Page 45 of Collateral Claim

“Yeah. Might help Marquis with recovery. He’s on the waiting list for one of the litters.”

Scarlett finishes the entire plate of calamari. I don’t think she realized how ravenous she was, or she wouldn’t have touched it at all. Or maybe she’s warming up to me and forgot her manners, which dictate we should share the appetizer.

I stare at the empty plate, struggling to keep a straight face.

Scarlett’s eyes widen. “Oh my God, I ate all the calamari.” She cups her red cheeks.

I laugh. “I ordered it for you anyway.” No, I didn’t. Did I? I shouldn’t be having a good time with this woman. She’s the damn enemy.

Saving me from myself, Tom arrives to take our order. It’s a seafood restaurant, so we order fish. Tom returns with some peanuts and carrots soaked in vinegar and salt. I guess he feels bad for me since I’ve been sitting at the table with an empty stomach for hours, only for my collateral to arrive and scarf down all my food.

Even the puppy got a treat before I did.

“About my phone…” she says, eyeing my peanuts.

Christ. I push the little bowl toward her.There you go, hungry little monster.

“Let’s eat first,” I say. I presume the conversation with her dad won’t be pleasant, and I have no clue how Scarlett will react to anything he and I discuss. I would rather deal with everyone on a full belly. It’s for their own safety. I pop a peanut into my mouth.

Scarlett twirls her wineglass.

“How is my friend?” I ask.

“He’s good. Under observation. I’ll spend the night at the clinic until he’s stable.”

“Isn’t your staff supposed to monitor patients?”

“Is my staff even licensed?”

“Of course they are. It’s a clinic in my town, and I take care of my people.”

“Marquis might need me.”

The only reason she spent the night at the clinic was because I let her. It’s not something I’d like to repeat since I didn’t get much sleep. “One of your staff will monitor him.”

Scarlett grinds her teeth.

I eat another peanut and wink. “You’re still my collateral.”

“I didn’t forget.”

“No harm in reminding you of it.”

Silence falls. Apparently, she and I can’t have pleasant conversations. We seem to always jab at each other, if not outright argue.

Tom brings our meals, and we dig in right away. I haven’t eaten since yesterday. I also hardly slept, so I’m barely hanging on to my humanity at this point. By the time we polish off our plates, we’ve also finished the bottle of wine. Scarlett’s rosy cheeks tell me the alcohol warmed her up, but she doesn’t appear buzzed.

“When your father calls, you will tell him you want to go home.”

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

I slam my palm on the table. “He knows,” I bite out, irritated that Daniel is denying involvement. “Your father is not who you think he is. He might be a good father and a protector of his family, but he’s not a good man. When he answers the phone, press him for my brother’s location. You think you can do that?”

Once I get a nod from her, I dial Daniel from her phone.

“Scarlett?” Her father picks up on the second ring. I have people tracking the call via her tapped line.

“Hi, Daddy,” Scarlett answers with a hitch in her voice.