A Hunger to Share ( Book Two )

chapter 34

Artyom  

He stood there, and watched Mathias leave. Blood roaring in his ears, Artyom walked to his desk, and stared blindly at the surface. His hands were shaking.

He couldn't get Thomas's bloody corpse out of his head. It kept changing to James and Vadik and back to James.

Artyom shoved everything off. Papers, pens, and his laptop went flying. The only thing that remained on the desk was a picture of James he had taken in Hungary.

He had let Mathias walk away again, too weak to protect James against the Twins's vicious vengence should anything happen to Mathias. Artyom couldn't live with himself if Mathias got his hands on James, or if something happened to Ada and their baby because of him.

Had he really doomed James to a future of suffering and death? If he'd taken the deal James would have been ruined with guilt and grief.

Shouting in frustration, and anger, Artyom punched his fist through the wooden wall. He kept doing it untill pain was the only thing he could think about. It still wasn't enough. He kept going until he couldn't feel his hands anymore.

"Stop."

Artyom heard Hans's voice from miles away, but he couldn't. He didn't want to. He was useless and he was going to lose James. He was going to suffer because of him and there was nothing Artyom could do...

"I said stop." Hans grabbed both of his wrists wih one hand and grabbed Artyom's chin with the other, forcing Artyom to look at him, fingers digging into his skin. "Tell me what happened. Is James Ok?"

"Let go of me." Artyom shouted in his face, trying to shake him off. He wanted to be alone, and self-destruct.

"Not untill you tell me what happened."

"Hans don't make me hit you..."

"Tell me, or I will wait here for a week if I have to. You know I will." He stared at Artyom with calm grey green eyes, daring his friend to doubt him.

Artyom sighed and pressed his forehead agains Hans's shoulder. "Mathias was here."

"That son of a fucking bitch. Next time he shows up, you tell me, and I'll kill the disgusting leech myself." He let go of Artyom's hands, eyes a raging storm.

Hans knew about everything that had happened with Mathias. It had taken Artyom some time to open up, but he was glad because in times like this Artyom could count on his bestfriend to calm him down.

"He won't come back." Artyom mumbled tiredly.

"I'll find him myself..."

"Hans I'm so fucking scared. I don't know what to do." Artyom confessed, shoulders slumping in defeat.

"What has the fucker done now?"

"He wants Ada. He threatened James again and I...I can't protect him. What am I supposed to do Hans? Tell me what I'm supposed to do." Artyom was crying.

"Shshsh come here." Hans walked Artyom to the couch in the corner of the office, and sat him down, then caged him between his arms, and rubbed Artyom's back soothingly. "You're not going to lose him brother."

"You don't know that." Artyom managed with a shaky voice, fingers burried in Hans's shirt.

"I know you'll do your best.."

Artyom didn't care about the stinging pain of his split open knuckles, he just needed to hold on to Hans, to know he was there. "Do you think I should break up with him?"

"Do you think that would stop any of those psychos? James is still Ada's friend, the father of her child. They'll still try to use him to hurt her."

Artyom cried harder. "You're right... Even thinking about breaking up with him makes me lose my mind."

"Listen to me Artyom. Take James to Adrian's. That's the safest place there is. You know that."

"What if he doesn't want to go?" Artyom wiped at his face only for more tears to run down his cheeks. "And for how long? We can't stay there forever."

"I'll drag his ass there myself if I have to. I don't know for how long, but it's definitely better than the alternative. We'll figure it out."

Artyom sniffed. "You're right. Thank you."

Hans drew back, and held Artyom's face in his hands. "Do you want me to drive you to James's cabin, so you can make sweet love to him and forget about that fucker?"

Artyom nodded. "I would appriciate it."

"Then move that sexy ass. You have a long vacation to pack for."

"What about the club?"

"I'll take good care of our pride and joy untill you get back."

"You're the best."

"I know." Hans flashed him a smile, and hauled Artyom up to his feet.