Headed Down the Wrong Road

Ryan nodded, "you should be fine as long as you do that." He said as he rubbed the back of his neck. He began to eat, not talking for awhile. "Is that all thay happened today?" He asked.

----

Lennox walked with Ryan then got changed and brushed her teeth. She looked at Ryan, "Thank you." She whispered. Lennox looked up at him and then looked away. She sat on the bed, looking up at him.

@ varkatzas.

Paige ate the side salad that she had portioned for herself and only two bites of the chicken before she decided she was full. She didn't get to eat a lot so when she did, she only ate small portions. At the question, Paige hesitated. She had broken the measuring cup but she had cleaned it up... she didn't need to tell him, right? Paige forced a smile to her face and shook her head, "nothing else happened," she answered quietly.

---

"Stay away from your father for the rest of the night," Ryan grunted, turning to leave the room once she was settled into the bed. He had no desire to argue with her and knew full well that he had to deal with Leo because the man was sure to be angry with how he had snapped at him.

Ryan finished his food, "Im going to lay down." He said. He walked up to the bedroom and laid down. He knew it would be awhile til she cleaned up everything.

----

Leo frowned as he walked down, "Who the hell do you think you are?" He snapped as he grabbed a hold of Ryan. "You dont tell me what to do." He said as he began to beat Ryan. He kicked the boy while he was on the ground. "You let her do that again and you will be dead." He snapped before he walked away.

@ varkatzas.

Paige nodded, watching Ryan head upstairs. She wanted to follow him and see if she could get a few nice moments but she had cleaning to do. She stood and went about putting the left overs away and putting the dishes into the dishwasher. She went to the front door and locked it, making sure Ryan's things were in order before finally heading upstairs. She only hoped that he was asleep now because their nights only ever ended with him wanting something sexual from her. Maybe she'd get lucky tonight.

---

Ryan stared at Leo, his face blank as the man approached him. "She is your daughter. You told me to protect her," he spat, not caring what the older man had to say. He groaned as he was thrown to the floor, curling into a ball as he was hit. He knew how to take a beating, he'd taken a fair few in his life time. He pulled himself up when Leo finally left him alone and made his way to the bathroom to clean up.

Ryan sat there watching the tv in front of him and sighed. He was so tired and he was glad that he didn't lose his temper. Today had been a good day for him and Paige. Ryan closed his eyes and slowly fell asleep.

Julian woke up the next day and went to the grocery store with his friend. He was staying with Micheal til he was able to get back on his feet. It was going to be hard to get a job.

---

Lennox walked downstairs the next day and sighed as she ate her breakfast. She was already high and everything was a blur. He father just ignored her as he always did. She sighed as she took a bite of her cereal.

@ varkatzas.

Wednesdays were the only days that Paige was allowed to leave the house. She did all of the grocery shopping, always double and triple checking that she had gotten everything that may be necessary for meals that Ryan may want. She had a cart that was pretty much filled fo the brim. She just wanted to hurry and get home, she only had forty or so minutes before she needed to start supper.

---

Ryan headed down the stairs, bright and early. He'd decided to stay at Leo's since he needed to keep a close eye on Lennox. He was shirtless, bruises in a few spots from the night before. He paid no mind to them, he'd had worse. Getting to the kitchen, he began to cook himself bacon and eggs, intent on having a nice breakfsst

Julian smiled when he saw Paige, "Paige!" He called. He smiled when he walked over to her.He looked down at her cart and smiled, "Wow you feeding an army?" He asked. He smiled as he rubbed the back of his neck. "How was your night?" HE asked.

---

Lennox looked over at him, "Shouldn't you be home?" SHe asked him. She was confused about why he was here. She sighed as she continued to eat. Then again her dad did ask him to watch her.

@ varkatzas.

Paige jumped nearly a foot high when she heard her name shouted. At first, she had thought it was Ryan coming in search of her. When she spotted Julian, she smiled a bit. She knew she should probably tell him off, God Forbid one of Ryan's friends saw them together. "Yeah, I guess so," she laughed, glancing to her cart. She was only talking to someone in public, Ryan would never find out. "Uh... Well, it went well," she answered, realizing t was the truth. She had been surprised when Ryan didn't lash out. "I'm sorry that yesterday ended the way that it did."

