Page 54 of Endure the Pain
An uncomfortable silence settled in the car, especially from the front seat where Dean and Asher were. I met Asher’s eyes in the rearview mirror and they were as murderous as I assumed mine were. The thought of her being violated monthly made my already queasy stomach drop.
“Did Dylan know?” I forced out as calmly as I could.
“He cracked my ribs because I made the mistake of thinking that I no longer had to go to my monthly appointments now that our father is dead.”
I hated how normal she made Dylan beating her seem. Like it was just another day in the Quinn household. I'd known things weren’t good for Samuel’s wife and daughter, but hearing it…
“Pull over,” I breathed. Dean turned in his seat to give me a questioning look.
“Pull over!” I bellowed.
Asher jerked the car off to the side of the road. I was jumping out before he could even put it in park. I just barely had enough time to gather my hair and vomit by the rear tire. Headlights illuminated where I was bent over as the second Escalade pulled up behind us.
Between purges, I watched Dean’s shoes come from behind our car to stand with me. He took over holding my hair and huffed. “You know, this is why I didn’t pursue a career in the medical field. This shit is disgusting.”
I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. “Your sparkly personality would have gotten you fired on your first day.”
He frowned. “You’re still not feeling good.”
“I’ve been feeling like shit all day.”
“Maybe you’re pregnant.”
I rolled my eyes because I’d been on the pill since I'd turned eighteen. “Yeah, that’s not possible.” I put my hand on my queasy stomach and let out an annoyed sigh. “I don’t have to tell you that what she told us doesn’t leave this car.”
“No, you don’t have to tell me.” He scowled at the ground. “Your uncle and cousin are pieces of shit and Dylan deserved to die right alongside his father.”
“The sad thing is that they aren’t the only pieces of shit either…Sean and Donnie. There are probably more women with lives worse than Brenna’s.”
“Do you plan to change that?” His question felt like a test.
“If I have to tear down my family’s empire and rebuild it myself, I will.”
He nodded with approval.
“I’m going to need you, Asher, and Finn to work with her,” I said, tilting my head toward the car. “Teach her what you can about weapons and self-defense until I can hire people outside the family who I can trust.”
He agreed.
“Let’s get this over with and go home.” I wasn’t looking forward to tonight’s dinner with Nicoli at all.
Dean and I climbed back in the car and as we continued on to the restaurant, I entertained the thought of me possibly being pregnant. Thinking back to my last period had me chewing on my lip. It had been practically nonexistent, and I had chalked it up to stress.
I pulled my cell from my purse and texted Dean.I want to stop by the pharmacy on the way home.
Staring out the window, I refused to see Dean’s reaction after reading my text. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught him turning in his seat to look at me, but I pretended not to notice.
The restaurant chosen was Adrian's, the fancy Russian steakhouse where I had stabbed one of Sasha’s men. This time when I walked inside, I didn’t bother stopping at the hostess counter. I strolled right in toward the private dining room in the back of the restaurant. The beading on my gold cocktail dress shimmered in the dim lighting. It was form fitting, long sleeved, and cut off at my knees. The best part of my attire was, of course, my strappy gold heels that wrapped halfway up my calves.
Coming upon the black painted doors, I noticed that the antique two-way mirror had been replaced since I had shot through it.I hope I don’t have to stab anyone tonight.
Dean opened a door and Asher and Will went inside the private dining room before me. Brenna, Finn, and the other two goons, whose names I needed to learn, were guarding the cars and the cocaine.
“You’re late,” Stefan said right as I walked into the small room. Everyone stood from their seats. Stefan was at one end and Nicoli at the other, both taking each head of the table like kings. Jamie had chosen the seat to Stefan’s left, like always. Next to Jamie and to the don’s right was Ivano De Luca, Nicoli’s younger brother. Goons from both families stood along the walls, silent and watchful.
“Fashionably,” I quipped. The entire right side of the table was vacant. I had the choice to sit to my father’s right or the don’s left. My gaze swept over everyone, landing on Nicoli last.
He greeted me with a devilish smirk as his eyes raked down my body and back up. “With how gorgeous you look in that dress, I’d say it was worth the wait.”