Page 29 of Collateral Claim

“Twice.”

Frustrated that he’s unashamed of that, I growl. “You know it’s creepy that you’re in my room while I’m helplessly sleeping in my bed.”

“Stay up and wait for me so it won’t be creepy.” Endo lays down his utensils, chugs his juice, and grabs the list. He waves it. “I have to go to work.”

“You call what you do work?”

“Yeah.” He gets up, and I notice a gun with a silver grip tucked into the back of his pants. From the coat hanger by the door, he grabs a holster and buckles it around his shoulder. “What would you call it?” He holsters the gun and shrugs on a suit jacket, now appearing like a businessman. A gentleman. Unless you pair the pirate tattoo on his middle finger with his attitude.

“I would call it a prison ticket,” I say.

Endo smiles. “I’m not the one in prison. You are, Doc. See to Mary. The dungeons are off-limits. I’ll be home for dinner. Wait up for me. I’ll bring news about your father.” Endo opens the door.

“Wait a minute.” I rush after him, but he steps forward so that I almost run into him.

At the last moment, I stop, but our bodies are now touching, my breasts pressing against his chest. He smells wild and fresh, like the forest surrounding the property. Untamed. His dark eyes land on my lips, and his head dips deliberately low.

“A dozen very dangerous men are waiting for me so I can tell them that the shipment Cass promised is arriving late. I have to lie and tell them it’s not arriving on time when I think it’s not arriving at all.”

“What do you think they’ll do?” I ask.

“Try to kill me.”

“Be serious.”

“I am.”

“On a scale of one to ten, how likely are you to get hurt?”

“Eight.” His eyes tell me the risk excites him. “What do you need?”

“My phone.” I lick my suddenly dry lips. His mouth is sinfully full and beautiful. “I want it back.”

“Not yet.”

“When can I have it back?”

“Whenever I decide to return it to you.” His lips brush across mine.

I step back and touch my mouth.

Endo curses and slips out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

Chapter 14

Mary with Jane

Scarlett

Declan and his brother, who is hollering from the dungeons all day long, were estranged from their mother when their father, Massio Crossbow, took them from her at a young age. He raised them in Couldermouth with Endo and Cass while their father, Connor and Declan’s grandfather, was alive.

Once their grandpa passed away, Massio moved into a family apartment in Selnoa and grew his kingdom there. Now he’s one of the richest men in the city, living in a mansion overlooking Selnoa, and neither of the twins is speaking to him.

Why?

Because he hanged their mother by her intestines from a bridge.

If I hadn’t thought about running before, I’m in full planning mode now.