try to save both of your asses by taking me hostage. The front door isn’t that far from here and I highly doubt Stefan will risk my life to try and stop you.”
“Maura, stop trying to convince him,” Jamie admonished.
Dylan glanced back and forth between me and Samuel. He looked completely torn.
“What’s it going to be, cousin? The clock is ticking.”
“Dylan?” Samuel said, trying to get his son’s attention.
“I’m growing impatient. I’m going to give you until the count of three. If you don’t decide by then, we will all know where your loyalties lie…one!”
I could feel Dylan shaking through the gun still pressed to my chest. His eyes were cast down, lost in thought.
“Dylan, look at me,” Samuel demanded, but it was as if his voice didn’t reach him.
“Two!”
“Damnit, Dylan!” Samuel yelled.
My eyes met with Jamie’s as I took in a breath to say three. Before the word could leave my mouth, the gun moved from my chest. Dylan aimed it at his father with detached yet determined eyes.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered, cocking the gun.
As his finger curled around the trigger, I chuckled. Dylan froze, eyes darting to me. Everyone stared at me like I’d gone mad as I struggled to contain myself.
“Wow!” I grinned like a loon. “That was fun.” I reached out and took the gun from Dylan’s hand. I gave his cheek a little pat. “Thanks for playing. You did excellent.” I hopped off the table and turned to face the rest of the room. They all looked stunned. Stefan was the exception. He looked like he wanted to string me up by my toes in the basement.
“If you decide to spare him, I’ll take the responsibility,” I said.
Stefan held my eyes for what seemed like forever but was really about thirty seconds. “Do you understand the consequence that will fall on you?”
I arched a brow. “And what consequence will that be, Stefan?”
“If he destroys this family, I will kill you both.”
My darkness had always seen Stefan as a formidable opponent and the thought of going against him in a bloody fight formed a dark, twisted smile across my face. “Let’s see what happens, shall we?”
Stefan’s features hardened at the challenge. I, on the other hand, was becoming bored. My job here was done.
I sighed. “Can you take over? I’m hungry.” I hadn’t eaten all day because I'd been hungover. It was almost dinner time and my stomach knew it. Stefan nodded slightly. “I wonder what Jeana has planned for dinner. I hope it’s tacos. I’d kill for some tacos,” I rambled, holding my gun out to Dean. He took it from me as I stepped past him, making my way to the door.
“Holy shit,” I heard Rourke say just before the door closed behind me.
CHAPTER 37
With a shuddering breath, I relaxed. Allowing the darkest part of myself to take the reins by suppressing everything else that made up my soul took a lot out of a girl. Sure, it made things a lot easier, definitely more enjoyable when toying with the enemy. In fact, I fucking loved every minute of it, but the aftermath…when my emotions surfaced, I became unsettled.
The meeting was over. The job Stefan had tasked me with was completed. I'd succeeded. I should have been proud or celebrating that my sexist, nefarious uncle was about to meet karma. Did he know karma is female and a bitch? I should have been laughing at the irony, but I could barely muster a smile. Dylan’s life had been spared—a mercy I hoped I wouldn’t regret. There was no changing Samuel’s fate, though. He had to die. That wasn’t my issue, but yet it was.
This betrayal was gutting Stefan. He wasn’t outwardly showing it, but I could still tell. Samuel was his brother—his twin. They had come into this world together, born with a bond—an assurance that they’d always have each other. Having walked the dark path of a Quinn alone, I was almost jealous. Even though I'd had Jamie growing up, he still was older and male. We'd learned at different stages and Stefan had had different expectations of us.
It was no wonder Samuel had been allowed to run amok for two years. There was no doubt in my soul that Stefan had sensed Samuel was up to no good from the very beginning. He’d have to have been dense not to and Stefan was anything but. Denial was a seductive asshole but now it was time for acceptance. Justice needed to be served.