Page 75 of Endure the Pain
“We both know you don’t have shit. It’s why you’ve been a huge pain in my ass, begging for any scraps you can get your hands on. I told you I’m out and I’m not going to give you shit. Stop fucking calling me.” After saying his piece, he went to walk away, but Brooks stopped him by grabbing his shoulder.
“You’re out when I say you’re out, and if you don’t get me what I want, I might let it slip to the Quinns that they have a cop working for them.”
The muscle in Dean’s jaw clenched as his eyes bored into the floor.
“That family you’re so loyal to will kill you without a second thought.” Brooks chuckled and released Dean’s shoulder. “Your life is worth more than pussy, especially Maura Quinn’s.” Dean gave him a murderous glare and Brooks returned it with a smirk. “I’ll give you a week to find something I can work with,” Brooks said and walked away. Dean just stood there looking completely lost.
Feeling equally lost, I pulled away from the corner and leaned my head back against the wall. That was when I noticed Asher standing next to me with his arms folded across his chest, also leaning against the wall. Meeting his eyes, I could tell he had heard everything I had.
Dean was a cop.
“Fuck,” I said under my breath.
Dean came from around the corner at that moment. He noticed Asher first before his gaze landed on me. It took less than two seconds for his surprise to switch to a defeated demeanor.
“I’m not Stefan,” I bit out and my voice cracked, because my hormones were taking over. “You didn’t trust me.” That time my voice wobbled. Shit, I’m going to cry.
Dean’s shoulders slumped. “Please don’t cry,” he pleaded, making me realize I had spoken out loud.
“I’m not crying because of you, you selfish, grumpy dick hole,” I snapped, making Asher snort next to me. Dean frowned at him. I fanned at my watery eyes.
“The baby is making me cry.”
“I wanted to tell you…” Dean trailed off.
“But you didn’t,” I practically growled. “You are so lucky there are police nearby because I want to stab you. Like in the thigh or somewhere it will hurt like hell andwill hurt again when they have to stitch you up. And you bet your sweet ass that I will lie to the doctors and tell them you’re a recovering drug addict so they won’t give you anything for the pain!”
Dean’s eyes went wide and he took a step back. “I know you well enough to knowthat’snot the baby talking.”
I lifted my fist intending to punch his lying ass, but Asher stepped between us and held me back. I tried to still swing at Dean, hoping to at least hit him somewhere. He took another step back, out of my reach.
“Gah! I’m so mad at you!” I snarled.
Asher lifted me off the ground and took a few big strides down the hall further away from Dean. “Okay, it’s time to take a deep breath because you just threatened to stab a cop.”
I quickly covered Asher’s mouth with my hand and glanced around us.
Thankfully, there wasn’t anyone within earshot. I looked up with narrowed eyes at Asher, who was staring down at me, patiently waiting for me to remove my hand. “Don’t say what he is out loud again. If Stefan finds out, he’s as good as dead and there will be nothing I can do to save him.”
Asher pulled my hand away from his mouth and looked over his shoulder at Dean. “I guess that means she doesn’t want to kill you.”
I leaned to the side to look around Asher at Dean. “You will tell me everything. And by everything, I meaneverything,Dean Grumpy Gallagher. Be it your favorite color or your damn shoe size, I don’t care how fucking little it is, you will tell me.”
He released a heavy sigh and gave me a curt nod.
I wiggled out of Asher’s arms and took a step away. I hadn’t removed my eyes from Dean. “I’m hurt because my friend didn’t trust me to help him, not because of who he is—was, or whatever.”
“I’m sorry,” he finally said.
I folded my arms across my chest. “You better fucking prove it because now I only have a week to figure out how to deal with Brooks and save your ass.”
Stefan, Jamie, and Louie showed up at the hospital not long after my discovery of Dean’s secret. I was in a foul mood by the time they arrived. Wanting to give me space, Brenna went to raid the vending machines with Finn down the hall. Stefan, who looked relieved when hesaw me, was the first through the door and was unfortunately the one who I blew a gasket on.
“Where the hell have you been?” I demanded. Stefan’s steps faltered, blocking Jamie and Louie from coming in. “My car blew up over two hours ago.”
Stefan arched a brow at me, not pleased at all with how I was speaking to him.
I looked past him to Jamie and Louie standing outside the door. “I could have been hurt or something could have happened to our baby and it took you hours to get to me? What the fuck?” Could I have been calmer about asking them? Yes. Did I care at the moment? Nope. My best friend had lied to me. Forgive me for feeling a little sensitive at the moment.