Page 93 of Brutal Collateral

“Thiswas a surprise.” She gives me her cheek to kiss. “Did Shane tell you I put him in a headlock because I thought he was playing a prank on me?”

I can see it, Shane is taller and fierce, but Sabine knows his pressure points. And he’d never get rough with her in her condition.

“No, he didn’t. This marriage is part of the deal for me to accept my place as the head of...” I struggle to finish that sentence. “You know.”

“I sure do,” she says, knowing the O’Rourkes are mob bosses and that we worked for them. “Now I have to worry about you.”

“Hey, lass.” I grip her elbow. “You don’t ever worry about me. I’ve got it under control.”

“And now I need to rescue my husband from those little piranhas.” Sabine winks and stalks off.

We’ve kept tabs on Grayson in the five years they’ve been together, especially when he’s been away on location doing acting jobs. The guy has been utterly faithful to our sister and ismadlyin love with her.

Connor comes in next with Ewan and Darcy in tow.

I wasn’t even going to invite my whole clan, but I had to take my own advice to make sure this engagement looks solid. Not inviting my family to this party violated that.

“Where are the girls?” I greet Darcy with a kiss on the cheek.

“With my ma,” she says, speaking like us. Because she is one of us. She was a Quinlan before Ewan married her.

Ewan greets me casually and quickly tends to Darcy and our ma, not looking the least bit jealous that it’s me who is the don and not him. Even though he pointed out that the head of a clan can technically name anyone as a successor. But a peace deal was needed. I was just the next bachelor in line.

With everyone here, Aunt Helena’s servers announce dinner is ready.

Unlike the Italians, the Greeks don’t believe in heavy, obscene meals. Small trays and even smaller plates sit on a sideboard in the dining room. I make myself a plate and stare out to watch these two families interact, my mother specifically. A pit forms in my stomach as it hits me, seeing this sham of a marriage through her eyes. Embarrassment warms my cheeks, but I calm my nerves with a glass of whiskey.

“Then it’s settled,” Aunt Helena says, sitting with my mother and sister at the end of a long dining room table after an hour of eating and chatting.

“What’s settled?” I ask, the hair on the back of my neck standing up.

“Your sister graciously offered the ballroom in her hotel for the wedding,” Aunt Helena chirps.

“I don’t know whyyoudidn’t suggest it, Griff?” Ma says, making me feel guilty.

“Yeah, Griff,” Sabine piles on to be a brat. “Should I email the events manager to reserve it?” she asks, her fingers gripped around a phone.

Shrugging, I say, “Don’t look at me. I’m not the bride.”

All eyes glance into the living room where the she-wolves sit in their witch’s circle making a voodoo doll of me to stab with pins.

Aunt Helena waves her hand. “She’s even less interested.”

“That’s not true,” I defend Ava vigorously, annoyed that what happened to her is being ignored. “She’s still getting over being abducted for months. Give her a break.”

Snapping at three more women is going to get me killed.

“Problem?” Altas steps into my path, his brothers Ambrose and Ares watching me fall on my face.

“No problem.” I poke my finger at him. “Let’s see how you act when Ares forces you to marry someone.”

He barks a laugh. “Not a chance.”

I watch him stroll away. To get my mind off the anxiety of these clashing worlds in one apartment, I eat some sliced steak and a salad.

When I notice Ava still hasn’t eaten, I make her a plate and bring it over to her. Watching Ava compared to her cousins, who are young and goofy, Ava’s sophistication shines through. She’s poised and elegant, even if she’s doing it in a dress I don’t approve of.

Ares stands over Ava and her cousins like he’s mediating some crisis. “You cannot go out unless your guards go with you,” he says, waving a finger.

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