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He nodded, but when I helped him to his feet, his knees buckled. Without hesitation, I scooped him up in my arms, cradling him against my chest. He was so light—too light, really. Had he always been this thin? I'd noticed yesterday he barely weighed anything but had given it no thought afterwards.
"My truck's across the street," I said, nodding toward it. "We're going home."
"But the cops—" someone started.
"We'll make a statement later," I cut them off. I needed to get Matty somewhere safe, needed to process what had just happened. That car hadn't been an accident. It had deliberately targeted him.
The realization hit me like a freight train. Someone had just tried to kill my new husband.
Matty didn't protest as I carried him to the truck. He remained silent as I set him gently in the passenger seat and buckled him in. His face was ashen, his hands still trembling in his lap. I rounded to the driver's side, my mind racing. This had Coombes written all over it. The bastard must have found out about our marriage.
"What happened at work?" I asked as I pulled away from the curb, wanting to distract him.
"I got fired," Matty whispered, his voice breaking. "Mrs. Kazinsky—she grabbed my wrist, and I spilled coffee on her. Helena said I did it on purpose."
I glanced over at him, noting the way he curled in on himself, like he was expecting to be hit. My hand tightened on the steering wheel. "Who's Helena?"
"The assistant manager," he murmured. "She's been trying to get me fired for months. Wants her niece to have my job."
The pieces clicked together in my mind. "And this Mrs. Kazinsky?"
"Helena's friend. Comes in just to make my life miserable." He wiped at his eyes with trembling hands. "I'm sorry. This is stupid. It's just a job."
"It's not stupid," I said firmly. "And someone just tried to run you down. That's not a coincidence."
Matty went even paler. "But why? I don't know anyone," but then Matty's eyes widened. "You think... you think that was because of the wedding?"
I nodded grimly. "Your godfather must have found out."
"Oh God," Matty whispered, wrapping his arms around himself. "He tried to kill me. He actually tried to kill me."
I reached across the console to squeeze his knee. "He failed. And he's not getting another chance."
Instead of driving back to Matty's apartment, I took a different turn. We needed somewhere safe, somewhere Coombes couldn't find us easily. The clubhouse was secure, not ideal for Matty in his current state, but it would keep him safe.You could take him home,a little voice needled me, which was true. I had my own place in the compound, but I firmly shut that thought down.
"Where are we going?" Matty asked, noticing the unfamiliar route.
"Clubhouse," I answered. "It's secure. You'll be safe there until we figure out what to do next."
His eyes widened. "Your motorcycle club? But—"
"It's a building with good security and brothers I trust with my life. No one will hurt you there."
Matty fell silent, staring out the window. I could see the thoughts racing behind his eyes, the fear and uncertainty. After a few minutes, he spoke again, his voice small. "I understand if you want a divorce, annulment, whatever." I blinked in shock, but he added," It's not like you signed up for this."
I shrugged, trying to dial it back a little. "You're not getting out of paying me that easily," but as soon as I saw the tears, I knew I'd said the wrong thing.
"He really tried to kill me," he repeated, as if still trying to process it. "My own godfather. What if you get hurt? It's one thing for him to aim for me, but not an innocent guy as well."
I clamped my lips shut because guilt stabbed me like a knife. I was anything but innocent. I'd gone into this for revenge. I was ex-army and had a whole club behind me. Matty had to be a hundred pounds soaking wet, and he didn't seem to have any close friends.
"Maybe there's more going on than you realized," I said, keeping my voice neutral. I couldn't let on how much I already knew about Coombes. Not yet.
"But why not just... I don't know, contest the marriage or something? Why try to kill me?"
I considered this. "Maybe he's desperate. Or maybe he knows something we don't."
Matty hugged himself tighter. "I never thought he'd go this far. He's always been controlling, even cruel sometimes, but this..."