Embrace the Darkness (The Maura Quinn Series Book 1) - Ashley N. Rostek Page 0,107

as he handed over Mark’s file. I passed it to Stefan, who stared at me expectantly as he opened it.

I went over everything from the money we'd found in Mark’s deceased brother’s bank account to Jamie and Louie showing up at Show 'n Tail, finding me with a gun held to my head and wearing nothing but my panties in Nicoli De Luca’s lap. By the tightness in Stefan’s jaw, I could tell he wasn’t particularly thrilled about my hour as an exotic dancer, but he made no comment about it. With a deep breath, I steeled myself for what I had to tell him next. The deal I'd made with Nicoli.

My body was stiff. I was expecting my impending doom by the time I was done telling him. The room had fallen mute as everyone processed. Stefan leaned back in his chair. With his thumb brushing his bottom lip, he stared absently at the painting over his hidden safe. Shockingly, he didn’t look mad. Which was freaking me out.

“Stefan?” I said, apprehensively. His eyes flicked back to me. “If you’re debating how you’re going to kill me, can you at least not be so calm about it? It’s unsettling.”

He rolled his eyes at me. “I’m surprised at Jameson. I wonder if he realizes what he did.”

… Huh?

“What are you talking about?”

“My enforcer just took orders from you, a novice to our world, in a…pressing situation and without question. I don’t know if I should be proud of you or disappointed in him.”

Seriously? I sighed, slumping back in my chair. I was tired. Today had been a whirlwind. Imagining having to face Jamie after this exhausted me further. “When’s the next family meeting?” If Stefan wasn’t going to wring my neck, it’d be best to move on.

“Day after tomorrow,” Stefan answered.

“I still don’t have the proof we need against Samuel. Everything we’ve found all points to Dylan. You and I both know there’s no way Dylan could have pulled this off on his own. Vincent is still searching for offshore accounts. All that money they’ve been pocketing has gone somewhere. I highly doubt they have it stuffed under their mattress—” I palm smacked my forehead. Why didn’t I think of it before? “Vincent, search for any storage facilities leased just prior to or within the past two years. Don’t just look for it to be leased by Samuel or Dylan but by my aunt or another close relation, as well.” Vincent nodded, getting to his feet to leave. “If he can’t find what we need by the time of the meeting, I have something else I want to try.”

Intrigued, Stefan’s brow arched. “And that is?”

“I’m Stefan Quinn’s daughter. When people hear that, they imagine a little girl.” An evil grin grew slowly across my face. “I think it’s time to change that.

CHAPTER 32

Due to his deep seated hatred for the Italian Mafia, Stefan wasn’t thrilled about the deal I'd made with Nicoli. Still, he said he would honor it. I came to find out that if it meant keeping myself alive, I was allowed to make whatever deals I wanted. “Just don’t make a habit of it, Maura,” he ordered.

Putting myself in danger seemed to upset him more than anything. That was the father side of him coming through. His boss side didn’t hold my actions against me. I did the job he'd tasked me with. It was what he’d expect of Jamie or any other loyal member of this family.

Leaving Stefan’s study with Dean and Asher in tow, I wasn’t surprised to find Jamie waiting outside. He was pacing the hall, seeming more pissed off than before. Louie was leaning against the wall, arms folded over his chest with a calm yet closed off expression while he watched his best friend. That alone should have warned me of how bad things were going to be.

Noticing me, Jamie stopped his pacing abruptly. Meeting his burning eyes, my heart picked up speed. If we were going to argue, which I had no doubt we were, we should at least do it in private. Dropping my eyes from his, I walked in the direction of the stairs, intending to take our conversation up to my room.

I barely made it into the foyer before a hand locked around my arm. “Stop walking away from me, Maura,” Jamie growled, yanking me harshly around to face him. Damnit, here we go. “Do you have any idea how fucking stupid that was? Christ!” he yelled while