Page 7 of Endure the Pain

They asked me if I’d ever interacted with the Aryans before. I played completely dumb, stating that I’d never met an Aryan in my life.

Cameron frowned. “It’s unfortunate that all the traffic cams and security footage in and around that parking garage were mysteriously down at the time of the shooting. All we have to go off of is what you, Rourke Murphy, Asher King, and Dean Gallagher have to say, and it isn’t much.”

“I wish I could be more help,” I said.

When they were finished with their questions, they stood to leave, but just as Cameron reached the door he paused and glanced back at me. “One more thing…have you heard from your ex, Tom Morris?”

I shook my head. I was so grateful that I’d taken that thing off my finger earlier because my pulse rate skyrocketed. “No, I haven’t.”

“Have you tried reaching out to him?” he asked.

“Is there something I should know, Detective?” I deflected.

His scrutinizing eyes held mine. “I find it strange that you wouldn’t attempt to reach out to him after I told you that he was missing. Despite your separation, you two were together for over a year. Weren’t you the slightest bit worried about him?”

I opened my mouth to speak, but he cut me off. “Because I’m feelinggraciousat the moment,I’ll give you a few days to rest up, but I will need you to come down to the station to answer a few more questions.”

I didn’t respond, nor did he wait around for me to. As Detective Brooks went to follow his partner out, he glanced over at Dean. It was brief and I couldn’t see his expression, but whatever it was caused Dean to look away from him with a clenched jaw.

“If I wasn’t high on painkillers right now, I’d be going bananas. I don’t know how much longer I can do this,” I groaned as I slowly made my way back from the bathroom. Dean and Asher both watched as I stiffly took a seat on the couch next to them.

“Quit complaining. It’s only been two weeks,” Dean grumbled and turned his attention back toward the TV.

“Enjoy it while it lasts. We are. It’s easier to keep you alive when confined to one room. Once you’re able to rejoin civilization, all bets are off,” Asher teased.

Being cooped up in my room with my goons while watching an unhealthy amount of TV since being released from the hospital had been a bonding experience, to say the least. We’d reached a point of comfortable where they’d turned into mouthy little shits. Not that they hadn't been that way before. They just didn’t hold back anymore. It might have pissed me off at times, but I still respected them for it. Stefan thought it was a bad idea to form friendships with my security. He was worried about the heartache I’d face if one of them died. I understood his concern. I couldn’t, however, live my life surrounded by strangers.

Besides, it was kind of hard not to get to know someone when confined to a room for weeks. I’d learned a lot. Both Dean and Asher were ex-military, which wasn’t surprising. Dean had grown up in New Haven but didn’t have any family left. He had been vetted by one of Conor’senforcers before they'd introduced him to Louie, who'd presented him with the offer to join thefamily.

“Did you know who we were at the time or what it’d mean when Louie made the offer?” I’d asked him.

He’d been caught off guard by the question and seemed to shut down after replying simply, “Yeah.”

I’d reached out to him without thinking and touched his arm reassuringly. I didn’t know why I’d done it and the gesture had surprised us both. “I wouldn’t blame you, but do you regret it—joining the family?”

The three of us had been sitting on my couch with a movie playing on the TV. Dean had been sitting in the middle with Asher and I flanking him. Asher had been quietly watching us while munching on popcorn. He’d preferred kettle popcorn over the old fashioned butter that Dean and I liked, which was why he'd gotten his own bowl while Dean and I had shared. Dean hadn’t answered right away, and I’d ended up blurting, “I wouldn’t wish this life on anyone.”

The harshness that usually molded Dean’s expression had lessened. “Maybe in the beginning. I had different expectations then.”

I’d been surprised by his honesty. “What were you expecting?”

He had shrugged. “Doesn’t matter because a fiery red-head strolled in with a devil-may-care attitude and changed everything.”

Asher had snorted in an attempt to stifle a laugh.

I’d rolled my eyes. “And what about you? How’d you find yourself working for Jamie’s uncle?”

He’d given me a cocksure smirk. “Well, I was everything Aiden was looking for.”

Dean had snorted that time. “And what does Aiden look for?”

Asher had scratched the short beard along his jaw, mulling over what he should say. “He typically seeks out someone who’s ex-military or ex-law enforcement. Little to no family. Strong mentality is also a must.”

My brow had furrowed. “Strong mentality?”

“Got to be okay with killing and not let it fuck you up,” he had answered, tapping his temple. “Aiden’s clientele is good, bad, and downright ugly. Not that any of us care. We wouldn’t work for him if we did.”

“And why do you work for him?” I’d asked.