In the Hands of the Mafia

Damsel in distress

       "Girlfriend?" I raised my brow to Luke who simply just smirked.
        "You saw the way they were looking at you. Those weren't eyes of someone just being friendly with their waitress. Plus are we both going to pretend we didn't see the snarl Ryder got when they hit on you."  Luke smirked again and I bit my tongue. He was lying which made me question if those were the people I had to convince because if so another man screaming at me about being a whore? Not a great start.
       "Are you okay?" Luke questioned changing the topic and I sighed.
       "I will be, can I say the same about Jackson?" I questioned and Luke let out a laugh.
"Amelia, caring about your ex, while your boyfriend is saving you from him isn't the best look". This caused me to let out a laugh.
"Oh Luke I'm afraid there has been some confusion. I don't give a damn if Jackson will be okay. I give a damn that Ryder isn't make poor choices inside right now." Luke raised his brow and I continued. "Something about the harsh tone and telling me to go to you and you rushing me out of there?" I started and his eyes widened. "Tells me that maybe Ryders reaction isn't going to be great. I swear if I have to patch him up again" I rolled my eyes causing Luke to laugh.
"What was that about" Nate questioned joining us and I sighed.
"Just Jackson and some work buddies..." I shrugged and Nate gave me a look.
"Work buddies" he raised his brow and I sighed.
"I guess?" I questioned sighing. "Look I don't know he did his best to keep me separate from work." I paused when my cell phone rang.
          "Hey Sheila." I answered and I could hear the anxiety radiating off of her.
           "Why did Ed just call me to let me know that I should probably check on you" she questioned and I sighed.
           "Long story.... Meet me at my apartment?" I questioned and she hummed in agreement before hanging up. "Can one of you give me a ride to my apartment?" I asked remembering my keys were inside with everything else. The two shared a look and I sighed calling Sheila back.
             "Hey Sheila, change of plans babes, can you pick me up here?"
            "Of course I'm only like 5 away." She confirmed.
           "Thank you see you in a few." I hung up the phone turning back to Luke and Nate.
            "Ryders not gonna like that you left" Nate warned and I shrugged.
            "Then he can pick up the phone and text me about it" I shrugged making a jab at the fact that he ignored me all day. "Shouldn't you be getting back into that important business meeting." I raised a brow and Nate sighed.
             "Amelia..." he started but was cut off by headlights pulling into the lot and I smiled at them before turning towards Sheila.
           "Have a nice night" I waved to the two of them before opening the door and climbing into Sheila's car.
            "What the HECK is going on" she questioned the second my door was shut and I could feel myself finally breathe.
           "Jackson happened..." Shelia wasn't looking at me but I could see her tense up. 
          "What do you mean Jackson happened...." She probed and I sighed.
          "I was an anxious mess at home so I came into work early. Decided it was better than just sitting around." Sheila hummed that she was following along.  "And when I got there Ed let me know there was a table in the back that I could take over and he winked. I should have put two and two together.... I never told them that him and I broke up or anything that happened." I sighed realizing that I should have realized that it was Jackson... or maybe I should have told them what happened. 
            "That's not your fault nor is it his fault Amelia...." Sheila reminded me and I sighed. She was right and I knew she was but I was frustrated that I hadn't at least realized it.
            "Well sure enough when I walked back there it was Jackson... and some of his work buddies?" I questioned. "At least I think they were." I huffed in annoyance. "They had clearly already had a round or two of drinks and ordered another one and then another one and another. Then they were drunk and asking about how Jackson "landed" me. And I had enough of trying to protect him and saving face." I shrugged.
         "Hold up. Jackson was pretending you were still together?" Sheila interrupted and I could tell from her tone she was appalled.
        "Yup calling me sweetheart and everything. So when he told me I was over reacting I sorta blew up and asked if that's what he called it when I walked out because I caught him fucking another girl. Sheila you should have seen his reaction. It was PRICELESS." I paused remembering the way his face contorted when I had mentioned it.
          "Good, fucking prick deserved to be called out." Sheila spoke pulling into the parking lot of my building and we got up making our way to my apartment. 
           "he did but I think that his coworkers must have said something." I started back up as we entered my apartment. I made my way to the kitchen to grab water while Sheila found a spot on my couch and I joined her a few seconds later. "Because the second I got to the bar Jackson was there and he shoved me to turn me around and started yelling at me."  Shelia's eyes widened.
It was then that the emotions from the night had clearly sunk in and my adrenaline had warn off because the tears began to fall freely. I felt Sheila's arms wrap around me as I began to sob into her.

I woke up a few hours later on the couch to hushed voices.
"She's been out for about an hour or two..." Sheila paused. "Did he do anything else to her...." She questioned and I could hear the concern in her voice.
"I wasn't aware he did anything to her... what do you mean anything else." It took me a few seconds to register that it was Ryders voice.
"Her wrist...." Sheila spoke and I panicked glance down to my wrist. Sure enough it was already black and blue. Before I could attempt to let them know I was awake or hide my wrist Ryder stood above me looking down at me.
"Let me see it princess." He spoke and I took a few seconds to let my eyes wash over him. He was still wearing the same outfit from the bar, I didn't see any cuts scrapes or bruising on him so maybe he hadn't gotten into a fight.... Reluctantly I held out my hand to him and his eyes darkened. "That fucking asshole... does it hurt?"
"Not really...." I lied and he squinted at me.
"Sheila can you grab me an ice pack from the freezer please and a towel." He called and I heard her mutter a yes. "We can talk more when she leaves." His eyes met mine as he stood back up before pulling out his phone and shooting off a text.
"Here." Sheila spoke handing the ice pack and towel to me. "I'm going to head home. Something tells me that your Prince Charming here has you." She clearly was catching onto the tension and I rolled my eyes but shot her a smile.
"Are you calling me a damsel in distress?" I teased and Sheila shot me a grin. "I'm not a damsel in distress" I argued
"Really because I always seem to be saving you" Ryder joked joining us again and I blushed. "Sheila it's late... you shouldn't drive across town" Ryder spoke turning towards her. "If you're comfortable with-it Luke and Nate have an extra bedroom.... They said it's fine if you want to stay there." My eyes widened.
"She can just stay in my guest room." I interrupted reminding both of them I had a second room but Ryder just shot me a look.
"I doubt that she would want to share a bed with me." He spoke matter of factly and my brow raised.
"Ryder I'll be fine and you have an apartment upstairs." I reminded him and he shook his head.
"And I can stay there tomorrow but tonight I'm staying here." Him and Sheila shared a look and my stomach sank.
"Amelia babes I think maybe you should let him...." She sent an apologetic look my way before turning to Ryder. "You sure they don't mind if I stay?" She asked and Ryder shook his head.
"Out to the left 3rd door on the right." Ryder sent her a reassuring look. "And you can tell them they're fine to come by now." Based on Sheila's reaction I realized that I was missing something. She left quickly sending a wave my way and I froze.
"What did you kill him and need help hiding the body or something?" I joked and Ryder froze. Shit shit shit. I realized that maybe Sheila was right I didn't know Ryder and for all I know he could be some serial killer.