Page 94 of Brutal Collateral

“We know, Ares.” Lola sticks her tongue at his back.

I likeher. I take note of what she’s wearing so I can remember who she is compared to her sister, Lucia, who called me a meanie.

“Where are we going?” I ask and hand the plate to Ava.

“Thank you.” She takes it, blushing. “To Ares’ club.”

“Where else?” Lola rolls her eyes. “Mommy doesn’t let us go anywhere except Club Wicked.”

I hadn’t been to Ares’ club yet.

“You’re not of drinking age,” Ares argues. “I jump through enough hoops to keep my liquor license.”

“We just like to dance.” Lola stands up and twirls. “We’ll have Ava home before sometime tomorrow, Griffin.”

“Tomorrow?”I bark.

Ava shakes her head, gnawing on a lamb chop. “I’ll be home tonight.”

“You’llbe?” I fold my arms. “I’m not invited?”

Lucia’s jaw tips open, appalled at my suggestion. “It’s girls’ night.”

“Ava isn’ta girl. She’s a woman.” I finger the chain around her neck with my ring. “Anengagedwoman.”

A tender gasp sounds out from across the room. My mother notices Ava is wearing Norah’s chain.

Seeing I’m about to combust, Ava stands up and pulls me aside. “You don’t mind, do you? The whole Greek king’s guard will be there.”

I spot several men in jet-black suits near the door sporting the same buzz cuts and blank looks on their faces. Ares’ guards, who he code-names with the Seven Deadly Sins, are not human beings to him. Maybe that makes it easier to kill them.

“Whatever.” I hide the hurt that Ava wants to have this good time without me.

It’s the same gnawing ache I feel every night when I get into bed seeing her hug that damn clown.

I join Shane and Connor for the rest of the gathering. Watching Ava tug at her short skirt and push around all that hair done up in thick waves suggests she’s not comfortable.

Why doesn’t anyone see it?

One by one, the Quinlans get the hell out of here, all while saying they had a good time and thanking Aunt Helena for the invite.

Ma remarks that she’s a lovely woman when I kiss her goodnight. I’m glad they at least get along.

I glance at my future wife, who’s trying to ditch me. Giving in, I let her go.

On the street, the cousins dive into Ares’ limo. An ache slices my heart when I seehimget in and sit on the back bench looking like a king. This all comes so fucking naturally to him.

“I won’t be late,” Ava says, tightening her jacket. “A couple of hours, tops.”

“Sure.” I shove my hands into my pockets, seeing six men pile into a black SUV behind the limo, her guard being one of them.

“Thank you.” She reaches up and hugs me.

Her body against mine changes the air around me. “For what?”

“Letting me go.”

I grip her chin. “Inever had any intention of making you a prisoner. Or dulling your shine.” My fingers run across her lips. “Except for this lip gloss. That’s not you.”

---