Page 52 of Brutal Collateral

My brain fuzzes. “Today’s not our wedding day?”

“Do you want to get married in a T-shirt with Keller’s blood under your fingernails?” He puts the bag down and takes out his phone. “I can find someone to do it.”

“No! I would never want to get married looking like this.” I try to touch my hair. “I’m confused.”

“About what?”

“You don’t want to marry me either, do you?”

“No.”

I snort. “Tell me how you really feel, sheesh.”

He reaches into the trunk and slowly closes one hand around my throat. “But I’mgoingto marry you and enjoy you being my wife so I can punish you for what you did to me seven years ago.”

I glance at him, remembering thesicariotattoo. “When I figured out you were a hitman, I worried you were sent to kill me.”

He snaps his hand away from my neck and folds his arms across an impressive chest. “That’s your story? That’s why you tied me up and left me there?”

“And I’m sticking to it.” I snap my fingers, trying to be playful, wondering if that’s an angle to get over on this guy.

“You were there the night of the heated council meeting where Brandon made a scene, weren’t you?” Griffin asks. “I heard who else was put forth to Troi. You saw who you could have been forcibly married to.” He smooths a hand down his stomach and tucks a finger into the top of his trousers. “Don’t you think you’re getting the best option possible?”

Fuck, he’s got me there, but I have to keep up the fight.

“I’d like to get dressed. Brush my teeth. And go home.” I roll onto my back and cringe feeling dead Brandon again. “Then we can talk...about getting married.”

Griffin smiles. “Good girl.”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Griffin

Ihelp Ava out of thetrunk, all while waiting for a knee to the balls, a kick to the shins, or fingernails coming for my eyes.

But she’s calm so I untie her hands using a serrated hunting knife to slice the ropes from her feet as well. I walk her to the backseat of the car and sit her inside.

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