Page 43 of Working Out West

“Nyet, you are not.”

State shook his head and made his way out of the room. We all heard the monster upstairs scream out in pain.

I moved the water bottle aside; someone must have gotten him a drink. “West, it’s Lucas. I’m going to put some cream on your back and wrap it up. I’ll take a better look when we get you home.”

He hummed under his breath. First, I checked his vitals. He had a steady heartbeat, but I could see he was dehydrated. Gently, I opened his mouth and paused. I let go of his jaw and asked, “West, did they pour something in your mouth?” It was red, so fucking red in there.

“Vinegar.”

Adrik tensed, and our gazes met.

“Purge the sins away,” West whispered.

Tears filled my eyes, but I blinked them away. Someone groaned. I glanced to see Kylo turned into Saint, with his head buried into Saint’s chest. His body shook, crying silently. Saint’s own eyes were wet. As was everyone’s.

I brushed West’s cheek with the back of my fingers. “My amazing friend, there were no sins to purge. There was nothing wrong with you.Theywere wrong.” I picked up the pills and dropped three out. “Help him sit a little to take these,” I said. Adrik did. “West, these are pain pills. You’ll need to swallow them, sorry. I know it’ll hurt, but they’ll help a little.”

He nodded and winced. Blinking again and again, he shook his head. “Tired.”

“I know. You can keep your eyes closed, but you have to take these. Open your mouth for me.” He did. I placed the pills in and helped him drink. He cringed when they slid down. I glanced to Country. “When I have him bandaged, we’ll need to move him right away. Get him home, and I’ll go to the hospital for things.”

Country nodded. “We’re set to go when you are. There’ll be no witnesses. The other brothers will stay. They know what to do.”

I went to work, and even though I hated myself for hurting him more, it had to get done. I had to keep going through his whimpers, his cries, and his begging for me to stop. By the end of it, he passed out.

“West,” Adrik called, panicked.

I rested my hand on his arm. “It’s okay. He’s just unconscious. His mind is protecting itself.”

His jaw clenched, but he nodded.

Looking to Wade, I ordered, “Find something we can use as a stretcher.” Wade walked from the basement without a question. “We have to be very careful when we move him.”

“Da,”

“Adrik, what do you want me to do?” Dimitri asked.

“Go to my parents. Tell them I won’t be home. Tell them what happened.”

Dimitri’s lips thinned. “Do they—”

“They know. Take the men outside with you.”

Dimitri nodded and left.

“You can go too—” Country started to say to Adrik.

“Do not say another fucking word,” Adrik snarled. “I do not leave West’s side.”

“Don’t!” The word came from me. Country’s eyes were already on me when I looked up. “Adrik needs to stay.”

“I agree,” Kylo stated.

Country tipped his chin up. “Okay then.”

“I killed the father too quickly,” Adrik muttered, more to himself maybe. “He should have suffered for what they have done.”

“He’s burning in hell for it right now,” Saint said.

---