Page 63 of Embrace the Darkness

My father was certifiable. He was acting how a normal father would act when their child came home with macaroni art and he wanted to proudly show it off by hanging it on the fridge. I hadn't made him macaroni art, though. I'd stabbed someone and he was going to boast about it just the same.

“What do you mean, the fold?” I asked. “I’m supposed to be shadowing.”

Stefan pondered for a moment. “I only suggested that you shadow because I wanted to slowly introduce you to this world versus scaring you off before you were ready. I was worried if I offered you a job right off the bat, you’dturn me down. I’ve always planned to bring you into the business, like I did with Jameson. I’ve just been waiting for you to be ready, to find the strength I knew you had.”

I was stunned, speechless.

“No more tests. Tonight was the last one. I’ve seen and learned all I needed to know you can handle this. I give you my word as a Quinn.”

Should I believe him?I guess I understood why Stefan had tested me. That didn’t mean I had to like it. Understanding was the best I could offer. At least he was honest as to why he'd done it, which was a first. My shoulders sagged because deep down, I had already forgiven him. I wanted to give him another chance, like always. I just hoped I didn’t regret it later.

Stefan stuffed his hands back into his pockets while shuffling his feet in an attempt to warm up. He noticed my pumps on the ground next to him before he looked back at me, eyeing my bare feet and short dress. “It’s time to go home. You’ll get sick if you’re out here much longer, bare footed no less,” he said, holding his hand out to me. It was awkward for him to do that from so far away. Then I remembered where he was standing, just outside the sand pit.

Smiling deviously, I rocked in the swing a little. “I’m tempted to see if you’d ruin your shiny shoes to come and get me,” I teased.

He frowned, clearly not finding me funny, and looked down at the sand with distaste. Nope, he wasn’t going to do it.

He tilted his head toward his black Escalade parked in the street, which had two of his goons standing next to it. “I have that chocolate cake waiting for you in the car.”

I stopped rocking in the swing and my evil little smile dropped.Well played, Stefan. Well played.

The chocolate cake was sinfully good. Stefan had bought me a whole eight-inch round and I ate almost half of it on the drive home. Well, Stefan had a few bites. In my defense, I hadn't gotten to eat dinner. When we got home, I cut one more slice off and placed it on a plate before putting the rest in the fridge.

With plate in hand, I walked up to my room to find Jamie waiting for me. As soon as I stepped through the door, he jumped to his feet from the couch and cautiously approached.

“I know you’re upset, but please let me explain,” he pleaded.

Huh? Why would I…oh.

I had never been upset with him. Looking back, I could see how he'd gotten that impression with how I'd stormed out of the restaurant, not even giving him a second glance. All my anger had been directed at Stefan. I understood what Jamie’s loyalty entailed and I’d never held it against him. Clearly he hadn't believed me when I'd explained that to him in the parking lot of Club Anarchy or else he wouldn’t be tiptoeing around me right now, looking guilty as hell.

It was good to know he understood what he'd done was wrong, despite having no choice, and I wasn’t going to complain about the groveling. The thought of this big, bad mobster begging me to forgive him tickled me in a twisted way. So I thought I might just see how far this would go.

“I understand how fucked up tonight was. Believe me, I really do,” he said, probably thinking back to his own test. I wondered if Stefan had recorded his, as well?

He stopped walking to stand a few feet before me. Damn, he was sexy as hell in his suit. Downright drool worthy. It took some serious restraint to keep my eyes up when all I wanted to do was objectify every delicious inch of him.

“You have to know, it gutted me seeing that fear in your eyes and knowing I had to take part in putting it there.” He took another step closer, invading my space, and his hand came up to cup my cheek. His eyes were filled with such remorse as they locked with mine, pleadingly. He truly felt bad and I wanted to cave, but I could be stubbornly wicked sometimes.

“What can I do, baby?” he whispered, thinking I wasn’t going to relent. “What do I have to do to make it right?”

Ah, shit.I couldn’t take it anymore.

Splat!

We both stood in stunned silence as pieces of chocolate cake fell from Jamie’s shocked face. His hand dropped from my cheek and I curled my lips inward and bit down to stop myself from laughing. I hadn't exactly been thinking. I'd just reacted, wanting him to stop giving me those damn puppy dog eyes.

His surprise quickly washed away once he saw I was struggling not to laugh. His tongue slipped out to get a taste of the cake coating his lips before his hand wiped most of it off his face. “Do you feel better?” he grumbled. I could tell he wasn’t mad at me. The laughter in his eyes gave him away.

“Seeing how I was never mad at you to begin with? Yeah, I feel great.”

He nodded before the hand that had swiped away most of the cake from his face came up to mine and rubbed all over my mouth, cheek, and neck. I squealed as he smeared the remnants of the cake on my skin and I fought to hold back his hand from doing any more damage. He outsmarted me by wrapping his other arm around my back, pinning me closer to him before he started rubbing his face against mine. He chuckled evilly as I struggled to get away.

“Jamie!” I laughed, letting go of his cake-covered hand to push against his chest. Stupid move on my part because he just snaked those sticky fingers into my hair to get a better hold. I tried to dip backward, putting all my weight in his arms. He, of course, held me effortlessly.

“You started this,” he snickered before his lips slid over mine.

Smelling the chocolate on him, my tongue slipped out and licked at his lips.Jamie and chocolate? Yes, please!“Hmm…” I moaned.