The Runaway

Chapter 9.

Ryder

My whole life I've been coddled and taken care of by my Mother.  But in ways, that hadn't stopped my Father from presenting me with the realities of the world. 

I was late to lessons? I stayed the extra hour afterward.  I slacked off in training? I was beaten black and blue until I felt like I went through training. 

So when I say I'm used to Volkov's ruthlessness, having sat through and watched his torture sessions myself, I'm not lying.

Although, being tied to the chair yourself is a bit different, more alarming, more terrifying if I'm being honest.

I take a deep breath and open my eyes, the stale air immediately makes them water.  The water flow keeps going as flashes of Sawyer burrowing in on herself in pain rings throughout my head. 

The door opens with a clang a second later and my Father is stepping through, water in hand.  "Oh great, I was about to wake you up." He takes a sip of the drink.  My dry mouth and throat clench at the looks of that glass and the condensation surrounding it.  But I am not one to show my Father that I am anything less than he is. Because I'm not.

He places it down on the table beside him and the  tray on top rattles when it makes contact.  "God it stinks in here." I wrinkle my nose.

"Probably one of Alessios men we found guarding your little house, son." He practically growls.  "Do you know how fucking disappointed I am in you?" It isn't really a question, just a statement. 

I sigh, "no, please tell me more."

"Running off with your Dons daughter? You disrespectful cunt! I've done everything for you, fed you, placed a roof over your head and set up your damn future!" He slams his fist into the wall next to him.

"Wow, basic parental duties, thank you so much Dad.  I really appreciate it." I roll my eyes. 

A hard hit to the side of my face comes next and my jaw aches as I turn it back so I can look at my father. 
If one could even call him that at this point,  I want my Mom, she always made situations like this better.

"I don't like your tone." He points a finger at me, "watch it." I only narrow my eyes at him in return.

"Ah Caddels." A voice booms from the door. Volkov enters with already scuffed and bloody hands.

"He's no Caddel." My Father mutters and backs away to lean against the wall.

Volkov pulls up a chair in front of me and sits down. He leans his arms forward onto his knees and inhales a deep breath. "I don't know what to say to you Ryder."

"Then let me say something." I clench my teeth together since talking seems to be a pain with a new bruised jaw.

"Go ahead." He waves his hand carelessly and leans back into his chair.

"I love Sawyer, Volkov." I announce proudly, "I have loved her since I was 9 years old, and I tried to push those feelings away, for you, I really did. But I love her so much and I would rather betray you, then lose her.

"That's not what you want to hear, and I understand that, but I need you to understand that Sawyer was unhappy here, for many reasons. To put it bluntly, she hates it here and forcing her to come back is only going to make it worse."

"Those are your last words?" He reaches into his pocket and pulls out his pocket knife.

"If you make it that way, then I guess so." I force my chin up high. If I'm going down he isn't going to see me fucking cry.

I really badly want to though because I never got to meet our baby and I never got to say I love you to Sawyer one last time. I would never choose this way to go if all of the decisions were in my court. 

"Then so be it." He smirks and stands up. He slides the chair away and puts out his hand. "Rings." He commands to my father.

My Father doesn't even hesitate, he just grabs Volkov rings and places them into his awaiting palm. Just like he does everything else.

Volkov puts each ring on a different finger and when he's finished he lets his hand fall to his side. "I'm going to make you hurt, like you hurt me." He bares his teeth and then my head is thrown backwards with a brutal force.

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Dianna

I pound on the door with my fist, again. This is the worst day I've ever had because I feel absolutely useless. "Yes?" Luca opens the door and steps in.

"Let me see my daughter." I push at his chest to try and get him to move away from the door. "I am your god damn Mother, move."

"I really can't Mama." He leans down and kisses my forehead, "I'm sorry, I really am."

"I love you Luca, I love all of you kids more than anything in the entire world." I bring my hands up and cup his face, "I will stand by your side through thick and thin, but if it is between right and wrong, I choose right, I choose Sawyer." Tears cloud my vision.

His hand comes up to hold my hand that's rested on his cheek. "I can't lose her, she's my babysister, I need her."

"And she needs you Luca." I digress, "but you can't keep her locked up, how will she need you Luca, if nothing goes wrong, if she can't learn from her mistakes or see the world and ask you for advise."

He nods and looks down at the floor, "I just missed her so much and she's finally back again."

"She is, but now you need to do the right thing." I push his hair back off of his forehead and I go up on my tip toes to give him a kiss. "You guys will always be my babies." I squeeze his cheek, "make me proud? Please?"

He nods in response.

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Sawyer

Mother of all gods this room is boring. My protruding stomach has been making it hard for any activities, so there isn't much progress on getting out of here.

They locked the bedroom door and there's pretty much gates on the window, they said it's to keep people from coming in, but I think it's to keep me in.

I have a connecting washroom with no useful windows and the only time I see the outside hallway is when someone comes in, eventually they close the door behind them blocking it all away from me again.

I sigh and lean back against the chair stationed by the window, I can't see that much outside but my old reading nook gives me a little comfort in this hurtful position.

The door groans as it's opened behind me. A warm body envelopes my side as they get comfortable on the chair beside me. I would love some personal space right now. "Comfortable?" I turn and glower at the intruder.

Luca grins and leans forward, he pecks my cheek and throws an arm over my shoulder. "What are we looking at?"

"We are longing to go outside." I grumble and look down in my lap. The baby kicks just as I say that like he agrees.

Luca sighs and leans his cheek down on the top of my head. "I love you Sawyer." He kisses my hair.

I hum in response. If they truly loved me like they say they do, we wouldn't be in this position.