Page 86 of Collateral Claim

“That’s what I hear,” I reply as I climb up the stairs.

“Let’s hope your dad’s not planning to trick us.”

I turn. “Why would you say that?”

She shrugs. “People mistake mercy for a weakness. Endo should’ve let Dec put a bullet between your eyes and taken your sister.”

“Slada,” Marquis says in a warning tone. “Show some compassion.”

Slada scowls. “I doubt Cass is being shown compassion, so why should I? I want him back safe and sound.”

“I do too,” I say. “I mean that.”

Marquis dismisses me with a wave of his hand. “Off you go, before you remember to check my vitals.”

“You seem fine.”

“Only because you saved my life.” He glances at Slada.

She sighs. “Point taken. The collateral girl grew on you all.”

Endo walks up. “Like cancer.”

“Awww.” I continue upstairs. “Here comes the family charmer. God forbid we have a conversation without him.”

“Don’t you have something to do?” he asks.

“Besides annoy you? Yes. I’m on my way to pack. But I can multitask.”

I’m sure he has a smart reply, but I walk into my room and slam the door behind me before I screech in joy.

I’m going home!

Chapter 35

Where are we going?

Scarlett

Nobody speaks to me on the way to the airport or the plane that doesn’t look like the one we flew on when we arrived. The cabin is sleeker and more modern, with a black and white interior that’s cold and spotless. The leather smells new.

Maybe this plane is chartered.

The flight attendant, Norma, smiles politely and offers me a mimosa while everyone else gets champagne. Someone told her I like mimosas.

Once the plane starts taxiing and preparing for takeoff, I take in as much as I can of this nice waterfront, which I’ll never see again. Now that I’m allowed to leave, I can also appreciate the beauty of the town, sheltered by the green forest on one side and the sea on the other.

I think about the nice people I met here, many of whom were patients. But then I get sad I’m leaving them, and I close the window shade and gulp down the entire mimosa. I ask for another one before Norma has to sit for takeoff.

Endo’s people sit on a couch on my left. There’s a seat right across from me that I assume Endo will take once he’s finished talking with the pilots in the cockpit.

Slada flips a dagger and catches it between her fingers while Declan cleans parts of a weapon that, if put together, might make a sniper rifle. I can’t be sure. I hope I never find out. Connor sips champagne, occasionally catching my gaze in that creepy way he did when I first met him.

His gaze burns a hole in my head. I look away.

From the corner of my eye, I catch him smiling.

Endo’s protection of me is coming to an end, and Con might get nasty again. The nights in the dungeon and the beating he took from his brother were behavioral rehab, but now I’ll be a free woman. I also hope we never cross paths again.