Page 48 of Endure the Pain

I broke away from our kiss and threw my head back, crying out in ecstasy as I came undone in his arms. His pumping sped up as I squeezed around him. His entire body shuddered and he buried his face in my neck when his own release hit him.

“Christ, I fucking love you,” he groaned.

I buried my fingers into his golden locks and hugged him close. It was what I really needed to hear in that moment. Especially after what had happened in the hall. “I love you, too.”

“What the hell are you thinking, Maura?” an angered voice asked. Louie and I both tensed. I looked over Louie’s shoulder, finding Stefan standing by the door, eyes wide. Brody was behind him, looking equally shocked. Two of Stefan’s goons, one of them being Hank, lingered just outside the door staring in.

I dropped my leg from Louie’s waist. He slid out of me and tucked himself back into his pants before turning toface Stefan. I hopped down from the desk and stepped around to stand in front of Louie. “Donnie attacked me in the hall. Louie killed him.”

Stefan’s eyes bounced back and forth between Louie and me and, for some reason, anger began to harden his features.

I sighed, realizing what conclusions he was jumping to. “Jamie knows—”

“I never thought you’d be this stupid,” he talked over me. Something about his tone put me on edge. He took a step toward me. “I won’t let you start a war within this family because you decided to open your legs for another man.”

I reeled back.

Stefan stormed over to me and grabbed my arm—the one Donnie had almost broken. It was still a little sore, so I yelped when he began dragging me away. “What are you doing?” I questioned as I dug my feet in the ground.

“I can’t believe you would do this to Jameson and with his best friend. We have a code, Maura. I will not have them killing each other because you decided to be a whore,” he seethed, pulling me toward the door.Where the hell is he taking me?With the monstrous look in his eye, I wasn’t sure I wanted to find out.

I fought against him, trying to yank my sore arm free. “You need to listen. You don’t understand,” I pleaded with him. Brody and the goons moved out of the way as he overpowered me and forced me from his study. “Stop it, Stefan. You’re hurting me!”

Louie came up behind me and glared at my father. “I respect you and have always looked up to you as if you were the father I never had, but if you don’t let her go—”

Louie didn’t get to finish his threat before Hank and the other goon pulled their guns.

“Take him down to the basement. I’ll be down there as soon as I'm done dealing with her,” Stefan ordered, and the goons closed in on Louie.

“No! Just listen to me, damnit!” I practically screamed.

“Stefan, you’re hurting her,” Brody said. He looked torn. He wanted to help me but didn’t want to undermine Stefan.

Stefan ignored him, his grip tightening—painfully—to the point my instincts took over and I smacked him across his face. “Let me go!”

The hit surprised him, but his hold on me didn’t relent. I went to hit him again. He was ready for me that time and caught my wrist. With a look of disappointment mixed with fury, he bent my wrist back.

I let out a pain riddled scream.

“Maura!” I heard Louie yell.

Someone stepped into my peripheral and a fist slammed into Stefan’s cheek. The force behind the punch made him release me and stumble back. Arms enveloped me and I looked up into hazel depths.Jamie.His eyes and hands roamed all over me, checking to see if I was okay before he turned a hardened expression on Stefan. Jamie pushed me behind him, and he stared down Stefan, who was rubbing his face as he glared at Jamie.

“So it’s like that, is it?” he asked Jamie.

“Did you honestly expect me to stand back and do nothing?” Jamie shot back, his body strung tight. “I don’t know what the fuck is going on, but I’d take a moment to look around.”

Stefan glanced past us and I turned to look as well. The hall was full of goons. Asher and two of his fellow colleagues from Aiden’s security firm had shown up along with Josh and Blake. Everyone had their guns pointed at each other. Asher and his buddies had theirs drawn on Josh, Blake, and Stefan’s personal goon. Hank had his gun pointed at Louie’s back, who was facing against the wall with his hands held behind his head. Brody was standing next to Stefan’s study door, wide eyed.

I looked back at Stefan, with the overwhelming feeling of betrayal and sadness. “Stefan walked in on Louie and I having sex.” My tone was emotionless and drone-like. I just wanted to clear everything up so I could escape. “Stefan caught us and wouldn’t let me explain.”

Stefan’s anger lessened as his confusion took over.

Jamie sighed. “We should have told him sooner.”

“It was none of his business,” I seethed as I tucked my hand inside the back of his suit jacket for his gun. “And if he had listened to me, this whole fucking situation could have been avoided.” I pulled the Glock from where he had it tucked into the back of his pants and I stalked over to Hank, who still held Louie at gunpoint. I put the barrel of Jamie’s Glock up against Hank's head. “Drop it,” I ordered, my darkness taking over and replacing my bland tone with strength.

Hank didn’t budge. “I don’t take orders from whores.”