Page 38 of Endure the Pain

Louie smiled at me. “Hey, these guys have worked with you before. I figured they’d…” He trailed off when he noticed me glaring at the two goons standing next to him.

“This should be interesting,” Asher snickered behind me.

I folded my arms over my chest. “Find another two.”

“Is there something I should know?” Louie asked.

“Dipshit One and Two don’t know how to keep their mouths shut. I’ll call Finn. That way, you just have to find me one goon who knows how to be discreet. Hell, I’d take Josh or Blake before I’d take either of them,” I explained.

Both of the goons scowled at me before one of them stepped forward. “We know how to be discreet. Let us do our job and you just focus on what you know best—being a spoiled girl spending Daddy’s money,” he sneered. “You need us to babysit you while you go dress shopping, right?”

I took a step closer to him to show I wasn’t intimidated. “Let me guess, you’re Hank.”

He straightened his shoulders. “Yeah, what of it?”

The corner of my mouth lifted. “I’m just putting a face to a name. You told Jamie I kissed Nicoli De Luca. That’s not very discreet and I think you should be punished.”

Hank laughed and looked back at his fellow goon. “Can you believe this shit?”

The other goon smartly didn’t react or encourage his partner. Instead, he glanced at me with a hint of fear in his eyes. Hank turned back to face me with an arrogant smirk. I didn’t appreciate that. So I did the mature thing and expressed how his laughing made me feel…physically. My fist shot out and collided with his throat.

He let out a choking noise, grabbed at his throat, and fell to his knees. I threw my fist out again, this time, breaking his nose. Blood poured from Hank’s nostrils, splattering on one of the couch cushions before he curled over. I internally winced because I knew Brody was going to be pissed about me getting blood everywhere.

The other goon appeared to be in shock as he stared at Hank on the floor, but quickly recovered and took a step forward. I couldn’t tell if he was coming toward me or intended to help Hank. Louie didn’t seem to care either way because he stopped him from coming any closer by putting his arm out in front of him. Dean and Asher movedinto my peripheral, preparing to protect me if anything were to happen.

I locked eyes with Louie and gestured to Hank. “How can we expect him to protect me if he can be taken down by the boss’s spoiled little girl?”

“You cunt,” Hank wheezed up at me.

I put the back of my hand to my forehead. “Catch me, Thor. I might faint. His vulgar language is too much for my delicate princess ears.”

Asher just stared at me like I’d lost my damn mind. “You have the worst potty mouth I’ve ever heard, and I used to be in the military.” Dean nodded in agreement.

I dropped my hand and beamed up at him. “Aw, thank you. It’s nice to know I excel at something.” I tilted my head at Hank. “Let’s take him for a walk.”

Understanding, Dean and Asher yanked Hank off the floor and forced him to follow me out of the lounge. Louie and the other goon also followed as we traveled to the back yard. I stopped next to the pool’s edge. “How long can you hold your breath, Hank?”

I didn’t get an answer. I watched his eyes lingering on the water before they drifted to me. I almost whistled at the glare he was giving me. The blood running from his nose and dripping off his chin really gave the fury burning in his eyes an extra oomph.If looks could kill…

I raised a brow. “Shall we find out?”

Without having to be asked, Dean and Asher kicked Hank’s legs out from underneath him, forcing him to his knees by the pool's edge. Hank struggled against them to no avail. My goons got him onto his stomach and Asher’s giant hand shoved Hank’s head into the water. Hank’s body thrashed and the water splashed as he fought to raise his head.

“Don’t get involved, Will,” I heard Louie order. My eyes flicked over to where he and, I assumed, Will stood a few yards away. Louie was standing in front of Will, doing his best to hold him back.

“She’s going to kill him—” Will argued and reached into his suit jacket.

Louie shoved him backward, hard. Will stumbled a little and Louie reached behind his back and pulled his gun. He quickly cocked it and pointed it at Will. “Don’t fucking do it, man. Hank made his bed. Don’t go down with him.”

I wasn’t going to kill Hank. I wanted to teach him a lesson and hopefully use this to set an example.Don’t fuck me over.“Alright, that’s enough,” I told Dean and Asher. They released Hank and stepped away from him. He rolled away from the pool as he coughed up water.

I squatted next to him. “The next time you gossip about me to anyone, I’ll fill your big mouth with bullets.”

I stood and walked over to where Louie and Will were standing. Louie no longer had his gun pointed at Will, which was a good sign. Will wasn’t much taller than me and he had short ginger hair. I met his light brown eyes. “Rourke also found out about my kiss with Nicoli De Luca. Have any idea how he found out?”

Eyes never leaving mine, he shook his head. “I didn’t fucking tell anyone. I don’t give two shits who you kiss.”

My gut told me he was being honest. “Do you know who I am?”