---

Ryan glanced up from the stove, catching sight of Lennox. He simply shrugged his shoulders, a slight smirk on his features. "I told you I was keeping an eye on you, didn't I? Or were you so fucked up you don't remember that?"

Julian nodded," well maybe you and your husband would like to go to the bar sometime?" He suggested. If he couldnt have Paige, at least he could try to be friends with them. Julian looled around then back at her, hoping she would say yes.

----

Lennox glared at him, "You a fucking dick." She said as she look away. "That why you get along so well with my father." She said before she ate. Lennox sighed as she looked out the window.

@ varkatzas.

Paige knew it was a stupid idea, even before she said it but she couldn't seem to stop the words from coming out. "Maybe. How about you give me your number and I can give you a call after I talk to him?" She asked, reaching for her purse. She kept a grocery list, so she didn't forget anything important. Folding over to the next page, she held out the pen and paper. "If that's alright."

---

"You're the one that got drunk last night. Not me," Ryan responded dryly. He shrugged his shoulders, plating his food once it was finished. He sat at the breakfast bar and began to eat, his eyes moving to her. "Plans for the day?" He prompted, raising an eyebrow

Julian nodded, "Yea that sounds good." He said as he wrote down his number for her. He handed it back to her and smiled. "I hope i hear from you soon." He said. He gave her the pen then walked away. He smiled as he made his way back to his friends house.

---

Lennox frowned at him, "That is none of your business." She said. Lennox sighed as she took a sip of her drink. Lennox bit her bottom lip lightly. She sighed as she got up and cleaned her bowl.

@ varkatzas.

Paige was hopeful that Ryan would come home in a good mood. So good that she would approach the subject. Maybe she could talk to Julian sometimes and Ryan wouldn't even be mad... After getting home, she made sure to put away all the groceries started supper.

---

"Do I really need to go over what happened last night with you again? I'm watching you. I will be with you. Regardless of whether I'm right beside you or trailing after. It doesn't matter to me but it will happen, Lennox. There's not a fucking thing you can do about it. Might just be easier for you to accept that now as opposed to fighting it," Ryan spoke. His eyes were narrowed as he glared at her, already annoyed with the attitude she was giving him.

Ryan frowned as he walked through the house, "Paige!" He screamed through the house. "Where the fuck are you!" He yelled, before finding her in the kitchen. "This house is a mess. You know the fucking rules!" He snapped as he walked closer to her. "Do i need to clear them up for you?" He asked as he grabbed her arms and pulled her to him.

---

Lennox got up and went to her room, getting dressed. Lennox walked downstairs when the guy that she was going out with for the night got there. She climbed on his motorcycle, looking at Ryan, "Make sure you watch me." She said, laughing. She held onto the guy as he took off. She was glad to be away from Ryan.

@ varkatzas.

Paige nearly dropped the bowl of mashed potatoes when she heard her name. Her eyes widened, just thankful she hadn't actually dropped the bowl. She turned to head to the doorway, only to freeze when she spotted him. Her face paled at his words. She took a small step backward, only to feel the counter at her back. "Ryan, p-please. I went grocery shopping," she tried to reason, wincing as she was pulled against him. Tears welled in her eyes as she lowered her head. "I'm sorry."

---

Ryan was showered and dressed, sitting by the front door. He was sure that Lennox had plans for the day, she wouldn't have gotten so annoyed otherwise. When she came down the stairs, he perked up and turned his attention to her. His eyes narrowed as she walked out of the house, watching her climb on some unnamed man's bike. He let out a small growl, jogging ot his car and taking off after her

Ryan frowned, "Cleaning is a priority!" He snapped as he slapped her. He shoved her to the floor, "Sometimes i wonder hlw you go through life being so dumb!" He screamed as he kicked her. He stepped back, glaring at her.

