Chapter 38
Gage
“He’s heavily medicated with pain meds. I have fluids running along with the blood Zane donated,” Doc explains, finally walking into the room after Les’ declaration of war.
“I cleaned the wound, packed it, and covered it up. Loretta and I will hang out for the night, and I’ll stitch him up in the morning. ”
Les rushes him, wrapping her arms around the big guy’s neck. “Thank you, Doc.”
He hugs her back. “Anytime, dear. He’s lucky. It didn’t hit anything vital but sliced him up enough to cause all the bleeding. He’ll make a full recovery.”
“When can we see him?” Les asks, wiping tears from her cheeks again.
“You can go see him now. After he rests some more, you can move him somewhere more comfortable, and the rest can visit,” Doc tells her.
She shakes her head. “His brothers need to go.”
“Nonsense,” Evander interrupts. “He would much rather see you than us.”
I shrug. “She is prettier,” I joke, trying to lighten the mood, and it’s my defense against what I’m really feeling.
Mateo chuckles. “He’s not wrong. Go on, Alessa.”
She smiles gratefully, following Doc out of the room.
I need to see Leo for myself; I need to see his face to believe he’s okay.
The moment I saw all the blood on his shirt, I knew he would die, and the overwhelming sadness that came with that surprised me.
I can’t picture life now without Leo. I don’t know how to deal with those feelings.
I came to terms with being in love with Les long ago, but I don’t know when I can tell her.
Growing up, my only love was from Luca, Les, Ryder, and even Micah.
My dad hated the very thought of me and told me every chance he got.
I don’t know what love is, but I know I love Les.
Do I love Leo? Or is it just because of what we did?
I told him that I’m all in with him, but does that mean love?
I shake my head, knowing now isn’t the time to examine those feelings.
Ryder stretches his legs out in front of him, his leg rubbing Holden's arm. Holden stiffens but shifts closer. I clamp my lips shut, so I don’t blurt out anything. I know I can make shit awkward with my comments. It isn’t in my nature to know when to shut the fuck up.
Ryder lays his arm on the back of the loveseat, laying his head back. “We’re going to war with the fucking Russians,” he says, coming to terms with it.
“Any way we can hide Leo and Holden with Les somewhere?” I ask jokingly, knowing the answer to that question. No way in hell Les will hide and let us take the heat.
Dex chuckles. “Keep dreaming. Did you see the look on her face earlier? She is more than pissed off. Viktor doesn’t know what he just did.”
He unlocked the killer that lurks just beneath the surface.
The one that commands that she kill all the rapists, molesters, and woman beaters she can find, which she hasn’t done since we all started this weird relationship.
It’s bound to come out now, ten-fold. I look at Dex, Ryder, and Holden and know they’re thinking the same thing.
“In short…he fucked up,” Ryder replies, lifting his head. “Queen Poletti just took her throne.”
Les might have been running things for a few years, but she tends to fly under the radar unless she needs to remind someone that she’s the Boss.
That’s what makes people think she’s weak.
It doesn’t make her weak; it makes her fair to let people know the rules and let them live their lives.
She doesn’t put people under her thumb; it’s what makes her the fucking Queen.
The guys and I have already discussed that it will take something like this before she comes to terms with who she is now, and watching her declare war on Viktor, that time has come.
“We already agreed to back you no matter what,” Evander says. “Viktor fucking Orlov dies.”
“I’m already running a virus through his systems to let me in,” Holden says quietly.
Ryder looks down at him. “That’s my boy.”
Holdens face goes beet red. That’s what Ryder said to him the other day with the same reaction that made me start questioning everything. Does Ryder know that means more to Holden than just praise?
“He’s asleep, but he’s going to be fine,” Les announces, walking into the room, collapsing on the couch between Ryder and me, giggling. “He’s loopy as hell. He asked if I was an angel.”
“You are an angel,” Ryder says, running his fingers lovingly through her hair.
“Of death,” Les and I say at the same time, making everyone laugh but Ryder.
He flops his head back on the couch again. “I hate that shit.”
“Don’t worry. Leo hates it too,” I joke.
I was going to my room earlier when I heard a thump coming from Les’ room.
Going in there, I never expected to find her in a heap on the floor, tears flowing down her face.
I didn’t need to ask what she whispered to Leo downstairs; the relief on his face said it all.
It doesn’t bother me, but it does make me question if she feels the same way about me or if she ever will.
“Are you sure we can’t get you something to wear?” Les asks Evander and Mateo. “You are more than welcome to stay here.”
Evander looks relieved. “Yeah. That’s fine.” He looks at Mateo and back to her. “You sure you don’t mind us staying?”
“Of course not,” she smiles softly. “He’s your brother.”
“Come on,” Ryder says, heaving himself off the couch like the night has aged him ten years. I think it’s aged us all. “I’ll find you something.”
He steps over Holden on the floor, and I can’t resist slapping his ass on the way by. I might not be sexually attracted to Ryder, but he has one of the nicest asses I’ve seen on a dude besides Leo. I narrowly miss his arm swinging back, trying to clock me in the face.
Les laughs at Ryder grumbling, walking out of the room, Evander and Mateo chuckling behind him. “One of these days, his fist is going to connect.”
