Page 73 of Brutal Collateral

“Your brother arranged it. There’s no asking.”

“Then why am I wearing that?” I point and disappear into my closet to get dressed.

He screwed with my brain so much that I forgot my aunt is waiting downstairs.

“I wanted you to have something nice.”

Damn... But he doesn’t want to marry me. I don’t get why he’s making me sleep in his bed, or getting me a ring, or buying my clothes.

“Could you at least do me the dignity of asking me?” I take off the flannel shirt and let it drop to the floor.

Being nude in front of Griffin shouldn’t draw a reaction, but...it does. His hungry gaze tightens my core.

“If I ask, that means you can say no.” He hovers over me. “Unless we ask your nipples.”

Shit.

I open one suitcase and reach for a pair of jeans. “I guess it doesn’t matter, I can tell you to go fuck yourself, but I have nowhere to go.”

He grips the jeans when I nearly fall over, and helps me get dressed. “Then why do you need me to ask you?”

“Because this is the only time I’ll get married.” I gulp back my emotion. “And what if...” I can’t finish that out loud. He’ll think I’m silly.

“What if what?” His fingers circle my bare waist.

What if we end up falling in love and we’ll already be married and can’t go back?

I’m insane to think that will happen. I don’t even want that to happen. Right?

“Nothing. Just ask me. Ask me like... Like you mean it,” I whisper. “But wait for me to put on a shirt.”

Griffin laughs. “Said no woman dying for a proposal with a big rock ever.”

I quickly put on a bra and toss a boxy, but soft sweater over my head. Braiding my hair, I say, “Okay. I’m ready.”

Griffin studies me and takes the ring out of the box. “I know you don’t want this and neither do I. So, let’s just go for formalities. Ava, will you do me the great honor of being my wife? Because it is an honor to marry into a noble family such as yours. You are a treasure to your brothers and they’re trusting me with you.”

Tears build behind my eyes, but I can’t let them fall. Clearing my throat, I say, “That was nice. I’m honored to be your wife. To stand beside you while you lead your family.”

He takes the ring out and slides it on my bony finger.

“It’s loose.” I shake my hand and gasp when it flies right off.

“I got your ring size months ago.” He picks it up. “You’ve lost so much weight. I swear, I wish I’d been the one to kill Brandon.”

An angry Griffin who wants vengeance is hot, so long as it’s not against me. “It’s okay. My appetite is already coming back.”

“How about you wear it around your neck?” He removes that same silver braided chain he wore around his neck the night I met him and slides the engagement ring through. “This was Norah’s. We all took something that she loved and wear it every day.”

My heart squeezes as the silver shines off the bedroom sconces. “It’s beautiful.”

“Turn around,” he growls, opening the clasp.

I spin on his command and lift my hair out of the way.

“Sabine wears one of her rings. Shane, her twin, wears the matching bracelet to this. Connor had his ear pierced and wears one of her earrings. Ewan had a spoonful of her ashes made into a charm that he keeps in his wallet. He and I took her remains to Ireland and scattered them there.”

My cheeks flush with heat. Watching Griffin in the mirror put this precious reminder of his sister around my neck overwhelms me. It also screams so loudly that my brothers kept nothing from Alexander like this.

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