Page 13 of Endurance

“No.” I glanced around the club, silently dismissing her. She seemed to get the hint and took off toward the bar. By the time she had returned with my beer, I had watched Maura take two shots of tequila and hold up a finger, signaling to the bartender for another. Brenna sipped a cocktail next to her slowly and her security watched them with varying expressions. Finn looked like he wanted to be anywhere but here. Dean watched Maura with what seemed to be a permanent angry frown. Asher watched them all with amusement. Out of the three of Maura’s security, I found Asher the hardest to read. Finn was an asshole who hated to be inconvenienced but took his role in the family seriously. Dean was a guarded bastard but cared for Maura. He might have even loved her. That thought tried to pull my jealousy to the surface. I forced it down. Feeling that way right now didn’t help any, especially since I wasn’t entirely sure what kind of love he had for her. Was it friendship? Or did he want her? Either way, I didn’t want to think about it.

From what Maura had told me about Asher he was ex-military, had an unhealthy relationship with money, and was morally gray like Louie. When I’d asked her what color my morals were, she had responded with ‘a shade or two lighter than black.’

“Don’t worry, baby,” she had said with a small smile. “You and I are the same. If the two of us were on a sinking ship with three thousand other people and I had a choice between saving you or them, I’d choose you. I wouldn’t hesitate. People like Louie would hesitate and that’s okay. I admire and love him for it because I feel he keeps us from going completely black. It’s almost like he’s our tether—our light in the darkness.”

Maura had explained Asher’s character but that didn’t tell me his motives. Why would he give up his career at my uncle’s security firm to help Maura with her revenge? I doubted she had offered him more money. It was possible that he was the one feeding the Aryans information, but I didn’t feel like that was the case. Why would he help Maura kill them? As I continued to watch Asher, who was watching over their little group, I caught what looked like fondness mold his expression. I had always thought Maura was magnetic but maybe it was stronger than I'd originally thought. Like she had done with Dean, maybe she really had stolen Asher’s loyalty.

My knee bounced as I watched Maura dance. Her body swayed to the music in a dress that barely covered her next to Brenna. Men around them stared hungrily, their eyes raking over her exposed skin. That yanked on a possessive need inside me. Fuck, the longer I watched her, the more I ached to touch her—to breathe her in. It had been too long. Three months too long.

When one of the fuckers inched closer to her, his intent clear, I couldn’t hold back any longer. I beelined for Maura, not giving a damn that her security would spot me or that when she found out that I was here, she’d try to run from me. Her back was to me as I approached. I locked eyes with the guy and smoothed my hands over her hips. Touching my front to her back, I swayed with her. Her body against mine felt like I was returning home. The ache I had been carrying in my chest since she had disappeared lessened so much I almost groaned. I was happy she didn’t push me away and instead molded against me and hooked an arm around my neck. The sleazeball who had been zeroing in on her like a fucking predator gave up and moved away.

I briefly glanced at Brenna. She was gaping at me, clearly unsure as to what she should do. I ignored her. All I cared about was in my arms.

I trailed a finger along the underside of the arm she had hooked around my neck. I started from her elbow down, causing her skin to break out in goosebumps as I went. I brushed my knuckles along the side of her breast and rested my hand on her ribs. I felt her shiver. It radiated through me down to my dick and I grew hard instantly. Her responses made me greedy for more.

I brushed my nose along her ear, inhaling her intoxicating scent that reminded me of the tulips she loved. “You cut your hair.” It wasn’t the best way to greet her, but it was the first thought that popped into my head. Her long hair had been beautiful, but the short waves she had now made her look fierce and sexy.

She unhooked her arm from my neck and whipped around to face me. Her green eyes widened for only a second and I tightened my arms around her. She surprised me by putting her hands on my chest and pressing herself against me. Her hand moved up behind my neck and pulled me closer. Reading her intention, I didn’t resist and let her bring her lips to mine. Slightly doubting this moment was real, I was hesitant to move anything but my fingers. Her demanding tongue slid across my lips and whatever had been holding me back broke. I stopped caring about everything—her security, the club, the Aryans, the guilt, the pain. Everything else ceased to exist but her.

I shoved my hand in her hair and dominated her mouth with my tongue. I couldn’t get enough. When it came to her, I knew I never would.

She pulled away slightly just before she rammed her knee up between my legs. The pain squeezed all the air from my lungs. Grunting, I fell to a knee and watched her green heels back away from me. Fuck. I supposed I deserved that, but my sore balls begged to differ.

I had to take a few deep breaths through clenched teeth before I could force myself to my feet. I barely caught Maura running off in the opposite direction as Brenna and her security. I had no doubt she was sacrificing herself so they could get away. Not that it mattered. I didn’t give a fuck about them. Only her. I took off in her direction. She exited the club and briskly walked across the lobby, the sound of her heels clacking loudly as she went. She never glanced back as she entered the hotel’s stairwell. I stalked behind her without rushing. I knew where she was headed, and Louie would be there to greet her.

Jameson had texted to give me a heads up that Maura was on her way. I pulled the armchair that had been in the corner of the room and positioned it to face the door. I wanted her to see me right as she came in. Knowing that she was on her way made my pulse race. I had missed her more than I'd thought it possible to miss someone. Which was why I was a little worried how this reunion was going to play out. I didn’t have time to dwell on it because the sound of the lock clicking on the door stole my attention.

She was here.

The door opened slowly. The first thing to come into view was a Glock cradled by two equally deadly and beautiful hands. My stare flicked to the woman holding the gun as she stepped into the room and it took a lot of effort not to react. It felt like the slightest movement might spook her. “Are you going to shoot me, beautiful?”

Without lowering her weapon, she held an unwavering blank mask as she moved further into the room, leaving the door open slightly behind her. “What are you doing here?” Her words came out indifferent and cold. I knew it was all a facade. If she truly felt how her words sounded, she would have shot me already.

“You know why we’re here.”

“I’m afraid that I don’t,” she said, taking another step closer.

The hotel room swung open behind her and Jameson walked in carrying a pair of green heels. I instantly knew he was angry as he stalked toward Maura. “You dropped these,” he snarled before tossing them on the bed. My eyes dropped to Maura’s feet and found them bare.

Maura pointed her gun at Jameson, making him halt a few feet from her. She smirked up at him, which seemed to piss him off more.

“You think you’re funny?” he practically growled.

Maura didn’t back down. If anything, she relished his anger. “Did you honestly think I would throw myself at you after what you’ve done?”

I shot to my feet because I was having déjà vu. I needed to defuse the situation before she shot him again. “It seems we started off on the wrong foot. We only came here to talk.”

She didn’t remove her eyes from Jameson. “Bullshit.”

“We did. I swear,” I insisted.

“Even if that were true, I don’t want to talk to either of you,” she seethed. Her words were harsh, and her eyes were full of sadness. “So you might as well just leave.”

Jameson gave her a sardonic smile. “We aren’t going anywhere.”

I had the urge to sigh. Instead of begging for fucking forgiveness, he was challenging her. I wouldn’t be surprised if she shot him again.

Maura tilted her head. “Why? You had no problem leaving me before. I remember you being pretty insistent on sending me away. You did just about anything to unburden yourself of the woman responsible for your baby’s death.”