I shrug. “It won’t be the first time he’s punched me in the face.”
Holden slides onto the couch, stealing Ryder’s spot. “He almost knocked you out last time.”
“He broke your nose once,” Les adds.
“Split your eyebrow,” Holden continues.
“Broke your ribs,” Les remarks.
“Okay. I get it,” I grump. “Ryder can kick my ass.”
Les laughs again, and I’m just relieved to hear the sound. She kisses me noisily on the cheek. “You fought a good fight, though.”
“No.” I jokingly push her face away. “Keep your mean lips away from me.”
She shrugs, turning to Holden and laying a kiss on his lips. “Holden doesn’t mind,” she says, and the little asshole grins.
“You fucker,” I mutter, which makes his grin widen.
Evander and Mateo walk back in dressed in more comfortable clothes.
Mateo is in a pair of what looks like my ball shorts and a faded shirt, and Evander is in an equally faded shirt and grey sweatpants.
I avert my eyes away from his cock, perfectly outlined, showing what Evander is packing.
I look at Les, and she’s trying not to look either.
It looks huge. We lock eyes and dissolve into laughter, giggling like fucking schoolgirls.
“What the hell?” Evander asks, sitting on the couch, which causes us to laugh harder.
Holden clears his throat, drawing our attention. When we look, he raises an eyebrow and then waggles them, letting us know he saw it too. Holden is a whole different person lately, thanks to Les.
Ryder steps in front of the loveseat looking between Les and me. “I’m not even going to ask.” He looks at Holden. “I leave for two seconds, and you steal my seat.”
Holden shrugs, plucks Les from her seat, flops her down in his lap, then scoots over.
Ryder drops down beside him with a laugh. “Well played.” Ryder stretches his arm across the loveseat, letting his fingers lay on Holden’s shoulder.
Les and I notice and give each other the eyes again, silently talking and then laughing again.
“What the fuck is wrong with you guys?” Dex asks.
“It must run in the family,” Les says, wiping tears from her cheeks, this time from laughter.
Dex frowns, then shakes his head, looking back at his phone.
“It was fucking huge,” Holden whispers.
“This coming from the guy with a monster cock,” I whisper back, making Les choke.
“Don’t make me separate you three,” Ryder says, shoving his hand in my face and pushing me back from Holden before laying his hand back on his shoulder.
Les widens her eyes comically, darting a glance at Ryder’s hand. “Did he just piss on Holden?” she whispers.
Holden makes a choking, laughing noise before turning blood red. “NO,” he says too loud, causing all eyes to snap to him. “No,” he whispers.
I snort. “A little late for subtly, bro.”
“I feel like you two talk without actually talking,” Mateo says, gesturing between Les and me.
“I feel like they’re a bad influence on Holden,” Ryder adds, pushing my face away again.
“Motherfucker, I will bite you,” I warn.
He leans around Les. “Really? Bite me?” I snap my teeth and then grin. “You’re fucking crazy,” Ryder says, shaking his head.
“Wait. Did you just call me a bad influence?” Les asks, catching up to the conversation just a bit too late.
“Wow, Il mio sole,” Ryder laughs. “Where was your head?”
“In Evander’s sweatpants,” I mutter quietly. Ryder’s head snaps to me with narrowed eyes. Oops. Maybe not quiet enough.
He wraps a hand around her throat and pulls her head back to look at him upside down. “Is that true?”
“I would never,” she says, clutching her chest like she’s clutching pearls.
He lays a smacking kiss on her lips. “Uh-huh,” he comments, letting her go.
She sits up and winks, making me laugh again.
“So, this whole thing really works?” Evander asks, looking between us. He seems genuinely curious.
“It’s not easy,” Les says. “You have to want it to work.”
“You guys make it look easy,” Mateo says, cocking his head to the side.
Ryder laughs. “We’re still working it out.” He looks at Les. “She’s the one who makes it work.”
Doc walks back into the room. “You can see him now.” He looks at Ryder. “You want to move him somewhere else?”
Ryder nods and follows Doc out of the room.
Almost losing Leo showed Ryder how much he really means to Les.
The only person I’ve ever seen him soft with was us; now, he is accepting Leo.
Ryder is protective of us all, and so is Dex.
I saw the worry in the big guy’s eyes too.
Leo is family; Les and I will do everything we can to make sure he stays around.
After Ryder gets him situated in his room upstairs, Evander and Mateo go to check on him.
When they return, Les stands up from the couch and gives Ryder and Holden a kiss before reaching her hand out to me and pulling me to my feet.
She also stops at Dex, kissing him before leading me up the stairs.
She gently pushes open Leo’s door, and I almost don’t walk all the way in. She tugs my hand. “He’s fine,” she reminds me.
He’s lying in the middle of the bed, pale as a ghost, a white bandage lying in stark contrast to his tan skin over the wound.
Someone slid a pair of loose ball shorts on him, and I smile, knowing it was Ryder.
We go to each side and gently slide onto the bed with him.
He doesn’t even stir, his breathing staying even.
We each grab one of his hands and lock our other hands together over his head, forming a protective bubble around him.
We almost lost him, and there’s one thing I know for sure.
Viktor Orlov fucked with the wrong person when he fucked with Leo.