---

Lennox walked into the guys house, smiling at the party. She took a beer amd began to drink. Lennox frowned when she saw Ryan. Lennox grabbed him and pulled him outside, "Please leave me alone." She said, looking up at him. "I dont need a babysitter. Why do you have to watch me anyway?" She asked. Lennox frowned as a guy walked towards them, pulling a gun on them. "Move!" He yelled at Ryan, going to grab Lennox.

@ varkatzas.

Paige flinched, even before Ryan slapped her. She was tensed, only to yelp as he actually slapped her. She gasped as she was shoved to the floor, wincing as her head smacked into the cabinet behind her. Screaming as he kicked her, Paige curled into a ball, nursing her side. She whimpered, tears slowly falling down her cheeks. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry," she repeated, biting into her bottom lip. She choked on a sob, wincing. "I'll start cleaning right now. I'm sorry," she apologized again, hesitantly rising to her feet. Paige was apprehensive as she turned to start plating food for Ryan before grabbing a beer from the fridge. Her head was lowered before she handed them both to him. Paige turned back around, pulling her sleeves up and moving to start cleaning the kitchen first. She wouldn't rest until either the place had been completely cleaned or Ryan called her.

---

Ryan was silent as ever, even as Lennox insisted on pulling him outside. His eyes were on her as she spoke, only to catch movement out of the side of his eye. His eyebrows raised as he was shouted at. "Sure," he answered, taking a quick step forward. Ryan slammed the palm of his right hand into the gun in the man's hand. He jerked the gun free without a word, twisting it around to point it at the unnamed assailant. This time around, Ryan was grinning ear to ear. "Move, sweetheart."

Ryan snatched the beer from her hand and took a swig. He frowned as he looked around the area then relaxed against his seat. Ryan took a sip of his beer then looked at the tv. "You better hurry with dinner!" He yelled. He was not going to be nice tonight.

---

Lennox stepped behind him, seeing him take the gun from the man. She moved back from Ryan and started towards his car. She knew that he would get rid of the guy. Lennox got in his car, jumping when she heard gun fire from outside. Lennox looked over as Ryan got in the car. She looked behind them when she heard a car. Her body was thrown forward as the man rear ended Ryan's car.

@ varkatzas.

Paige twisted around to grab a plate, scooping mashed potatoes onto the plate and then the steak she had cooked for him along with green beans. She rushed into the living room where she set the plate in front of him. "Do you need anything else before I start cleaning?" She asked quietly, chewing on her lip. She was just a bit disappointed - she ahd hoped Ryan would be in a good mood so she could ask about maybe going to the bar together with Julian.

---

Ryan was ready to get out of here. If it had just been him, he would have stayed and ended the guy. But Lennox was of higher priority. So as he got ready to pull away, Ryan let out a growl when the man rear ended his car. "Lock the fuckin' door and stay put," he spoke through gritted teeth as he climbed out, storming toward the man's car.

Ryan shook his head, "Nope now go do your work." He said before he began to eat. He sighed as he took a sip of his beer. When he finished he got up, leaving his plate behind. He went to the bathroom, taking a shower. Ryan walked up to the bedroom, laying down.

---

Lennox locked the door once he was out and pulled her knees to her chest. She was so scared. She didn't think things were this bad. She looked over, seeing Ryan appear at the window. She let him in then scooted away from him. "Who are these people?" She asked.

@ varkatzas.

Paige wasted no time in turning to leave the room, cleaning the house room by room. When she finished, she grabbed Ryan's plate from the living room and putting it in the dish washer. After she started the load, Paige headed upstairs. She had assumed that he wouldn't want her to eat so she didn't. Peaking into the bedroom, she bit down on her lip. "Is it alright if I lay down?" She asked quietly, hoping she could maybe get a few tender moments with him.

---

Ryan wasted no time in starting the engine, taking off from the house. He called Leo, phone pressed to his ear with his shoulder. Once he hung up, he turned onto the high way. "We're going to your father's cabin until things settle down," he said, focused on the road in front of them. He glanced toward her when she spoke up. "People who want to get to your father through you. They know that if they get their hands on you, they'll be able to have an advantage."