Page 6 of Endure the Pain

CHAPTER 3

Jamie scowled at the detectives. “Were you camping out in the fucking parking lot? She just woke up.”

Detective Cameron squared his shoulders and glared at Jamie. “Don’t be jealous, Coleman. I’m sure if I looked hard enough, I could find something to question you about.”

Jamie stepped toward the detective. “We both know you won’t find anything. But please, go ahead. The last time you had a hard-on for me ended so well. Failed marriage. Kids wound up hating you because Daddy missed one too many soccer games. At least you still have your fellow pigs to keep you warm in the pen at night.”

Cameron’s jaw clenched and his hands fisted tightly at his sides. As if foreseeing his partner’s intentions, Detective Brooks put a hand on Cameron’s shoulder, stopping him from advancing on Jamie.

“I understand you detectives have a job to do, but I don’t understand why it can’t wait. My daughter almost lost her life and is in a delicate state. The last thing she needs is for you to put her through unnecessary stress,” Stefan argued.

Oh jeez.It was a chore not to laugh at his hypocrisy. The first thing he'd done was question me after I woke up. Now he was playing the role of a caring father and acting as if I was a dandelion, one gust of wind from being blown away.

“Be that as it may, she was involved in a shooting which resulted in five dead and both her and your nephew shot. There were enough shell casings in that garage to show that over five hundred rounds were fired,” Brooks explained.

I sighed. “Sit down.” Everyone looked down at me. I reached for Jamie’s hand and tugged him backward, preventing him from arguing. “Could you also take a seat, Detectives? No offense, but I have a skull fracture and it hurts to look up at you. I’d be more than happy to answer any questions you may have but you’ve got to meet me on my level.”

Dean skidded two chairs toward them before going to stand by the window. The detectives exchanged a look and reluctantly sat. Jamie, Louie, and Stefan followed suit.

Brooks and Cameron eyed my hand clasped in Jamie’s before Brooks plastered on a friendly smile. “Thank you for cooperating.”

“I don’t remember much,” I lied.

“Can you tell us what you do remember?” Brooks asked as he pulled out a little notebook and pen.

“I remember being in the car.”

“Where were you headed?” Cameron interrupted.

I fought not to look to Stefan for guidance. Instead, I furrowed my brow as if I was really trying to remember.

Jamie squeezed my hand. “It’s okay, baby. The doctor said it would take time before things would start coming back to you.”

I willed tears to my eyes. It wasn’t that hard because I was already emotionally spent. “I’m sorry.”

Cameron’s eyes narrowed and if his expression was anything to go by, he clearly felt like I was full of shit.

“It’s okay,” Brooks said, kindly. “Is there anything else you remember?”

I nodded. “I was talking to Rourke in the backseat. We were laughing about something.”

“What were you laughing about?” Cameron asked.

“It’s all hazy. I think we were talking about Jamie.”

Cameron rose a brow. “Jamie?”

I pointed to Jamie. As far as I knew only his mother and I were the ones he’d allowed to shorten his name. Everyone else called him Jameson or referred to him by his last name, Coleman.

“Well, isn’t that cute,” Cameron mocked.

What a dick.

“With all due respect, Detective, can you save whatever beef you have with Jamie for another time? I have graciously agreed to answer all your questions because I want to help you find the people who set out to hurt me and my family. Three of my friends are dead. So please, can you do your job and ask me what it is you want to know?” I snapped.

The room went quiet. Louie snorted and Jamie did nothing to hide his smug smile. Brooks cleared his throat. “Of course, Miss Quinn. Please continue.”

I went on with a very vague explanation of what had happened up until the driver, Rourke’s enforcer, had gotten shot. Then I said everything was a black hole after that.