Page 46 of Brutal Collateral

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Ava

Dressed in a freshoversized T-shirt and nothing else, not even underwear, I kneel on the floor in the main-level apartment. I’d only seen the basement. I knew the others were living up here, partying, getting laid, watching sports, and drinking while I rotted one floor below for weeks.

With two guns pointed at my head, the urge to kill has subsided, and my rational brain argues thattheseguys came to rescue me. Only, they’ll drag me into another prison.

A cage called marriage.

“What’s your name?” I ask the man who says I have to marry him.

The man I slept with seven years ago, but I never knew his name.

After a moment, he says, “Griffin Quinlan. I’d shake your hand but I’m afraid you’ll bite mine off.”

“Smart,” I say, the last bits of my adrenaline kicking in.

Griffin folds his arms and looks behind him. “These are my brothers. Connor and Shane.”

“Nice to meet you guys,” I say sugary sweet to the men in dark suits like Griffin. “There’s been a mix-up. My name is Hadleigh.”

Griffin rolls his eyes at me. “Nice try.”

“What do we do with her? We have Trace’s wedding,” the one who I think is Shane says to Griffin.

Our eyes lock, and the memory of me tying him up to have my way with him rings out in my mind. The way his jaw jumps, I think it hits him, too.

“She’s coming with us.” Griffin turns away, knotting a tie.

“No, I’m not going with you.” I smile at the other brother pointing a gun at me. “Connor, is it?”

“Aye, lass. What can I do for you?” He’s just as handsome as Griffin, in a more lean and lethal kind of way.

“Can you get me a glass of water?” I ask him.

Griffin stands in front of Connor. “He’s not getting you aglassof water.”

“Here.” Shane hands me a plastic bottle.

When I swing at him, he drops it. Hearing a gun’s hammer click, I refrain from attacking him. I drink the entire bottle in nearly one primal gulp, droplets spilling down my chin.

When the bottle is empty, I throw it at Griffin’s head. “I want to go home.”

“After.” He mockingly rubs his head. “Ouch.”

“After what?” I snap.

“After the wedding.”

“Our wedding?”

---