We got to the garage after Alexi sent Creed a message asking if he was free to join us. He had politely declined because he was busy with some work he couldn’t skip out on. Alexi and I got into his car, and he hit the garage button. Getting into his car had been a massive undertaking since it was so low to the ground, but I managed it. Alexi turned on the heated seat for me before he pulled out of the garage.

“I brought a few pain pills, from when Creed had the gunshot wound. There is a case of water that we keep in the trunk, just let me know if you need a pill and some water.”

“Thank you. I appreciate that. I’ll let you know if I need anything.”

The guards at the gate stopped Alexi when he tried to leave. They just wanted to know approximately when he would be back because they were going to grate the gravel in the driveway and didn’t want to be an inconvenience to him. I was worried they were going to stop him and not allow him to take me because he wasn’t Ryer.

I let out a breath of relief when we were on the open road.

“I thought they were stopping you because of me.”

“Honestly, I thought the same for a moment.”

“Why only a moment?”

“I remembered that Ryer is only a righthand, he is not my boss or fellow underboss.”

The urge to tell him that he could tell Maddox about this lingered on my tongue but I didn’t say it. I wasn’t going to ruin this trip out. I was going to have a few hours without Ryer to address my own issues. One of them being I was livid about not being able to do things for myself and I needed him for a babysitter. I was sure a few hours away would do us both good. But I was sure he was going to freak out once he realized I left and didn’t say a word to him.

“You know Ryer is going to be upset about this,” Alexi said, breaking the silence in the car.

“One, you suggested this too late to think about that now, also I need this. I’ve already punched him once since I’ve been back.”

“Sasha.”

“He makes me so angry. I just want to hit him. I can’t help it.”

“Sasha you can’t just go hitting him.”

“I know this, Alexi. It’s not like I enjoy hitting him. With the way he was before I was injured, being all touchy with me too, and my own anger of not being able to care for myself it’s just making me ugly. I feel useless.”

“I understand Sasha, trust me.”

“After I hit him, and bust his lip. He was still more worried about me than himself and I feel guilty. I just want to make him angry and annoyed with me.”

“You want to bother him for all the times he bothered you?”

“Exactly, What better options do I have? I’m not allowed to work for six months at the soonest he says.”

The feeling of my phone buzzing had me groaning. It didn’t take a ticket scientist to know that the unknown number that was calling was most likely Ryer. I hit the power button on the side of my phone when pulled it out to dismiss the call. Alexi looked at my phone screen before he pulled out his own phone setting it in the dashboard.

Six times I dismissed his call before he called Alexi. I wanted to tell him not to answer it but he did.

“Ryer.”

“Alexi.”

“What the hell do you want.”

“Sasha.”

“What about him?”

“He can hear me yes?”

“Depends on your choice of words.”

“Right, Sasha when you come back, which you will. We are going to have a long conversation about what our plans from here forwards are going to be.”

He didn’t even say goodbye as he hung up the phone. Alexi just shook his head, muttering under his breath.

“Alexi, I’m sorry.”

“Hey, Sasha. No worries. Ryer is just Ryer.”

“I don’t understand why he picked me to want to fuck and even after this long he hasn’t dropped his want. He knows I’m not interested and yet he still tries.”

“Has he tried anything well you are injured?”

“No.”

“That’s good.”

“You are going to get in trouble because of me.”

“That’s fine. It’s hardly the first time I’ve been in trouble for my choices.”

We just ended up driving around for a few hours in the snow. We stopped and got a good burger and I took two of the pills he brought. He took it slow and, we just talked the rest of the way back. Pulling back down the road towards the complex, I sighed.

“Sasha, just try to get along with him. It will make everything easier.”

“I will try. Since my current approach isn’t getting me shit but in trouble.”

The pills Alexi gave me were a higher dosage than the ones I had currently, but they took all the pain away. Even the small twitches of pain I got. Alexi pulled into the garage and I didn’t miss the look we got when we passed by Andrei. He gave us a disapproving frown.

“Alexi, Come here. Sasha, go ahead Ryer is looking for you.”

I let out the loudest sigh I was capable of making.

“Go ahead Sasha, I’ll text you later,” Alexi said giving me a light push forward.

I walked inside, limping only slightly. The downside was, I honestly felt pretty high. I passed by all kinds of henchmen who seemed to be doing all kinds of different tasks. Creed passed me as well, giving me a slight nod. I made it to Ryer’s section, and the door was locked. I lightly knocked, but there was no answer. I sighed deeply again. I didn’t know who else would have access to Ryer’s.

Shaking off some of the high I had from the pills, I grabbed my phone and held it to the lock. Shockingly, I heard the lock flip, and I was able to get inside. I headed inside and closed the door softly. I toed my boots off and sent Alexi a text letting him know I would bring his clothing back when I had a free moment.

The lights were on, but dim, and you could tell Ryer wasn’t here. I wondered if he had gone back to work when I took off with Alexi, but I wouldn't know unless I called or texted him. I took a moment to save his number on my phone under the name ‘Ryerson Kelly’. I sat on the couch and waited for an hour for him to come back to his section. For someone who wanted to talk when I got back, He was talking his sweet time.

At some point, I just passed out on the couch from the pain medication. Something crashing on the floor startled me. I got off the couch, my heart thundering in my chest. Andrei was standing there, A trashed Ryer hung from around him, and a very pissed off looking Lukas. I blinked a few times, before looking at the stove and then at my watch to confirm it was indeed four in the morning.

“Don’t even fucking ask what the hell is going on.” Andrei snapped angrily, taking Ryer to his bedroom and tossing him into the bed. Lukas pitched the bridge of his nose.

“Don’t worry about Andrei he isn’t pissed with you.”

“What the hell is going on?”

“Ryer and Andrei were working a job at the club tonight. Andrei allowed him to have a couple of drinks since I stressed him out. He had a few more than he needed. Andrei had to hunt him down before he went home with someone. I am awake because I had to help Andrei clean puke from our truck and himself, well making sure up-chuck in there summoned nothing else or runoff.”

“Ugh. This is my fault.” I groaned. This was all because of me.

Andrei left the bedroom. Closing the door almost all the way.

“If you're going to be up, keep an eye on him. If not, let him choke on his puke. It will fucking teach him.” Andrei said, leaving.

“I’ll text you later. Sorry for startling you.” Lukas said, before following Andrei out.

I limped to the bedroom door and peeked inside. Ryer laying face down on the bed except his head was hanging over the side of the bed and it honestly couldn’t be comfortable. The pain I had at this moment, was manageable so I took no more pain pills. Besides, If I took more I might fall asleep, and I didn’t want to well he was like this. Sure he did not thrill me, but I also didn’t want him dead.

I sat back down on the couch in the dark and listened to him all night, getting up and checking on him several times. I did this until about ten am when he woke up. I was just checking on him when opened the door and he glared at me. His words were bitter.

“Get the fuck out of my way.”

I said nothing, just stepped aside. He nearly knocked me down as he walked or more like stomped to the kitchen. He was hungover; I watched him pop a regular pain pill before swallowing down a glass of water.

I limped off to the guest bedroom. I could finally sleep now.