Page 36 of Endure the Pain

Both he and Louie chuckled before Jamie ventured off into the bathroom and Louie got to work on buttoning his shirt.

I threw off the covers and clambered out of bed. The universe decided to give me the middle finger the moment I stood from the bed because my bedroom door swung open with Asher’s voice filling the room. “Time to wake up, doll.” He strolled right in, carrying a cup of coffee for me like he did every morning. And if that wasn’t bad enough, Dean was right behind him. They both froze, eyes wide as they took in my naked body. Then their gazes traveled to Louie in the middle of buttoning his shirt.

I quickly covered my boobs with one arm and va-jay-jay with the other. “I know I’m normally dead to the world at this time of morning but learn to fucking knock!”

They both ignored me and glared at Louie, who stared right back with a bored expression while he finished buttoning his shirt. Dean stepped forward. “I told you tostaywith her because she was upset, not fuck her!”

“Did you put those marks on her?” Asher asked, his voice turning deep and ominous.

I don’t know if I should be grateful or offended by the lack of reaction to my naked body.I sighed and pulled the blanket from my bed to wrap around my body. “I got these yesterday, courtesy of Dustin Peters.”

Jamie stepped out of the bathroom, glanced around the room, taking everyone in, then stuffed his hands in his pockets.

Dean and Asher stared at him with even wider eyes.

“I think they were about to try and kick my ass for having sex with Maura,” Louie said with a shit-eating grin.

The corner of Jamie’s mouth twitched as he looked back at my goons.

Asher snapped out of his shock the quickest, whistled, and grinned at me. “Looks like you had a fun night. Good for you.”

Dean sighed and stared at my neck. “You downplayed how badly that Aryan prick hurt you.”

I crossed my arms over my chest. “I said he got rough with me.”

Dean frowned. “That’s an understatement.”

I rolled my eyes and held my hand out for the coffee Asher was holding. He handed it over. “Thank you,” I said. I took a sip right away and scrunched my nose when the liquid rolled over my taste buds.

“What’s wrong?” Asher asked. “It was made the right way. One part coffee. Three parts creamer.”

I stared down into my mug. “I think Jeana changed the coffee brand or something. It doesn’t taste right,” I said and sat the mug on my nightstand.

Jamie crossed the room and kissed my temple. “Breakfast is in twenty minutes.”

I turned and gave him a quick peck on the lips. “I’m going to take the world’s fastest shower and then I’ll be down. Please tell Jeana I’ll be eating, and I really, really want pancakes.”

Jamie’s brows shot up. “You’re going to eat breakfast?”

I moved away from him toward Louie. “Seems I worked up quite the appetite last night,” I said over my shoulder. I gave Louie a quick peck as well and was rewarded with the bright smile that I’d missed so much. “Are you going to come back tonight?” I asked.

He glanced at Jamie before answering. “If you want me here, beautiful, then I’ll be here.”

“I want you here,” I told him. He kissed me goodbye and he left with Jamie to head downstairs. I showered, then dressed comfortably in leggings and a T-shirt. I had no plans of adulting today. When we went downstairs, my goons veered off toward the kitchen as I went into the dining room. The table was almost full this morning. Stefan, Jamie, Louie, Rourke, and Vincent were already seated and eating.

“Did you spend the night?” I asked Rourke as I rounded the table. He was still in yesterday’s clothes.

Stefan looked up from his breakfast at the sound of my voice. His eyes were immediately drawn to my neck and his expression turned dark. “Maura Aisling Quinn!”

I froze where I stood, gaping at my father.Oh, shit!He hadn’t used my full name in that tone since I was like ten years old. Strangely, it still had the same effect on me. Then I remembered I was twenty-four, I’d killed people, and I sold cocaine for a living. My state of stupor wore off and I took my seat at the table. “It’s not as bad as it looks.”

Stefan covered my hand with his. “I don’t think you should take such risks anymore. We have plenty of trained enforcers and security who are more capable of—”

I yanked my hand away. “Are you saying that because I’m a woman?”

“It’s because you are my daughter and nothing will fucking matter if you’re dead,” he snarled.

“How can I expect anyone to respect me and risk everything for me if I’m not willing to do the same for them?” I questioned.