Embrace the Darkness (The Maura Quinn Series Book 1) - Ashley N. Rostek Page 0,22

of rage and started pacing. There had to be a better way to handle all this. I paced and paced some more, until I came to a decision. I was going to get revenge myself. I wasn’t going to roll over and allow men to take control. I wasn’t a weak female.

I quietly started going through Jamie’s drawers and closet looking for things I’d need. I found a loaded pistol in his nightstand, a pretty sick switchblade in his dresser, handcuffs and zip ties in a bag in his closet. I put everything in the bag before creeping out into the living room.

Jamie was in a deep sleep. I could tell by his even breathing and soft little snore. Moving as quietly as I could, I collected my shoes and scooped up his car keys from the coffee table. I spotted his phone and grabbed that, too. I didn’t want him calling Stefan the moment he noticed I was gone.

I backed up slowly, never taking my eyes off him until I reached the front door. I turned the deadbolt to unlock it and twisted the knob all the way before I pulled open the door. The door made a little whoosh noise when it opened. I cringed but Jamie was still sound asleep, none the wiser. I slipped out into the breaking dawn and closed the door most of the way, but not all the way because I was too afraid I’d wake him.

I didn’t take a deep breath until I put his car in reverse and I pulled onto the main road.

It was evening when I parked Jamie’s car in front of my house. Everyone was there. I didn’t know if it was because I'd been missing all day or because of Stefan’s weekly family meeting. Only one way to find out.

I walked into the house and was immediately intercepted by Brody, looking ready to strangle me. “Where have you been, young lady?” he roared, until he noticed my beaten face. His eyes widened. “My God, Maura! What happened?” He went to touch me, but I flinched away, stepping backward. His hand jerked back at my reaction.

“Where’s Stefan?” I asked.

“He’s in his meeting.”

That was all I needed to hear. Nothing more was said between us because I was already walking in the direction of the enclosed secret room known as the chamber, located in the center of the house.

I passed the guards in the hall with my head held high. I got a few double takes from them, but no one uttered a word to me as I entered the chamber without knocking. Everyone stopped talking abruptly as heads turned my way. My eyes landed immediately on Stefan sitting at the head of the table at the other end of the room. He was surprised to see me and even more so when he noticed my face.

“What the hell happened?” He jumped to his feet.

Before he could step away from his chair, I walked further into the room and pulled out the empty chair at the opposite end of the table, where my grandfather had sat when Stefan had first taken over. I silently took a seat, refusing to wince as everything sore smarted. My eyes shifted to Jamie, who was sitting to the left of Stefan, in his late father’s chair. He was pissed, eyes filled with scathing rage as they bored into mine.

I pulled his pistol from the big front pocket of his hoodie I still wore and I placed the gun on the table in front of me. I purposely avoided looking at anyone else as I watched Stefan stare at the gun before looking back at me.

“Last night I went to a party with Becca. When I went upstairs to use the bathroom, two guys from my school shoved their way into the room, cornered me, and raped me.”

The room echoed with gasps and heads turned to look to Stefan. Without removing his eyes from mine, he slowly sat back down in his chair.

“I fought but it wasn’t enough. They outnumbered me. They were jocks, they were a lot stronger. After it was done, I told Brody I was going to spend the night at Becca’s place, but I didn’t. I spent most of the night pulling myself together until I decided to break into Jamie’s condo. He wasn’t there. Probably out with Louie again. I took some of his clothes to replace mine that were ripped and borrowed his gun, along with a few