Page 12 of Collateral Claim

Endo shakes his head. “This one’s like his puppy.”

“My sister and I call him a Doberman.” I have no idea why I shared that. Maybe because Endo kind of stuck up for me there.

“Doberman, huh?” He chews his lip. “Not a puppy, then.”

“Oh no. Definitely a Doberman.”

“That’s good to know,” he says. “Before I move to the office, I have to tell you I’ll punish someone if you try to leave.”

“Being held hostage in my home was not in my horoscope this year.” I sit down at the table.

Endo lingers, his lips pursed. He seems contemplative. “For what it’s worth,” he says, “I never wanted you to be part of this. Your father left me no choice. I must find my brother.”

“What if he doesn’t know where he is?”

“Then he needs to find out.”

“How?”

“Your father has connections.”

“And if he refuses to cooperate?”

“Then I’ll apply more pressure.”

“My dad won’t crack easily.”

“Duh, baby. That’s why I’ve got you.” Endo rests his palm on the wooden doorframe. I’m trying not to admire the way his biceps flex or how his abdominals are forged out of years of taking care of his body. If he weren’t my villain, I’d find him attractive.

“The engagement ring looks nice on your hand.”

I twirl the ring. It’s a princess-cut diamond and appears real and at least four carats. I can’t imagine why he’d hand me a real ring for a fake engagement. “It does look nice. Good practice for when I actually get engaged to a nice man who doesn’t carry guns or threaten to murder innocent men.”

Dark eyes narrow as he says, “There are no innocent men in this house.”

I swallow. He appears serious, and perhaps he’s right since my father owns a company that manufactures weapons.

“Why would you put a real ring on my finger?”

“Because…” Endo scrubs his short facial hair and looks away. “I thought, if I take this woman who’s done nothing but exist, the least I can do is buy her a real ring.”

If I didn’t know better, I would say Endo has a conscience. “Aww, remorseful now, are we? Guilt is a healthy feeling for a man in your line of business. There’s hope for you yet.”

He shakes his head. “Let’s not get carried away. I’m not feeling guilty. I’m simply trying to please you as much as possible so I don’t have to kill you.”

I inhale a sharp breath.

“Stay in the house, Scarlett.” Endo releases the door.

Chapter 6

I warned them

Endo

Scarlett is pretty. I mean, really pretty. After she showered and freshened up from last night, she walked into the dining room smelling like a wet vanilla dream. Even though I did my homework before coming here, her beauty surprised me. Or maybe I like her brand of sass. It’s sharp but kind.

I predicted that she would appreciate a real diamond. I couldn’t have slipped her a fake one. She likes nice things, and everyone she knows could spot a fake on her hand. I needed other people to think this engagement is real. Besides, giving a woman an expensive piece like that makes it appear as if I mean business. I didn’t come here to play around. I want my brother back.