I called Maddox as I arrived and let him know I made it and I would keep him updated. I hung up before heading inside the building and stopping at the front desk. The cop looked at me and spoke.

“Can I help you?”

“Yes, You can point me to the room where you have Demitri. I am his lawyer.”

“He never called legal representation.”

“He didn’t have to. His boss, Maddox, the owner of the building where you arrested him, called me. Now kindly, show me to my client.”

The officer started walking me to the back of the precinct, and I could hear Sasha. He stepped out of the office and he was livid. We locked eyes, and he looked pretty happy to see me then. He went and sat on the chairs that were lined up along the wall. The officer let me into the room and there was a detective inside, questioning Demitri. He was visibly livid. His hands were bloody, and they split his lip. 

“Demitri, don’t say another word.” I said, turning to the officer.

“Who are you?” He said, rudely.

“I am Demitri’s legal representative. Questions you have for him, you can ask me.”

“He didn’t ask for representation.”

“He didn’t have to. I am employed by his employer, Maddox, the same one who voiced on Demitri’s behalf.”

“Right, Well I was telling your client that we caught him breaking into the warehouse and received a call about it.”

“You can un-cuff him. It’s unnecessary,” I said, as I sat down beside him. 

“I assure you, that is completely needed. He hit—--”

“You clearly used excessive force on my client, who again wasn’t doing anything wrong. And had his boss even tell you, he was there under his orders. I’m sure a lawsuit might not be where you would like this headed. And while we are at it, why don’t I present you with all the legal paperwork for the warehouse which my employer owns?”

Opening my bag, I set all the legal documents out on the table and pointed out Maddox’s signature several times. 

Demitri was silent. But I could see him visibly shaking with anger. When the officer reached to undo the cuffs, Demitri moved his hands away. 

“Can you give me and my client a moment alone, please?”

The officer left with the papers, and I looked at Demitri, knowing the chances were that we were being recorded. 

“I’ll get you out of here. You just need to hang onto that anger a little longer. I’m begging you.”

His eyes bore into mine, and the frown was deep set on his face. But he simply nodded. He was beyond pissed. I was even slightly scared of him right now. Getting up, I let the officer know he could come back into the room and he carefully removed the cuffs from Demitri.

“We looked over the papers and we feel your client is telling the truth and Maddox Vincent is his employer. You are free to go. He can pick up his personal effects at the front desk.”

“Good choice. I’d hate for this to end up on the mayor or someone perhaps higher up’s desk.”

“There is no need for that, I assure you. It was a mistake.”

“Come along, Demitri.” I said softly. Making sure I was in between him and the officer, as I grabbed my bag and all the papers back from the officer. 

Sasha was at the front desk, his arms crossed. I only caught the end of his words. 

“Thanks, for nothing.”

He handed Demitri all his things, and we walked out. 

“I’ll take Demitri.” I said. Unlocking my car and lightly shoving him in that direction. 

Inside the car, He didn’t buckle up, so I reached to buckle him up and he gently pushed my hand away. He yanked on the buckle, buckling in and crossed his arms. He was still seething with anger. 

“Take me back to the complex.”

“Are you sure? I think it might be best if you—--”

“I want to go back to the complex and, for your own safety, please be quiet until we get there.” He said, absolutely vibrating with anger. 

I nodded and started the car. It was a dead, silent ride back to the complex. He didn’t say a word, and I was scared to. He barely waited until I had the car parked to get out. After grabbing his things, he slammed the door. I followed closely right behind him, only splitting off to speak to Maddox. 

“I managed to get him off on no charges and they dropped everything. I showed them the warehouse papers proving that you owned it, and brought up his wounds. They were excessive with him, his hands are bloody and they split his lip.”

“He is understandably angry, then?”

“Yes. The ride was mildly terrifying, but both of us are alright and he didn’t freak out.”

“Yet. He didn’t freak out yet.”

“What? What do you mean?”

“Demitri is pretty good at remaining calm, but when he is angry, he is a ticking bomb. I know him. He is on his way down to the gym to beat out his anger on the boxing bag. It’s rare he is this angry, but I’ve seen it before.”

“Maddox, his hands. They are already bad enough!” I raised my voice at him. 

“I’m sorry, Theo. Would you like me to stand in front of that speeding train, that angry bull?”

“No, Of course not, but—Ugh, fuck it, Where is your gym?”

“No, Theo, that isn’t wise.”

“I wasn’t asking for that, just the place I could find him.” I hissed.

“Theo, please. I understand you want to help Dem, but he is livid, and you should not be around that. You’re not like the rest of us.”

“I was around that and worse for five years, Maddox, pretty sure I’ll be alright.”

“Demitri isn’t Marco—-”

“You’re right, he’s not. That’s why, even though I’m scared, I’m pretty sure he isn’t going to hit me or hurt me. But if he does, then lesson fucking learned, I guess.”

“The gym is in the basement, on the other end. But seriously, if he even tells you to leave, do it. Don’t push it.”

“Alright, I got it.”

Dropping my bag right there, I took off down to the first level of the basement and, after a few minutes; I located the workout room where he was. The door popped open when I turned the handle, but he was so into punching the bag that he didn’t even notice me. He was in just his black cargo pants, his shirt was discarded, and his hands weren’t even wrapped up at all. 

“Demitri.” I said, making sure my voice was gentle. 

He never turned around, he just kept hitting the bag. 

“If you are going to keep hitting that, like that. Can we wrap up your hands?” I said, my voice a little louder than before. I knew he heard me this time, but didn’t acknowledge me. 

I got closer and even grabbed the tape off the shelf. He stopped hitting the bag and turned around. He was sweating. 

“Stay away from me, Theo.”

“I will… once I’m done wrapping up your hands.”

I grabbed his left hand, and he wasn’t letting me have it willingly. Once I got around his hand once with the tape, he stopped fighting me. I finished his left hand, and he refused to give me his right.

“Give me your other hand.”

“No. You shouldn’t be here.”

“Give me your other bloody hand, Demitri.” I said, a little annoyed now.

“Theo, I’m angry, and I don’t want you around right now.”

“That’s great. The sooner you give me that right hand and I wrap it, the sooner I can—--”

Demitri pushed me up against the padded wall and the tape dropped out of my hand and rolled across the mats on the floor. He hadn’t been too rough, but it also wasn’t all that light, either. 

I think he saw the fear in my eyes because he tried to pull away from me, but I grabbed the only thing available that I could. The belt that was around his waist. He stopped and looked down at my hand.

“Let go of me.”

“No.”

“Theo, I could seriously hurt you right now.”

“You won’t.”

“You don’t know me. Don’t trust me so blindly.”

“If you were going to hurt me, you would have already.”

“I could hurt you now.” he said, raising his voice at me and wrapping his hand around my wrist. 

“Then fucking do it, Demitri. You wouldn’t be the first.”

He yanked my hand off his belt and stepped back. I stepped forward and grabbed another roll of tape off the shelf. Going back to him, I grabbed his right arm roughly and wrapped his hand. 

“Next time you say you could hurt me, do it. Or don’t say you might. I won’t learn anything that way. I’m a hands-on learner.”

I tossed the roll on the floor and went to leave. But he grabbed me this time. 

“Stay. I only need to hit this a little while longer before I’m relaxed again. Then I’ll take you home.”

“I can take myself home.”

“I wasn’t asking or even suggesting it to you, Theo. I was telling you.”

He let go of my arm, and I sat on one of the plastic chairs, not too far away, and watched him beat on the punching bag for a half hour more. My heart was beating out of chest, and I was scared, but he wasn’t Marco and that’s all I kept telling myself.