Page 81 of Endure the Pain

His eagerness made both Stefan and I smile. “You’re dying to know, aren’t you?” I teased.

Brody huffed. “Of course I am. I’ve already ordered a bunch of stuff, but it’s all in neutral colors.”

Stefan shook his head. “The decision is Maura’s.”

Brody glared at him. “Like you aren’t dying to know.”

Dr. Greene chuckled, reminding me that he was there.

I gave him an apologetic smile. “I’d like to know.”

“Are you sure?” he asked.

I nodded.

He smiled brightly. “You’re having a girl.”

“Oh.” It was all I could think of to say. I’d have preferred a boy. Mostly because a boy’s life in this family wouldn’t be as hard. But Jellybean was a girl. I had a lot of work ahead of me if I didn’t want her to go through the same shit I had. I rubbed my hand over my belly, praying I could protect her, and reminded myself I wasn’t alone. She had two daddies who would kill for her.

At the thought of Jamie and Louie, I wanted to hurry along with my appointment so I could plan their surprise.

After we left the doctor’s office, Brody and I went shopping and Stefan returned to the house. Both Brody and Stefan had gotten to see Jellybean when Dr. Greene had done the ultrasound. Brody had beamed the entire time and Stefan had held a small smile.

Brody dragged me to a bunch of baby stores, but the best one was an adorable baby boutique. We spent quite a bit of time and money there, buying everything I would need and then some. A lot of it was ordered from a catalog and would be delivered at a later date, such as the crib, stroller, and other big baby stuff. All of it was purchased on Stefan’s credit card.

I decided the nursery would have a baby lamb theme because I'd fallen in love with those baby lamb slippers I had seen at the mall. Brody was bummed because he had wanted a ballerina theme that we'd seen staged in one of the baby stores. It was obvious he was really excited about Jellybean and it was infectious.

For Jamie and Louie’s gender reveal surprise, I found this pink onesie that was made for a gay couple with a baby girl that I felt fit perfectly—written on the front of it was, “I love my daddies.” The cashier read the front of itas she rang it up and gave me a strange look. Brody and I fought not to laugh.

Once we got home and my goons helped me carry all of my purchases to the nursery, I told them to go home. I was exhausted and was more than likely going to nap until dinner time. Plus, Jamie and Louie were on their way home and I wanted to give them their surprise alone. If I was lucky, I could convince one or both of them to cuddle me while I took a nap.

Dean, Asher, and Will took off and I went into my room. With the curtains closed, it was dark. Not that it mattered. I'd grown up in this room with the furniture in the same exact places. I could walk through it blindfolded and still know where I was.

Stepping into the darkness, I flipped on the lamp next to the couch and dropped my purse and bag with the onesie in it on the coffee table. I sat on the couch to unzip my boots so I could get them off my aching feet. As I was taking off my last boot, I heard the floor creak behind me. The hairs on the back of my neck rose and my instincts told me to move. I stood quickly and turned while walking backward around the coffee table, putting more space between myself and whoever was in my room.

A man was standing behind the couch, half hidden in shadow. I noticed the big hunting knife in his handfirst. Then I took in his coal black hair, cold blue eyes, and realized I recognized him. He was Alex Roth, the Aryan assassin.

I had a gun in my purse, three feet out of reach in front of me on the coffee table. I wasn’t confident I could grab the purse, dig the gun out, and aim it before he could get to me. I had to think of something else. I put my hand to my belly protectively. “I’m pregnant,” I said, despite knowing it didn’t matter to him, but a small part of me hoped.

He didn’t even blink.

Think, Maura,I thoughtas I took another step back, reaching the TV hanging on the wall over the fireplace.The fireplace!Without looking down, I knew there was an iron rack of wood by my foot. It had been getting colder out and all of the rooms with a fireplace had been stocked with logs. And next to the rack of wood was an iron set of tools for the fireplace.

“You need to take a minute to think about the repercussions of what you’re about to do. My family will wipe out your entire gang and everyone close to you and them if you kill me,” I said as I finished forming a plan in my head.

His fist squeezed tighter around the knife and I knew he was coming. I dropped and pulled a log of wood from the rack and by the time I stood up, he was coming for me. I threw the log at the lamp just as he leaped over the couch. The log hit its target, the lamp crashed to the floor, and the light went out. Unless the assassin could see in the dark, I had a slight advantage. I grabbed what I hoped was the fire poker from the tool stand and ran for the corner of the room. I smoothed my hand down the heavy tool and found a pointy end.Thank fuck.

Standing there quietly, I debated whether I should make a run for the gun in my nightstand, the bathroom, or the door. I took a moment to listen because if I could determine where he was, I’d have a better idea of where I could go.

Something shattered on the other side of the room and I knew it was my new vase of flowers on the dresser that Jamie had bought me to replace the one he had broken. My best chance was to head for the door. I crept as quietly as I could. I was halfway there when my bare foot stepped on glass from the lamp. The pain of it slicing through the bottom of my foot made me want to cry out and it took everything in me not to make a sound. A lot of good that effort did, because the sound of the glass crunching in the silent room…I needed to move. I ran for the door.

Through the thundering of my heart, I could hear the pounding of his steps behind me. I wasn’t going to make it. So just before I reached the door, I turned, and I shoved the poker forward. I felt it stab and heard a grunt, but I didn’t stick around to make sure. I got my bedroom door open and was bathed in light. Ignoring the pain in my foot, I pushed on down the hall. I thought I heard a thunk on the floor before my hair and shoulder were grabbed from behind. I was thrown, hurtling toward the wall. Not wanting to hit my stomach, I pivoted so I spun on my foot and my back collided with the wall instead. The impact was a little disorienting, but I shook it off and got my footing in order to take off running again.

Alex appeared in front of me.

I had no time to react.

All I felt was pain.