Page 28 of Brutal Collateral

Hadleigh comes to mind again uninvited, and I remember how she handled a gun at the range. Efficient, quick, and deadly.

I could use some of her tough-as-nails spirit right now.

I wonder what the hell happened to her?

I’d forgive her for tying me up. And fuck her one more time before I take a woman to wife, who I’m pretty sure won’t have the first clue how to satisfy a man like me in bed.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Ava – New York City – One week before Christmas

“Hello, old friend.”I run a comb through my dark hair. No point in staying blonde. Of course, I argued with Ares just to be a brat.

My Aunt Helena, Father’s sister, let me stay in her guest bedroom for the last two weeks because I refused to live with Ares.

I don’t think he wanted me there either. Not unless he wants to lock up all the knives.

I’ve been numb the whole time, only finding solace at Alexander’s grave. Ares should be in that thing. I practically lunged for him when he told me that my role inhis planis to marry some Irish mob boss as part of a truce deal.

What’s worse is we don’t know who that will be. The head of the Irish Mob in Lower Manhattan doesn’t have an heir at the moment because Alexander accidentally killed the old one.Nowthe two sides want to come together to do a deal. And I’m the payment. I can’t believe I’m back where I started.

As Ava Zervas, I don’t have a penny to my name. Atlas closed all my Hadleigh Castille accounts and put what little money I had saved in a trust for me that will be transferred to my new husband.

Assholes!

My cousins Lucia and Lola are home from college, but out with their friends. I had friends in my private school, but when I graduated, that was it. I didn’t go to college, I went into the Navy. My only adult friend has been Cherise.

Aunt Helena took me shopping for a new wardrobe, a trousseau that will come with me when I’m handed over to the enemy.

Tonight! Troi Keller is choosing an heir tonight at a medieval council meeting. My future husband will be revealed to me, to my family.

“Are you ready, Ava?” Aunt Helena asks.

I smooth out the forest green wrap dress she laid out for me on the bed. I don’t mind my aunt choosing my clothes every day. I forgot how to dress up, I’d been putting on a damn uniform for nearly ten years. I hope whoever the hell I’m forced to marry doesn’t want a stylish wife.

Once I say I do, I plan to stay in sweats and a T-shirt. I won’t shower every day, and if something spills on my clothes? Oops!

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