Page 59 of Brutal Collateral

God, I’m just a fucking pawn to these people. Rage bubbles under my skin as I glance around for something to hit Griffin with and make a run for it.

Only...

This place is...nice.

Griffin said I can be whoever I want to be. Given that gangsters stormed my aunt’s house and put her and my cousins at risk, I can’t move back there. And something tells menoneof my brothers want a roommate to cramp their man-whoring style.

“Welcome, Ma’am,” Bridget greets me, bringing my attention to her, especially her American accent.

I would think the old Irish broad who used to live here would have her own kind working for her. “Hello. You can call me...Ava.”

Griffin’s right eyebrow raises. When he turns away, I want to flip him the bird because I know he expected me to say Hadleigh.

“Drop off a shopping list to me when you can so I’ll make sure we’re stocked with whatever you need,” Bridget says, turning my attention back to her.

“Thank you,” I mutter a response, feeling the walls close in.

“Ava’s brother is due here in a few minutes,” Griffin announces. “We’ll be meeting in my office. He’s bringing her clothes, please put them in my room.”

“What?” I stiffen, alarm bells going off in my head.

Griffin pinches me to staunch my protest. “I’m showing Ava around.”

Yanking me down a corridor over classic black and white checkered floor tiles, Griffin brings me into an office with bookshelves on one side, and behind the desk is a wall of leaded window panels.

“Yourbedroom?”

“You’remy fiancée.” He drills me with a look.

“Exactly. We’re not married. Shame on you. I thought you Irish were all God-fearing.”

Griffin laughs. “I’m right with my God, but thanks for looking out. I’m not giving anyone who’s working against the truce between our families a crumb of a chance to tear down this alliance.”

Griffin turns and shuts the office door. It closes with a clang that triggers me.

I drop to the ground and curl into a ball. “No. No, don’t hurt me.”

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