Page 34 of Brutal Collateral

Fuck.

“Some asshole cop is going to come by and start sniffing around that truck,” Connor says.

I bristle at his denigration of police officers, knowing I’ll need to start making donations to the PBA and showing up at their fundraisers in tuxes to kiss their asses. Until it’s the other way around.

“Shane, can you find a signal for that truck and disable it?” I say, pointing.

“Rentals usually don’t have those bells and whistles,” he scoffs.

“Order Uber Eats there with a side note to shut it off,” Connor says, grinning.

“I don’t know if that’s the most brilliant thing I’ve ever heard you say, or the stupidest,” Shane snipes at Connor.

I hate that my chest loosens at the growing fantasy of Ava being dead so I don’t have to marry her. But that will unleash the terrifying wrath of Ares Zervas, who will punish us out of principle. His sister was not only a great investment to him, but also his fucking blood.

I remind myself that his team couldn’t find her either. That’s why they came knocking on my door. And agreed to recognize me as the heir even though I’m related to Keller’s wife.

In a triangulation of emotions, I’m proud we found Brandon first and this will end today, one way or another.

CHAPTER TEN

Ava – One Hour Earlier

“About fucking time,” I say to the figure walking down the creaking wooden steps that lead to this disgusting and sweaty basement maintenance room. “This cage doesn’t have a toilet!”

I’ve been a prisoner for five fucking months.

Before we arrived in this hellhole, we checked into different seedy motels where I was always chained to a bed. But here, they built a cage. And the past few weeks, this cage is all I know. They only let me out twice a day to pee and...other things. Not that much is happening in that department because they barely feed me.

When I do get let out, I’m shackled with a gun pointed at my head. Like that makes it easy to crap in front of a stranger. My emotions are breaking down, and I’m ready to throw my poop at these clowns like a caged monkey. I finally get it. When you have nothing left, you turn primitive.

My primal beast laid dormant my whole life. But Alexander knew who I was, saw the raw under the glossy hair and makeup. I just needed training he couldn’t provide.

“Quit your yelling, bitch.”

The voice stills me.

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