In the end it took another two days before he was released from jail and a full 24 hours after Rhyno had been let go. Fortunately the other man had quietly arranged for him to sit next to a large man who had been willing keep the creeps away, including the shifty looking chap who had taken to staring at him when he thought he wasn't looking. So while he hadn't slept a wink and his nerves were stretched to the breaking point he'd gotten out with nothing more than some bruises and a few tense moments. It was an experience he certainly never wanted to repeat but what had hurt the most was the fact he hadn't heard a word from Ethan since he'd left. In a twist of irony he'd learned from the officer who'd filled out his release papers that Kurt Angle had been the one to put in a good word for him.
Shivering in the cool air with traffic whizzing by in a dizzyingly rush and pedestrians pushing past him as if he wasn't there Spud was uncomfortably aware of the funky smell coming from his three-day old clothes. It was the second person swearing at him that finally made him start walking, unsure of what else to do he returned to the hotel they'd been staying at. There were several more shows booked in New York and until he heard from Ethan or Mrs. Carter he decided to just stay in the city.
Checking in with the front desk some of the pain from being left behind melted at being informed his room had been paid for and hadn't been touched. It was such a profound relief to lock the door behind him and know he was completely safe that he could do nothing more than collapse in bed, falling into a deep sleep despite his hunger and desperate need for a shower.
The distant sound of his phone ringing finally dragged him up through the depths of sleep. Groaning Spud rolled over and fumbled for his cellphone, "hello?" slurring it took a second for the voice on the other end to register. "Ethan?"
"Yes Spud," he could hear a faint sigh over the line, "I heard you got released from prison today. Are you okay?" Blinking at the city lights reflecting through the window he was stunned to find he'd lost most of the day to sleep, wiping a line of drool from his chin he did his best to keep any sign of hurt of out his voice.
"Yes Sir, I'm fine. Thank you for keeping my room for me," swallowing he clenched his fist in the sheets, hating how talking to Ethan all of a sudden felt like talking to a stranger. "How are you Sir? Is Mrs. Carter doing well?"
"We're both fine Spud," there was a pause before Ethan continued, his voice low and almost furtive sounding. "I'm sorry for leaving you in prison tiger, Aunt D had several slivers of wood still embedded in her back and I had no free time to do anything. Did Rhyno make sure nothing happened?"
Wincing at the question Spud sat up, untangling himself from the sheets he tugged off his restrictive bowtie and undid the top few buttons, "uhh, Rhyno was released yesterday but don't worry Sir l was fine." Even over the crappy reception he could hear the sharp edge of alarm in Ethan's voice.
"You were all alone? Why didn't you call me? Are you sure you're okay?" Blinking at the spate of questions Spud couldn't stop from smiling at the clear sign Ethan still cared.
"I'm fine Sir, I didn't want to disturb you. I know how important your family is to you." Plus there was no way he was going to admit he'd thought it was a possibility that Ethan wouldn't take his call even if he had reached out. With all the time he had in jail it had been impossible not to conclude that Ethan was angry at him, all those days spending hours in the gym, his unwillingness to go further than some light kissing despite how physically close they'd been getting all pointed to one thing. He was on thin ice and he needed to be careful.
"Alright Spud, I'll accept that for now. I want you to stay in New York until I get there. With any luck I can … I gotta go, stay there," Ethan's voice turned stern and brisk in an instance, hanging up before he could do more than murmur an agreement. Tossing his phone aside Spud massaged his aching head, Ethan's hot and cold behavior made the fear that he truly blamed him for what happened raise its ugly head. Anger he could deal with … but blame, that was something else. Finally struggling out of the rumpled bedding he set about the more urgent business of showering, standing under the hot spray until his mind was empty and he felt clean again.
Drying off he caught sight of the wicked array of bruises trailing down his ribs, touching them curiously he winced and dropped his hand, it hadn't hurt that much when it first happened. Of course he had also been concentrating on preventing the assholes hands from copping a feel, the disgusting memory of fetid breath in his face sending him to a furious session of brushing his teeth. After that he didn't have the energy to go through the fuss of ordering room service and waiting for it to arrive, frankly no matter how briefly he wasn't in the mood to interact with another person anyway. Collapsing back in bed he wrapped up in the duvet and pushed out every thought in his head, staring at the city lights until sleep claimed him.
"Who were you talking to?" Dropping several folders on the coffee table Dixie raised an eyebrow at the oddly worried expression on her nephew's face, frowning in real concern when he shoved his hands in his pockets and forced a smile.
"Just Spud, he was released from prison today. I told him to stay in New York," shrugging Ethan watched the way his Aunt gingerly sat, even with all the splinters removed there had been some lingering pain from how close the wood had come to her spine. The sharp reminder of how serious things had been cutting through his worry.
Scowling at the mention of her Chief of Staff the pen she'd been using snapped in two, "good idea Ethan. I don't want him in my home until I decide whether or not to fire him."
"Spud wasn't the only one to fail Aunt D," the protest was pulled out of him and Ethan held up his hand as his Aunt opened her mouth to protest. The bond ached angrily at hearing the open contempt in her voice and he couldn't stand not giving some defense of Spud's actions, "Rhyno was paid handsomely to keep us safe and he failed completely."
"Fire him then Ethan," touching her still sore back Dixie smiled vindictively, red sliding through her eyes. "Do it in the ring to make an example of him."
"Of course Aunt D," nodding his agreement Ethan struggled to hide the relief that he still had time to figure out what he was going to do about Spud. It had been a difficult few days seeing his Aunt in such pain and he'd purposefully ignored his bond, and now hearing that his bonded had been alone, at the mercy of who knows what kind degenerate in prison made his guilt surge. He should have been there to protect him.
"Are you okay Ethan?" His Aunt's concerned voice broke him out of his thoughts and he was silently grateful when Serg entered the room and distracted her, with how confused his emotions were he simply couldn't talk to her about Spud. If only his parents hadn't taken the kids to see their great-grandparents, he could really use his mother's advice right now.
Setting the tray of iced tea and cookies on the coffee table Serg took one good look at the pinched look on his nephew's face and tried not to sigh, "you two look busy plotting so I thought we could all use a snack."
"Thank you darling," accepting the glass Serg held out Dixie leaned into his shoulder when he sat beside her, smiling at the gentle hand stroking down her back. "We had just decided to fire Rhyno for his part on the whole Bully fiasco."
Nodding Serg glanced over at Ethan, "well that certainly seems sensible." Patting Dixie's knee he carefully didn't bring up the missing member of their little family, it hadn't taken long for him to discover just how much his wife blamed Spud and just how much that hurt Ethan.
"I think I'm going to head out early," standing abruptly Ethan forced a smile at his Aunt's frown, despite how furious he was with Spud for failing and allowing a member of his family to get hurt he needed to see for himself that his bonded was alright. "I want to make sure nothing goes wrong this time."
"Alright darling, do call if you need anything," distracted from watching Ethan leave the room by her mate Dixie giggled as his hand slipped under her shirt and tickled gently across her skin. Turning to face him she smiled into his kiss, "I don't know what I'd do without you."
"Good thing you'll never have to find out," drawing his wife into another soft kiss Serg vowed to spend the rest of the day making sure she didn't think or worry about anything to do with work. Thankfully Ethan was finally going to his own bonded so he didn't need to interfere where he was sure he wasn't wanted.
Packing quickly Ethan ordered their chauffeur to take him to the airport, he'd make use of the family's jet to get to New York as quickly as possible. The flight was only a few hours and then he could finally confirm Spud was alright with his own eyes and not just through the bond.
