Wren

Part 4

Matteo stood defensively in front of his father, who was seated behind the desk of his private office. He'd always hated being scolded. It wasn't that he thought he hadn't done anything wrong, he just pushed that thought out of his mind completely. If his father hadn't sent that kid to his room, this wouldn't have happened. 

"Have you nothing to say for yourself?" Vincenzo asked. He was incredibly mad at his son's cruelty. He knew Matteo wasn't going to be happy, but he didn't think he'd go so far as to torment the poor boy so mercilessly.

"No. I just want that worm out of my sight." 

Vincenzo frowned. "No. I've dealt with your attitude and cruelty for the past year with patience, waiting for you to get over whatever this is. But I won't put up with it any longer. I won't stand by and watch you let your life fall apart just because a woman left you. You are the future of this family; it's time you start acting like it again. If that boy is what it takes to bring back your humanity, then so be it. Hurting him won't change my mind. He is your responsibility." 

Matteo seethed in silence. "Then you will pay dearly for that decision, since you've clearly grown so attached to that little bitch."

"Don't threaten me, son. This is the decision I've made, and you will deal with it. I know you don't have it in you to hurt that boy."

"Watch me."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Meanwhile, Dace and Leo were in the floor with Wren, trying to help him recover. Dace held him while Leo tended to his wounds, (again) and tried to gently get him to snap out of his fear. But Wren had developed a fever from stress, and couldn't be calmed. 

He struggled in Dace's arms, thinking Matteo was still trying to hurt him. The strength had been drained from his body and his attempts of resistance were feeble. "Let go! Don't--don't hurt me, please! I'm sorry--I'm sorry--" He stammered, pushing weakly against Dace's chest as he held him tight.

"Wren, it's okay. No one here is hurting you." Leo placed a hand on his forehead, concerned with the heat coming off the boy. He grabbed a thermometer from his bag and tucked it under Wren's arm.

"D-don't touch--" Wren squirmed when Dace brushed hair out of Wren's face, slick with sweat. "Don't hurt me-- Too hot." Tears streamed from his hazy eyes. 

They continued to try to comfort him, but he wasn't even all the way conscious. Besides, how could they tell him that no one was trying to hurt him? He'd just been through an hour of hell, after being kidnapped and dragged from his home. That made them liars.

"Whew," Leo whistled as he pulled back the thermometer and checked it. "103. Kid's on fire!"

As if to confirm it, Wren started clawing at his shirt. "Hot," he muttered. "Too hot." 

He was panicking. He frantically clawed at his shirt, but when they tried to help him take it off, he screamed that he didn't want to be touched. Dace and Leo shared a glance, both of their hearts aching for the boy. They got the shirt off, and were shocked at the damage Matteo had done. 

Bruised ribs, scratches on the side of his belly, and 3 cigarette burns on his left shoulder. Hand shaped bruises on his arms from being pinned by multiple people throughout the night. Leo felt tears prick his eyes as he began tending to the cuts. There wasn't anything he could do for the bruises, except have someone put ice on them later. He knew Matteo was going to give the boy a hard time, but this? How could he be so heartless?

Dace was thinking the same thing. "He's just a kid, can't be over 21. Why did the Boss bring him here just to hand him over to a monster?"

"He didn't exactly bring him here. . . The kid's asshole father traded him to save his own skin."

"Debt?"

Leo nodded as he moved on to the burns, now oozing blood and puss. He winced along with Wren as he applied iodine. "2 million is what I heard. Poor kid. . . Boss said the father was abusive anyway, so it's not like the kid's not used to being hurt. I guess. Like this is any better, . ." He trailed off. 

Wren moaned in his delirium, the fever finally seeming to pull him into sleep. 

"Good. He needs rest." Leo started to pack up his supplies. "I'm anxious to get food in him, and he needs lots of water to chase away the fever, but I don't think he'll take anything right now."

Dace nodded in agreement, gingerly moving Wren from his lap and placing him back on the carpet. "I wish he could have a bed. Or at least some pillows, but Matteo will be pissed if we help the kid other than Boss's orders. And Boss wants Matteo to soften up in his own time. I just hope he doesn't kill the kid before that happens. . . If it ever will."

They knew they needed to leave before Matteo returned. They gave one last glance from across the room before closing the door behind them, leaving Wren all alone on the floor in his fever.

                            Part Five Coming Soon.

(Sorry this one was shorter, I'll have more time to write tomorrow!)