows I have classes tonight, and I know he has plans to make the rounds again on the streets. A stronghold of a few blocks who are not on board with the new Quinlan Empire regime needs another visit from the king and the enforcer team.

What happened? We’ve been getting along great. It’s been so easy. Griffin lets me do whatever I want. Maybe he’d rather have a sunshine bird like Wren and not a beat-up, grumpy wife.

I gather my things and when I leave the center, I look for Bourne. He waves from the corner. I head that way and he tosses a cigarette.

“I had to park down the street. Mrs. O’Rourke asked me not to double park.”

“No problem, Bourne.”

Following my guard down the eerily quiet street, I look up at a rare blanket of visible stars for a city full of lights. I spent many nights in different countries looking for Orion and Cassiopeia, their locations taught to me by Aunt Helena along with their history in our Greek heritage.

I’m so transfixed tonight. My head is all over the place, and I don’t realize Bourne kept walking ahead. With a glance, I see he’s nearly on the next block.

Feeling it’s best not to yell, I pick up my pace, but an uneasy feeling creeps over me. Hearing footsteps, I swing around, but the footfalls stop.

Then with sickening clarity, a voice hisses from the darkness. A man steps out of the shadows, his eyes wild, a sneer pulling at his mouth.

“Ava...was it?”

CHAPTER FIFTY

Ava

Jenna’s ex stands atthe entrance to an alleyway. I saw his photo in her file, a beady-eyed man with a permanent scowl.

My gaze lingers to the left, Bourne is several yards away. Now would be the time to yell. But Jenna doesn’t have a Bourne. And this asshole just silently volunteered to be a punching bag for all the rage I feel today.

I lunge and push the guy back into the shadows, instincts to fight him myself kicking in. “Wanna try to hitme, Ted?” I say, my tone cold and calculated.

He yanks me by my jacket, shoving me against a brick wall. “You think you can teach my Jenna to stand up to me? Fill her head with your garbage?”

---