Page 19 of Endure the Pain

I looked at Stefan and found him watching me. He stood from the table, drawing everyone’s attention, and the talking lowered as they watched him walk over to me.

I stared at him, desperately trying to read his blank expression.

“Family before pride,” he said low enough that no one else could hear, then leaned forward to kiss the top of my head.

He listened.

I cleared my throat to rein in my emotions. “Thank you.”

Stefan and I took our seats at the table. I sat across from Jamie and gave him a small smile before my attention drifted to Louie. He was already staring at me, but quickly looked away. My smile slipped before I could mask my expression. My eyes flicked back to Jamie and my stomach sank. His brows were furrowed as he studied me, then his gaze moved to Louie. They exchanged a look I couldn’t decipher.

I forced myself to look away from them to glance around the rest of the table. Aunt Aoife, which was a traditional Irish name pronouncedee-fa,appeared to be completely zoned out and I had a feeling she had taken something. Brenna, who was seventeen, was quiet while she listened to Rourke discussing something with Dylan and Conor. It wasn’t unusual. She had always been shy. Dylan actually appeared to be trying to engage with others, which I was going to take as a good sign, but I could see sadness around his eyes.

“Maura, how are you feeling, sweetie?” Aunt Kiara asked, drawing my attention.

“I’m better, Auntie. If it wasn’t for Rourke, I don’t know if I’d be here,” I said.

Kiara smiled and patted Rourke’s hand affectionately. “He did us proud by protecting the family’s heir.”

The entire table went quiet.

“Kiara!” Conor barked before putting his face in his palm.

“What?” she asked, looking from her husband to Stefan.

“We haven’t announced it yet,” he told her.

It was that moment Aoife joined reality. “You made her your heir?” she gaped at Stefan. “She’s a woman! She can’t—”

Dylan grabbed her wrist so harshly his knuckles turned white and she winced. “Mother, don’t,” he said, quieting her instantly, and she returned to her zoned out state. Dylan locked eyes with me. “What my mother meant to say is congratulations, cousin.”

I didn’t respond. Instead, I looked to Brenna. Her head was downcast, her eyes wide and full of panic as she stared at her lap.

The door leading to the kitchen opened and Jeana, our personal chef, and one of the new house staff who Brody had hired walked in carrying our food. The best part about the two new house staff was that one was a middle-aged woman named Ronda and the other was her son, Noah, who was around my age. Noah was working tonight with Jeana.

Dylan eyed Noah as he set a plate down in front ofhim. “What happened to the hot blonde?” Dylan asked Jamie.

I answered for him. “Stefan wisely fired her when she touched something that didn’t belong to her.”

Dylan’s brows rose. “Pity.” Then he looked to Louie. “You hit that, right? Was she any good?”

Of course, that made me look at Louie. He glanced at me briefly before peering down at his plate. “Uh, barely memorable. Anyone catch the game last night?”

Dylan didn’t pick up on Louie’s attempt to change the subject or he didn’t care. “What about you, Jameson? You go there?”

Jamie looked to me like Louie had. “No. Not my type.”

“And what is your type, exactly?” I asked, taking over the conversation.

Jamie smirked at me. “Beautiful, crazy, red hair, and isn’t afraid to get bloody.”

I smiled like a loon.

Brenna let out a little giggle next to me and put her hand on my arm. “Are you two finally together?” she asked in a low voice. She didn’t look anything like her brother, with her Quinn green eyes and beautiful long blonde hair that she'd inherited from her mother.

I nodded. “How are you doing, Brenna?” I asked just as low, wanting to keep our conversation between just us.

She took a bite of food and shrugged. She thought that filling her mouth would be a good enough excuse not to answer and was hoping I’d let it go. I wouldn’t. I’d just go about it in a different way.