Page 66 of Collateral Claim

This shouldn’t make me feel better, but it does. The fact that I feel better knowing the door didn’t move by itself and that the ghost or a doll isn’t coming after me is evidence of my deteriorating cognitive abilities. My evil captor follows me around and watches me sleep. That is discomforting.

“Does it bother you that I was snooping in the nursery?”

Endo shrugs. “No. I haven’t been there since Foxy died.”

Foxy. He sounds nonchalant, but he also looks out the window, which tells me it’s not as easy a conversation for him as he makes it appear. Did he call Donatella Foxy? A pet name. Endo likes them. He calls me luv sometimes.

“At the clinic, the staff mentioned Donatella,” I start. “They said she had a baby. I’m sorry.” Since I assume he suffered the loss of a child and possibly a partner, I don’t pry any more. I wish I hadn’t gone there at all. Maybe the inability to heal his broken heart is what makes Endo a great villain.

“Foxy was so small. My mother shouldn’t have had her that late.”

“I’m sorry, what?” I sit up.

Endo’s gaze returns to me. “My mother was in her late forties when Foxy was born, and my dad was closing on sixty. I’m sure you know the risks late pregnancies carry. Foxy was born withsome kind of condition. Multiple conditions. She lived only a few months, but my mom…” Endo pauses. “I think she might’ve loved Foxy more during those months than she loved me or Cass.”

“The postpartum period can be hard for a woman.”

A shrug. “If you say so, Doc.”

“Doc? You ran out of pet names to call me?”

“I lie in bed at night thinking them up, and tonight I’m here, so yes.”

“Doc isn’t bad. Original.”

He shakes his head. “Sarcasm looks good on you, Doc.”

“You too.”

Endo rises and stretches, cracks his neck. Does he know how incredibly hot he is when he does that? I bet he knows. I bet that’s why he’s stretching that way in the moonlight. His muscles probably aren’t ones earned at the gym. These are born of generations upon generations of healthy genetics passed down from one pirate to the next.

“Since you’re not letting me watch you sleep, I’ll be going.”

When he reaches the door, I ask. “Hey, how did you get in?”

“We have tunnels.”

“Clean ones too, since you’re barefoot.”

“Maybe I left my slippers by the door.”

“Don’t go,” I whisper. I’m not sure if he heard me, and I don’t even know if I want him to.

Endo frowns. “What was that?” Shadows hide his face.

“Don’t go.”

Endo closes the door and leans against it, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Don’t make fun of me, okay? Let’s drop the madness for the night. I’m scared. I’m scared of stabby dolls and ghosts. I’m scared of the dark, and when I think of running, I’m scared of getting lost in the forest. I’m scared of what my dad will saywhen you push him again tomorrow. I’m scared that he won’t care. I’m scared of tomorrow in general. Hell, I think I fear all tomorrows, since you’re the one who planned them out without me. And I’m alone in this house, where nobody likes me and everyone is just barely feeding me and wishing I would go away so that a man they all love can be returned. So just do me a favor and watch me sleep tonight so that I’m less scared. You think you can do that?”

Endo pushes off the door, but stops. He stares at the floor and puts his hands on his hips, shaking his head. He curses before he approaches the bed. “Yeah, luv, I can do that. But the issue is, I can only watch you for a little bit before I have to leave.”

“Why?”

“Because I can’t control the urge to fuck you.”

Silence.