“How?”
“I should have gone after him sooner.”
Lucas shook his head. “No one would have seen this coming.”
“I could have. If I had come to him sooner.”
“Don’t blame yourself. West won’t want that.”
It was too late. Even so, I would do everything in my power to make it up to him.
“Do you—” I shook my head. “Never mind.”
“No, you can ask or tell me anything.”
I glanced down at him. Both Kylo and Lucas were good friends for West. No, they were more than that; they were his family. With the amount of time I had been around them, I could see the love they had for one another. I was glad West had that.
But I wanted to give him more.
I wanted to give him what Lucas had with Wreck or Kylo with Saint.
And, of course, I wanted that to come from me and no other.
“West has spoken of me?”
“Yes.”
“So you know I was a client?”
“Yes.”
“Would he want me to be around?”
He paused and bit his bottom lip in thought. Lucas would know what West thought about me. He would also know if deep down West wanted me.
When he nodded, I let out a heavy relieved breath. The gaping hole in my chest filled a little. “Good.” Because nothing West could say would have me leaving him again. In some eyes, it might seem too soon for something between us. Nevertheless, I knew we had something special we could build on.
“I’ll be back soon,” Lucas said.
“Take your time. You know I will be fine here, and I will call if he needs anything medical.”
“I know.” He smiled, but it did not reach his eyes. I understood. Trauma took a lot from a person. He patted my arm before he walked out of the room.
There was an armchair in the corner of the room near the door with a few clothes. I removed the clothes, picked up the chair, and placed it next to the bed. When I accidentally landed it down a little heavy, I cringed and looked at West. Mercifully, he did not wake. What helped would be the drugs Lucas had a man from the brotherhood retrieve from the hospital—a call he made on the drive back to the house. Lucas had also set up fluids to help counter the damage the vinegar had done.
I closed my eyes, once more wishing I had not let the rage take me over when I saw West chained to the floor. If the father was alive, I would enjoy delivering pain to him slowly, like I would the mother.
My eyes flashed open when West moaned. His brows drew down in his sleep; his breathing grew ragged. I knew a nightmare had taken him. Resting my chest to the edge of the mattress, I placed a folded arm on the bed, leaning onto it. I used my free hand to softly run over his sweat-beaded forehead. “I am here, moya lyubov’. No one has you. Sleep peacefully. I will stay here at your side to watch over.”
Eventually, the tension eased from him, but I did not stop running my fingers through his hair. I dropped my head to rest on my arm. Lucas had gently washed his face while West had been passed out. His lips were redder than usual, and Lucas had told me inside West’s mouth was the same. Irritated from the vinegar.
When West shivered, I pulled the sheet up and over his bandaged back. The sight of him kneeling on the floor swept through my mind, and I thinned my lips to keep the growl at bay. His wrist was also bandaged; his knees were covered in gauze pads protecting the deep scrapes. Bruises showed on his ribs, and the tops of his feet were grazed.
All of it told us he had tried to fight.
He would have been scared out of his mind. Traumatized to see these actions coming from his parents.
No, my West had done nothing to warrant what happened.
I would do everything in my power to make sure he lived his life in happiness and love.
A soft knock sounded on the door. I straightened, placing my fingers on the end of his to make sure West knew subconsciously someone was there with him. “Da?”
It opened, and Dimitri entered, closing it quietly after himself. His averted gaze told me something was wrong. “What?” I barked and quickly glanced down to West. He stirred a little. Glaring over at my friend, I rested a finger to my lips. Dimitri nodded and shifted closer.
“Your parents are here.”
I clenched my jaw. “Why?” I demanded in a harsh but quiet tone.
“Once I told them, they wanted to be here for you and West.” He winced.
I whispered in a hissed low voice, “I do not need them—”
“Adrik,” Dimitri clipped quietly. He took a step closer. “You know how convincing your father is, but most of all, your mother. She cried, Adrik. Cried once I told her what happened to West.”
Fuck.
I should have anticipated it. My mother had the biggest heart out of anyone in the family. It was how father had softened, somewhat, over the years.
Another soft knock sounded. I lifted my chin toward the door, and Dimitri stepped back to open it. Lucas walked in, his hands in front of him rubbing together in nervousness.
“So… um… you might want to get out there. The brothers haven’t taken too kindly to having the Russian mafia boss in the house.”
“Fuck me,” I cursed and glanced down to West.
“I’ll stay with West, of course,” Lucas said.
“I am sorry for this,” I told Lucas as I stood.
“You can’t help who your parents are.” He smiled. “Wait until you meet mine. They’re a bit overbearing.” He winced. “But probably nothing like what a mob boss is… or what West’s were like… and I’ll shut up now.” West and Lucas were similar in some ways with talking when nervous. I could tell why Wreck was taken with him.
“I will not take long.”
“Okay.”
With Dimitri at my back, I walked through the house until I rounded the corner to the living room. There I stopped and took in the situation. My parents sat on the couch. Papa had his arm around Mama’s shoulders as they leaned back into the seat. Papa was smirking at the men who stood around the room with their arms crossed, watching them.
Kylo was the only person who didn’t seem concerned that my parents were here. He walked into the room with a tray of drinks and set them on the coffee table. He was handing one to my father when he noticed me.
“Here he is.” He offered a tired smile.
“Adrik,” Mama called. She stood and strode to me. I brought her into my arms for an embrace. “I’m so sorry for West.”
I ran a hand up and down her back. “I know, Mama.”
Papa stood, and everyone tensed. Their reaction did not surprise me. My father was well known. The stories of him killing men in seconds had spread over the world.
“Adrik, is there anything we can do?” Papa asked.
In Russian, I explained, “No, not at the moment. He is resting, and I will stay here with him. I appreciate your concern, but there is nothing you can do.” Mama pulled back to listen to us. I curled an arm around her shoulders.
“Those who did this to him, they have been dealt with?” Papa asked.
“I killed the man, but the other is still breathing. For now.”
“Let me know if you need assistance. I would like to get my hands on a parent who would do this to their own child.”
“I would also like to spend some time with her,” Mama spat.