Alexei let the hot water run across his body. His father never made threats. He did not follow his words. When he told Alexei that he will bruise his entire body and inflict pain on him, Alexei knew he would. But it was almost unbearable to even move a muscle.

His father didn't spare him. It was even worse than Alexei thought. Each punch to his body was harder. He didn't stop with the bruise on his chest. He kicked, whipped him with a belt, and to finish it off he had his trusted man send Alexei to a deep sleep with a punch so hard he thought he lost a tooth before dropping him off at his house almost unrecognizable.

Boris practically carried him inside. Alexei rests his head on the wall tile as he closes his eyes. The hot water burns his bruises causing him to wince. And yet, the only thing that can take his mind off everything was Mercedes. He texted her this morning but she didn't reply. She was angry at him and he knows it.

He probably had her up all night waiting for at least a text but she didn't get anything until eleven o'clock in the morning. He felt bad but he couldn't tell her that his father beat him like a stranger on a street. Boris knocks on the door. Alexei let out a shaky breath as water dripped down from his body.

"What the fuck do you want?" Alexei asks in his native tongue with no energy to even get annoyed.

"Mercedes is here."

Alexei squeezes his eyes shut. He curses under his breath as he hears Boris walk away. Turning off the water, he limps out of the shower. Grabbing the robe from the rack, he wraps it around his body but he sees no point in it. The bruises on his face were the one thing he couldn't hide from her.

He opens the door. The first thing he hears is Mercedes's voice as she throws a pillow at his face.

"I can't believe you had me up all oh my god Alexei." Mercedes gasp as she runs over to him.

She looks up at him with concern and worries as her eyes examine him. Alexei looks down at her with shame. He sees the sadness in her eyes which he never wanted to see.

"Alexei what happened-"

He cut her off as he wraps his arms around her body. Even in pain, he still found warmth and comfort from her. Mercedes didn't mind his wet hair dripping on her. Instead, she wraps her arms around him as he closes his eyes.

"I'm sorry." He whispers.

Mercedes gently rub her hands up and down his back. "Who hurt you?" She asks him.

He let out a deep sigh. "Don't worry about it."

"Alexei-"

"Mercedes please," he pauses as his hands go down to her hips. "Just stay with me." He says keeping her close.

❍

Mercedes place the ointment carefully on his bruises. He was going to do it himself but she was stubborn. All she wanted was for him to rest and stay in bed all day if he had to. But after looking at each bruise she found it hard to even look at some.

Regardless, she still did it. Mercedes gently rubs it on as Alexei's eyes flutter. His finger twirls a stray piece of hair out of her bun around his finger. She clears her throat as she wipes her hand with a napkin.

"Alexei, w-what do you do for a living?" She asks him.

As those words leave her lips, he becomes stiff. Frozen as he stops twirling her hair. He looks up at her, her fingers fiddled together with determination in her eyes. He glances back down looking at the bed.

"I told you already. I'm in the business field, sole proprietorship." He tells her as he drops his finger from her hair.

"What's it called-"

"Why are you asking me these questions?" He asks her cutting her off. His eyes snap to her.

Mercedes bites her bottom lip. "B-because I want t-to-"

"Why are you stuttering?"

"Because I'm scared, Alexei." She snaps at him.

His eyes darken. "Why? I'm telling you what I do?"

"You're lying." She says as tears form in her eyes.

His jaw clenches as he sits up. He never got angry at Mercedes before. But for this one reason, she was now getting under his skin with all these questions. He was somewhat telling her the truth. He had his own business, if it was legal or not, was another story.

"I'm not lying to you."

"What business can you possibly own that keeps you out in the middle of the night? Alexei, you're covered in bruises and I saw blood on your clothes the other night when you came in."

"Mercedes-"

"And you have a gun hidden in your closet." She says as tears fall from her eyes.

"You were going through my stuff?" He asks with anger running through his veins.

"Alexei just-"

"Why the fuck were you in my shit Mercedes?" He asks in his thick accent.

"Does it matter Alexei!" She shouts as she stands up from the bed, more tears spilling from her eyes.

"Yes! It fucking matters!" He shouts as he looks up at her. "You don't fucking trust me? When have I ever done anything to you that made you go through my fucking things? What did I ever say to make you second guess our relationship?" He asks booming his voice.

"You've been sneaky Alexei. Whenever Boris is around you two speak in another language because it's just business. Other men, you talk to don't look like businessmen Alexei. They barely wear a suit if anything they look like crooks-"

"I'm sorry Mercedes that I don't tell you fucking thing in my life. Want to know what I did this morning? I woke up, piss, ate, and went in the shower which was interrupted because you came here and for the past fucking hour all I wanted was for you to lay beside me and shut the fuck up. Instead, you want to open your fucking mouth and get on my fucking nerves with your fucking whining!" He shouts at her.

Mercedes wipe her tears as a sob escape her lips. Alexei squeezes his eyes shut as he pinches the bridge of his nose. Immediately he regrets losing his temper and wishes he could take back what she said.

"Fuck Mercedes, I didn't mean-"

"Bye Alexei." She says with her voice cracking as she walks to the door.

"Mercedes, dekta I'm sorry." He says as gets out of bed as fast as he could.

It was too late as she slam the door shut, probably rushing down the stairs. Alexei groans in pain as he sits down on the bed. He heartbreaking as he slams his palm on his forehead.

"Fuck!"