Page 46 of Prince of Pain

“Good night!” I called over my shoulder, noticing Mason following quickly behind us. He was smart enough to not end up alone with my family.

Mom said something to Hunter, but I left him to deal with it, dragging Tempest and Mason into my room and locking us inside. I shoved the plate of toast at Tempest, pointing at it.

“Eat that then go to sleep.”

“I’m not hungry,” she said flatly, so I grabbed a piece off the plate and forced it into her mouth.

“Chew, swallow,” I ordered, and Mason dropped back onto my bed with a chuckle.

“You two are like an old married couple. Maybe I was wrong, and you don’t have wild sex without me, it’s missionary with some candles and wine. Am I right?”

“Wrong,” I deadpanned, forcing Tempest to take another bite despite her scowling at me. “You know how we fuck in a drunk group, you’ve seen it. It’s like that, but on our own and sober.”

“Speak for yourself,” Tempest muttered, finally taking the toast from my hand to feed herself. “My arm’s still bleeding, by the way. Mason bandaged it, but?—”

“Eat. If you haven’t bled out by now, you won’t.” I should’ve just had Hunter drop her off at her house for her father to deal with. I was tired and getting cranky.

She sat on my bed while I headed back down to the kitchen for a small first aid kit, ignoring Beckett as she made a joke about raiding the medical stash for prescription drugs. I knew that it wasn’t aimed at me, but it still stung.

Being an addict was hard, especially when no one saw you as anything else.

Tempest would never get clean with shit like that being said. I said nasty shit to her, but I was allowed to. I was an addict too, but my nasty words were supposed to make her see sense.

“Ryder,” Mom said firmly from behind me as I grabbed what I needed, and I scowled.

“Can everyone back off from me? I was already woken up once tonight, and I’m getting twitchy. I’ll be the one raiding the prescription drugs in a second,” I said bitterly, and Beckett rolled her eyes.

“Don’t be a drama queen. I wasn’t talking about you.”

“Why not? You’d be right. Can’t keep an addict out of the drugs,” I spat, and Mom gave me a stern look.

“No one’s backing you into a corner. Go deal with whatever that shit upstairs is about, and get some sleep. We’ll talk tomorrow. I mean it though, okay? I need to talk to you.”

“Yeah, whatever,” I muttered, heading back upstairs to find Tempest pawing at Mason. In his defense, he didn’t look too into it as he swatted her hands away from his boxers.

“Hands to yourself or I’ll put the hose on you,” I scolded, sitting beside them and grabbing Tempest’s wrist. “Mase, hold her.”

“Wait, what?” he asked with a frown, but Tempest rolled her eyes.

“I don’t need to be held still. I’m not a baby.”

“Have you had stitches without numbing agents before?” I asked seriously, and she shrugged.

“No, but I cut myself all the time so?—”

“It’s different, trust me. I mean it, Mase. Hold her,” I said before pulling the needle and thread out. He thankfully did as I asked him this time, and as predicted, Tempest let out a shriek when the needle first pierced her skin. Not that I could blame her, I had no idea what I was doing. “Told you.”

“That hurts like hell!”

“Good news, your depression has gone. You can feel again, what a miracle,” I said dryly, and she slapped my bare chest.

“This isn’t funny!”

“I’m very close to throwing your ass in my car and taking you home to daddy. Sit fucking still,” I snapped, annoyed when Mason kept letting her go as she fought him. “You’re useless. You have one job, dude.”

“It’s hurting her,” Mason grumbled, rubbing the back of his neck.

“What would you like me to do? Knock her ass out?” I asked, giving up when she jerked away from me again, almost tearing the damn stitch I’d already done. “This is ridiculous.” I walked to the door and opened it, calling down the hallway. “Hunter! Can you help me?”

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