Page 51 of Brutal Collateral

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Ava

Where the hell am I? My head is pounding from being drugged. Christ, I’m in a trunk. Tied up.

“Let me out!” I yell for the umpteenth time.

At least I’m not gagged. But I stop screaming when the car starts moving. It stops. Then moves again. All while something is behind me. Something rapidly losing warmth. Crap, it’s Brandon’s body.

His dead body because I killed him.

I lean on my bicep, cursing myself. It’s my fault that I’m in here. I didn’t behave properly with the guy who rescued me. And according to him, my brothers expect me to marry the guy.

So, I tried to kill him. I don’t know how tonotfight. Five months with Keller gave me a tiny bit of hope I could get away from him and then disappear. Let my brothers thinkhekilled me.

Alexander promised me I’d be part of his assassination plans. Assassinating the Irish. But Ares forged a truce with them and is forcing me to marry one of them.

Of all the people, Ares set me up with... My hot and dirty one-night stand.

The car stops once again, but this time the trunk cap pops open.

Griffin stands there, rumpled auburn hair falling rakishly in front of his deep blue eyes. Christ, he’s more gorgeous now. Even glaring hateful thoughts at me.

It...turns me on.

And I’ve been covered in blood for hours. That’s how potent Griffin is.

Which is why I hate him.

“Are we calm now?” he asks, still dressed in a sexy suit that looks molded to his thick, muscular body.

“What is that?” I shiver, pointing to the glossy white bag in his hand, recognizing the high-end store.

“Clothes.”

I try to look over his shoulder and take in my surroundings like I’m back in the field and on a mission. “Where are we?”

“What is that? Where are we? Any more questions?” He leans into the trunk to get close to me.

“I have thousands of questions.”

“We’re in a parking garage a few blocks from your brother’s apartment building.” He straightens his suit jacket. “If I lift you out of that trunk, are you going to punch or scratch me?”

“My hands are tied.”

“I watched you for weeks during that training. I know what you can do.” He dangles the bag. “Here are nice clean clothes for you to wear. Be a good girl, and you won’t be next to that dead body anymore. You’ll sleep under your brother’s roof tonight. Or anywhere he wants to keep you. Until our wedding.”

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