Embrace the Darkness (The Maura Quinn Series Book 1) - Ashley N. Rostek Page 0,127

out you were dating that brief, Tom. The security team watching over you sent over pictures of you and him getting it on in his car along with their weekly report. It set Jameson off. Fuck, it set him off for months. Everyone could barely stand to be around him.” Louie shook his head while smiling.

“Why are you telling me about Jamie?” I was a little befuddled. I didn’t want to talk about Jamie. He and I were done. He'd hurt me. I killed people who hurt me. But I couldn’t kill him. I just couldn’t because he was…because I… My thoughts and feelings were so scrambled, I barely heard Louie speak again.

“Do you love him?” The question was a loaded one.

“Why do you want to know? It doesn’t matter anymore.” He gave me an incredulous look, which pissed me off. “Are you wanting to know for him or for yourself? I’m getting mixed signals. One moment you’re telling me you have feelings for me and the next you’re campaigning for your best friend, which, frankly, you’re wasting your breath. Whatever Jamie and I used to feel for each other doesn’t mean I have to stop living my life because it’s over.” I could really use a shot of tequila right now. Stupid Dean. “I’m flattered you have feelings for me, Louie. I wish I could return those feelings. It’s not like I’m not attracted to you. I was down to fuck last night and maybe I still am, but that’s all it can be right now. Fucking. I can’t give you more than that. All the men I’ve given more to have hurt me.”

The defeated look he was wearing by the end of my angry rant told me I'd said more than I should have. He pulled his hand from his pocket and went to reach out to me, but movement behind him caught my eye. I think it was the look on my face that made Louie drop his hand before it could reach me and turn around.

“Someone needs to buy you a fucking bell,” I snapped with a scowl. Jamie had snuck up on us again. I didn’t know how long he had been standing there. By his unreadable expression and the way he was leaning against the archway leading into the kitchen from the foyer, I’d say long enough.

He ignored me by looking to Louie. “It’s time to go.”

Louie nodded, then turned back to me. I didn’t want to talk anymore and if it was execution time, I’d take that as my excuse to bolt. Before he could say anything else, I started for the exit. My heels clacked on the tile floor with each step I took, piercing the awkward silence in the room as I passed Louie, then Jamie.

CHAPTER 38

Five black Escalades followed nose to bumper like a train traveling through the city, across the bridge towards East Haven. Our destination was the power plant that overlooked the water near the Port of New Haven. Asher drove with Dean riding shotgun while I sat in the back alone, texting Nicoli where to meet me for our exchange.

Security guards stationed at the front gate didn’t even slow our party down. Instead, they had the gate already opened for us. We drove through, passing industrial buildings with dark smoke billowing from tall pipe-shaped chimneys, until we reached a dirt road that went up to the rocky shore. The five Escalades parked next to each other facing the water. The area chosen was in the far back corner of the plant’s property hidden by tall trees. It was dark out, but slightly illuminated by the city lights coming from across the water.

Doors opened and everyone started to step out. Stefan and his personal security, who were dragging along Samuel, climbed out of the SUV next to mine. Jamie and a few of his goons were escorting Dylan in the next car. Louie and his squad were transporting three men who were part of Samuel’s inner circle, with cloth bags over their heads and their hands zip-tied behind their backs. It was the same set up with three more guys tied up in Rourke and Conor’s Escalade.

Dean hopped out and opened my door for me as I finished my conversation with the don. I scooted over the bench seat, but as I went to step out, Dean blocked my way. I arched a questioning brow at him. He reached into his coat pocket, pulling out a lighter and