Thicker Than Blood

🧿 Chapter 2: Promise Me Insanity

Ryder's Pov

"Stop!" I snapped slamming Olexei onto the mat. He just growled and wrapped his legs around my waist before rolling us over so, now he was on top.

"Give me one reason to!" he spat punching me on my right side.

I groaned in pain before pushing him off. He flew backward, giving me enough time to get back on my feet. I set my hands and waited for him to get up.

"This is childish" I exhaled wiping my face.

"Fuck you!" he cursed running toward me. I spun to the left hoping to dodge him but, he stuck his right foot out and knocked mine from under me.

"Olexei!!!" I groaned as I fell onto my hands and knees.

"Quiet" he growled putting me into a headlock from behind.

We could match perfectly in a fight but, we each had our strengths and this is one of his. Every time he would get me like this I'd have no choice but, to tap out.

"I did nothing wrong" I squeaked as he continued to cut off my air supply.

"Ryder!" Olexei snapped obviously annoyed.

"She kissed me! I didn't kiss her back. I tried to push her off" I explained quietly as I became a little lightheaded.

"I don't believe you!" he argued letting me go. I was on my all fours coughing as a rush on air hit my lungs. Once able to breathe properly, I got up and punched him in the face.

"I told you it wasn't my fault" I gritted out. He nodded, spitting out the blood to the side and rubbing his jaw. When Olexei looked back up at me it was with his sinister smile.

"Whatever" he muttered before leaving the training room.

I wasn't going to chase after him because I knew where he was going.  Every time he was angry he went to the basement. It was where my father kept all the traitors of the family. He went down there to take his anger out on them.

Everyone thought Olexei was insane and stayed far away from him. He would always go too far with the torture. One time when he was 15 he beat a man so bad he had to be hospitalized.

"Fuck" I groaned in pain as I held the back of my head and my side.

I made my way upstairs to my room. After I showered I stood in front of the mirror and looked at the bruises on my chest. I was going to have to opt-out of football practice tomorrow. In the middle of my brushing my hair and pulling it up, I heard a door slam.

All I had on was a towel wrapped around my waist but, I was far from ashamed. Walking out my room, I went across the hall knocked on Olexei door. Of course, he didn't answer so, I rolled my eyes and entered anyway. When I stepped in, he was sitting on his bed staring out the window.

"Are you better now?" I asked but, he kept quiet.

"Olexei. I said I'm sorry. You weren't supposed to see that" I sighed.

When I was finally standing in front of him, I saw it. It wasn't the first time I saw him like this. There was blood all over him, mostly his hands. His eyes were dead, nothing there. There was no hesitation as I took his hand and pulled him into the bathroom.