Page 43 of Endure the Pain

“Evening,” Dylan greeted.

I returned his greeting with a smile. “What a pretty date you have, cousin.”

“Yes, she is.” Dylan mimicked Jamie and moved his hand to Angela’s back. It was a protective and possessive gesture, which he made look awkward. “I know you twohave a rocky history, but I was hoping we could move on from that.”

I didn’t understand what Dylan’s intentions were with Angela or what game he was playing. Regardless, I didn’t have the time to find out. “Enjoy the party,” I said with indifference and moved past them, Jamie walking along with me.

“What?” I heard Dylan hiss behind me.

“She’s the only one on your side and this is how you repay her? What are you going to do when she’s no longer standing between you and Stefan? He only let you live because he didn’t want to upset her,” Rourke snapped.

“God forbid anyone upsets the princess,” Dylan quipped.

Jamie’s steps faltered next to me. I knew he was getting ready to whirl around and beat Dylan’s ass. I was tempted to let him. Maybe it would knock some sense into Dylan.

I grabbed his hand and made him continue walking. His body was stiff, and his hand squeezed mine.

Rourke raged back at Dylan, but we were too far away at that point for me to make out what he said.

I sighed. “I can’t tell if he’s testing me or if he hates me.”

“He’s more trouble than he’s worth,” Jamie said tightly.

“Maybe.”

He brought the back of my hand to his lips. “You need to deal with him before things get out of hand.”

“I plan to.”

We found Stefan standing with the Colombians under the gazebo toward the back of the property and agood distance away from the rest of the party. Conor was with him, along with about a half dozen goons who circled the gazebo. They let Jamie and me pass.

Stefan’s attention shifted to me with a small smile and he held out his hand for me to take. “This is my daughter, Maura.” I took his hand and he guided me to stand before the group of Colombians. “She’s replaced Samuel.”

One man stood in front of the others. He seemed to be in charge. Nothing in particular stood out about him other than that he looked like a wall of muscle. It was the lone woman that drew my attention. She was beautiful with her long jet-black hair. Her eyes were a stunning color of gold with a black rim. Her posture exuded confidence and her golden eyes were scrutinizing. Everything about her stood out, yet she was doing her best to be unseen. She stood slightly behind the wall of muscle and three of the other men in their group surrounded her. It was a protective formation.

“Maura?” Stefan said, pulling me from my thoughts.

“Yes?”

His eyes narrowed. “I just introduced you to Emmanuel,” he said, gesturing to the wall of muscle.

I looked at the supposed leader. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Emmanuel.” I smiled and took a step closer tothe woman, locking eyes with her. I held out my hand to her.

“Maura Quinn.”

The men around her stiffened a little as they watched us. The woman stared down at my hand, then returned her eyes to mine and the corner of her mouth lifted.

“Salome Herrera,” she said—her accent coming out thick—and she shook my hand. Santiago Herrera was our cocaine supplier. Well, he had been until he had decided to retire. His children ran his empire now. “How did you know?” she asked.So she was testing us.

I smiled back at her. “My uncle had many faults, but his biggest was that he was a sexist bastard. I’d bet a lot of money that it was you he had insulted, which in turn soured your opinion of us. I would have told us to get fucked, too.”

Her smile grew. “Your uncle thought of me as inferior and always demanded to speak to my brother. Little did he know, I am the head of the Herrerabusiness.I wanted to see if Stefan was anything like his brother, but seeing that he’s completely let you, his daughter, take control of this meeting, there might still be hope that our relationship may continue.”

That’s a relief.

In Spanish, Emmanuel said, “She has the same look in her eye as you, Salome. Same spirit.”

“I noticed that, too,” Salome replied in Spanish as she studied me. “And I have a feeling she’s understanding everything we are saying.”