Page 23 of Collateral Claim

“I grew up in this house.”

“When was it built?”

“In the thirteen hundreds.”

I gasp. “My God. Has it been in your family all this time?”

“Mmhm.”

“Your ancestors were pirates?”

Endo nods.

“The reason behind your tattoos.” I don’t know why I look over at the young man’s hands. He carries a matching set of tattoos, but instead of a skull and crossbones on his fingers, he has them over the top of his hands.

I offer the younger man my hand. “Scarlett Pembroke. Nice to meet you.”

His handshake is firm. “Connor Crossbow. I go by Con.”

“His twin brother’s Declan, goes by Dec.” Endo enters the house, and we follow. “Widow’s Keep has two civilian floors.”

“Civilian?” I interrupt.

“Yes. First and second floors. You’re welcome to familiarize yourself with that area.”

“I hope I don’t have to stay long enough to get all that familiar.” Granted, I’m dying for a tour and a story about the Keep. I bet these walls, besides weathering many storms, have heard lots of juicy stories. If Endo didn’t live here, this could be a museum.

“As do I,” he says. “I shot your father to get him to move faster.”

“An injured man moves slower, not faster.”

“An injured man moves faster because he understands he’s lucky to be alive.” Endo pauses at the massive double doors. “The first floor is for gathering. Dining rooms, living room, kitchen, etc. The second floor is where the bedrooms are. Mine’s over here.” He points to the upper east half of the house. “My brother’s quarters are next to mine. That’s our east wing, and it’s fully renovated. There are two more rooms in the wing. You’re welcome to them.”

I point in the opposite direction. “How about over here?”

Endo smiles. “I thought you might want to stay as far away from me as possible, so I had one room there cleaned for you.”

“I have no idea why you’d think that.”

Endo seems amused. “The west wing isn’t renovated, and the bedframes are small, being hundreds of years old.”

“I’ll be fine, but out of curiosity, do all your captives get to choose where they’ll stay, or am I special?”

“You’re special.” His eyes light up. “Do you want to see my dungeons?”

Are we still joking or… Better safe than sorry. “No, thank you.”

Endo grips both door handles and pushes the doors open.

I walk in and try to contain my awe at this uniquely beautiful prison.

Chapter 12

Beautiful prison

Scarlett

If I hadn’t gone to medical school, I would have loved to become an interior designer. As a person, I’m sensitive to spaces and the things I surround myself with. For example, I like a clean, mostly modern home with a designated reading space that’s old and seemingly out of place alongside the other modern furniture in the house. I like tranquil spaces. Expansive properties like our ranch, where I can ride horses.