Page 54 of Collateral Claim

I don’t think about Endo at work at all. But the moment Dec’s car enters the forest road, which is every day, I think about how Endo kissed me. Then I get stuck on how he smells, and it takes an effort to get him out of my head.

Thinking about him is unhealthy.

A knock sounds on my door before Rie pokes his head into the break room. “Hey, sorry to bug you, but I just wanted to give you an update. Marquis walked up and down the hallway today, so he’s excited about the release.”

“I’ll see him in an hour.”

Rie makes a face as if he’s constipated.

“What?”

“He’s kind of leaving right now.”

I rinse my lunch plate and put it in the dishwasher, then walk outside. Marquis’s room door is wide open, and he’s sitting up in bed, looking pale and sickly but not dead, so that’s an improvement. While the surgery was serious because of the location of the bullet, his recovery is looking good.

“Doc.” He slides out of bed and stands. He has to stretch out his arms for balance. “I’m like new.” He moves his hair out of his face. “I just need a long bath in a spa.”

“We agreed that you’ll stay until tomorrow.” I pick up his chart and check his latest vitals. They’re good. His blood pressure is a little low, but he’s told me he runs low, so that’s fine.

“I have work to do.”

I drop his chart, and we chat while I examine him. “What kind of work can’t wait till tomorrow?”

“The kind I’d have to kill you for if I told you.”

I flash a bright light into his eye.

He winces.

I turn off the light. “One more night, then you can leave tomorrow morning. You can ride at dawn if you wish.”

“You can watch me at the Keep. I’ll be staying there.”

“But I don’t have the same equipment over there that I have here.”

“I’m leaving, Doc. You can release me or not.”

“Technically, you’ve never been admitted,” Endo says from right behind me. When I turn, dark eyes watch me over the bouquet of yellow tulips.

I cross my arms over my chest to prevent my heart from leaping out of my body at the sight of him with flowers.Are they for me?“You wouldn’t have anything to do with this early release, would you?”

Endo sniffs the flowers. “No.”

“The flowers are nice.” I extend my arms, but Endo moves around me and hands the bouquet to Marquis, who laughs because these two are equally evil.

“You can look at them in the kitchen at home all you like.” Endo winks and offers his friend an elbow. Marquis leans on Endo and walks slowly.

“He is being released against medical advice.”

“Duly noted, Doc,” Marquis says.

“Close up, Scar, and come have lunch with us.”

“No.”

“Your loss.”

“I’ll be late tonight. Take the puppy home. She’s been here all morning.”