Page 79 of Endure the Pain

I glanced back at Dean and gave him the okay to leave.

Stefan was quiet until we were alone. “How are you?”

I frowned.Really?

His face turned downcast. “What can I do?”

I had to look away from him. His guilt would eat at my resolve and I wanted to hold onto my anger a little longer. “Give me time.” After lying to me all my life, that was the least he could do.

“Alright. But before I can do that, I need to know why you asked Josh to make you a copy of the surveillance footage of your mother breaking into the house.”

My gaze moved back to him, my face an unwavering blank mask. “I have my reasons for requesting it.”

“Are you trying to look for her?”

“No.” I held his eyes, willing him to let it go. When they narrowed slightly, I knew there was a good chance that he wouldn’t.

During the drive to Bridgeport, I requested that Dean sit in the back seat with me. Asher was driving my new Escalade and Will rode in the passenger’s seat. Finn, Brenna, and the two goons whose names I’d learned were Nate and Brandon were riding in the Escalade behind us. Sean and his posse were in their own car following behind them.

I pulled a file from my purse and handed it to Dean. “Give this to Brooks,” I whispered.

Dean flipped open the file and saw pictures of my mother inside and a CD with the video footage of her in my house. Dean gave me a confused look.

“Her name is Riona. She’s the daughter of an Irish arms supplier. Not ours. She has ties with a Mexican cartel and she’s responsible for Blake’s murder. I’m sorry, I know he was your friend,” I said in a low voice that could only be heard between the two of us.

He stared down at the file with a clenched jaw. “Who is she?”

“My mother.”

His eyes shot from the file to meet mine in surprise.

“Just tell Brooks that she’s an enemy to the family. It’s not exactly what he was wanting, but it should appease him for now and gain us time to figure out a permanent solution.”

Dean shut the file. “I can’t give this to him. If Stefan or anyone else finds out that you gave me this—”

“Let me worry about that,” I insisted and stared out my window. It was dark out. The only light came from the distant city as we drove further and further from it. “I’m well aware that my moral compass is broken. I think the only thing keeping my soul from turning completely black is my love for my family and the lengths I’d go to for them. You’re part of my family, Grumpy. Don’t deny me the chance to embrace the one thing that’s good in me.”

“Alright,” he whispered.

Nicoli had closed down Show 'n Tail for our exchange. Music still played in the dim club, but the dancers and other employees were gone. The don was leaning on the bar with a tumbler of amber liquid placed in front of him. Five of his goons were strategically standing around the room, watchful and ready.

I stalked over to him, doing my best not to appear annoyed that Sean was following. He'd brought four of his lackeys with him and he'd gotten pissy with me when I'd told him he could only bring one inside with him. I'd made Brenna stay in the car again, with Nate and Brandon watching over her.

I slid onto the bar stool next to Nicoli. He was texting on his phone and had yet to look away from it to greet me. I scooped up his drink and took a small sniff of it. It was whiskey.Perfect,I almost purred out loud and brought the tumbler to my lips. I downed his entire drink in two gulps.

The corner of Nicoli’s mouth lifted as he typed away on his phone. “Pregnant women aren’t supposed to drink.”

I snorted.Fucking stalker.“It’s been a long week.”

“I can relate,” he said, setting down his phone, then reached over the bar to grab a bottle of whiskey. He took his tumbler from my hand, refilled it, and threw the whiskey back in one gulp. “You brought a guest.”

I forced a smile and Nicoli frowned at it. I swiveled around on my stool to face Sean. He was standing there with his lackey and Asher. Dean and Finn were at a table with two of Nicoli’s goons going through the process ofthe exchange. “Yes. This is Sean Kelly. Sean, this is Nicoli De Luca,” I introduced them.

Nicoli turned and put his hands inside of his pockets as he stared at Sean with a bored expression. “I know who he is. Why is he here?”

Nicoli’s question was intended for me but Sean answered. “Maura and I will be working together—”

“So?” Nicoli cut him off.