Page 85 of Endure the Pain

No,my darkness had whispered deep inside me. Having been completely consumed by despair, I’d forgotten all about it.

“And you think she’ll let you make that decision for her?” Stefan had snapped.

No.My darkness’s voice had gotten louder as if getting closer.

“Look at her!” Jamie had bellowed, his rage unchecked.

No.

“We’ve already asked Kiara to take her and Brenna to Boston,” Louie had said. “She’s looking for a house for them to stay in and Jameson has asked his uncle Aiden for extra security to send with them.”

Stefan had sighed frustratedly. “I know my daughter. She won’t go.”

“Then we’ll make her,” Jamie had snapped.

“No,” I had whispered, my darkness taking control. Inside me, it had seemed to wrap itself around my pain, doing its best to shield me from it, leaving me only my rage.

All three of their heads had whipped in my direction but I'd refused to look at them.

Jamie had squeezed my hand. “Maura?”

I'd yanked my hand free from his. “Get out.”

I thought they'd been in shock because none of them had moved.

I’d finally shifted my gaze to them, meeting Jamie’s eyes, then Louie’s. “I’m not going to Boston.”

Jamie had been the quickest to recover and his expression had turned cold. “Youaregoing to Boston. You—”

“Get out!” I'd yelled. “I don’t want you here! Either of you!”

“Maura,” Louie had begged.

“Get the fuck out!” I'd screamed, making Louie reel back. His shoulders had slumped before he'd stood and stormed out of the room.

“You don’t get to push us away,” Jamie had seethed.

I'd glared at him, venom slipping into my voice. “And you don’t make decisions for me.”

“Jameson,” Stefan had barked, stopping him from responding. “Go back to the house. Cool down. She’s being discharged soon. You can talk more later.”

Jamie hadn't been happy about it but had done as Stefan had ordered.

I'd slowly looked at Stefan and hadn't been surprised to find him masked with a blank face. “I’m moving into the guest house.” I couldn’t have gone back to my room, or even back inside the main house.

He'd given me a shallow nod. “Okay. Is there anything else you need? Brody’s on his way here with some clothes for you. If you’re hungry, I’m sure he’ll be more than happy to pick something up for you.”

I'd shaken my head.

I pulled myself from my memories, not wanting to think about what had transpired after and how badly everything had spiraled.

CHAPTER 29

As I stood before the floor-to-ceiling mirror in my hotel bathroom, I smoothed away the nonexistent wrinkles of my form fitting black suit. I hated how my hands gliding over my flat stomach sparked pain inside me. As if it were a beacon, I touched the spot under my navel—where Alex Roth had stabbed me.

I met my eyes in the mirror. My makeup was dark and on point. My hair was down and straightened. I was wearing the same pant suit I had worn to my first family meeting. The jacket had the perfect plunge that showed off the black lacy bralette I wore underneath. I looked like I had my shit together. My eyes said different. There was no life in them. Just dull, broken despair.

I walked away from the mirror over to the bathroom vanity where I'd left a satin jewelry box. Flipping open the lid, I unsnapped the buttons holding the shamrock necklace Stefan had given me. It had mysteriously appeared in my jewelry a while back. I had chosen to ignore its presence because I'd thought Stefan had been trying to buy my forgiveness for spying on me the entire time I had been away at college.