Page 30 of Brutal Collateral

“Talk to me.” I sit with my elbows on the table. A sin for a princess. But I don’t want to be a princess. Or anyone’s queen.

“There’s a multibillion-dollar land development project for the United Nations on the line,” Ares begins. “The current building is falling apart and they need to move. Fast. The UN campus is technically Greek turf, just a few blocks north of where Troi Keller drew his borderlines years ago. No one respects borders anymore. Especially not me. Troi has powerful allies everywhere and refuses to be left out of this project. The city liaisons to the UN aren’t stupid and know our two crime families have been at war for several years now. They know choosing one over the other, if we make separate bids, will sabotage the project and they will never get the new building constructed. I have the connections to ensure we get the deal, but...” He trails off.

“But what?”

“I don’t have the cash.”

My fingers stop drumming the tablecloth. “So you’re selling me. Just like Father tried to. It’s not about a truce.”

When I stand, he yanks me back down. “It’s complicated. The project was announced last year. We can’t do the deal without each other and we can’t do it without a solid truce. That’s where you come in.”

“Hard pass,” I say, rolling my eyes.

“Not an option. This is your duty.” He leans in. “You will be a queen, Ava. You don’t find that appealing at all?”

About as appealing as taking a bath in a swamp. With malaria-ridden mosquitos who ride alligators.

“Figures you’d ask that because you don’t know me. Alexander did.” And why he wanted an assassin, not a princess to hand over and forget about.

I’d kill Ares since I’m that good, but then the job goes to Atlas, who will just pick up where Ares left off. They won’t let it go to Ambrose, who’s smart enough to come up with something less barbaric.

“Mr. Zervas?” A man in a suit approaches us. “Kai Powers, counsel for Mr. Keller. Please come sit with me at my table. I assure you, it’s safe.”

“We are fine sitting alone. We are not aligned yet,” Ares dismisses him.

“If you change your mind.” He bows his head and walks off.

The meeting comes to order. Troi blusters and barks at the bosses and capos who run his house for him. I don’t like this man. At all. And these...bozos wanting to take his place make me sick.

Troi’s words left a stain on my soul:Hold her down while I fuck her until she makes me a new heir.

I avoid eye contact with any of those who stand from round tables and make their claim to Troi. Four men make their argument, all based on how long they knew Devlin. One man is missing an arm and wears a black eyepatch, citing losing the arm and eye when Devlin’s car exploded.

That man gets the most reaction from Troi. But the old goat keeps calling others who also revered Devlin as some holier-than-though character.

“These men are not worthy of us,” Atlas grumbles to Ares.

“Agreed.” Ares twists a napkin in his long fingers. “Are we at all positioned to completely take over by force?”

Atlas, six years younger than Ares, stares at the room full of Keller bosses like it’s a nursery school and all the kids have a cold. “When Troi drops dead? I think it’s possible.”

My heart leaps in my chest, my nails digging into Ares’ arm. I pull him toward me by his tie. “Thisis what Alexander wanted. He had a plan for me to help.Letme help you,” I beg my brother.

Ares sends a condescending gaze my way.

“Shall I kick your ass in your private gym tomorrow and show you what I learned?” I challenge Ares. “Or blow you away at the range? Or drive a car two hundred miles an hour into your club and run you over with such precision that you’ll—”

“This is no place for you!” someone from the other side of the room shouts, cutting me off.

A man walks in and the room parts for him like he’s freaking Moses at the mouth of the Red Sea.

“Who is that?” I pull down Ares by the tie again.

“Brandon Keller,” Ambrose answers. “Troi’sbastardson.”

“Dad, there’s no need for this circus,” Brandon declares. “I am your blood just as much as Devlin was. Iamnow your heir.”

“Bastard!” someone yells.

---