Page 94 of Breaking Matt

And then the waiting game started. I expected Leo and Frank to return but they didn't. One hour became another. My stomach rumbled so I drank more water. I touched my face lightly to feel if anything was broken, but it was too sore. I hissed when I pushed too hard on the area.

Even more time passed, and I began to wonder if they had been called away for business. Or had it been Nick to get an update on my torture? Or was it just a ploy to drag it out, so I could spend more time thinking about what they had planned for me?

I tried to get as comfortable as I could to try and get some sleep but it was difficult because every slight movement reverberated through my body, making me gasp. I closed my eyes and tried to fight through the pain. It was unlike anything I had experienced before; but then again I had never been beaten before. My face felt like it was swelling up all over.

Then I heard the faint sound of footsteps. My heart started to race.

Leo and Frank were coming back, and my torture would begin again. I felt so tired, so sore, but I pushed myself up, refusing to allow myself to appear weak to them. I would fight them every step of the way.

As the footsteps came to a stop outside the door of my prison, I felt a shiver of fear about what Frank would do to me. For a brief moment I allowed myself to feel my fear before I pushed through it, determined to show them I wouldn't be broken.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

The door openedand Leo stepped in, followed by Frank.

"Get up," Leo commanded with a sweep of his hand. His voice was gruff and hurried.

It was the first time I had seen him looking anything but in cool control. I couldn't help but feel something unexpected had happened.

I frowned as I tried to get up. The pain in my stomach was agonizing and I gritted my teeth to stop myself from crying out. Tears of pain watered my vision.

"Get her up!" Leo instructed Frank.

The big burly guy walked over to me and pulled me up by a tight grip to my upper arm.

I groaned as a sharp, intense pain shot through me at the sudden movement.

"Shut up," Leo said angrily.

I breathed in sharply and released a breath slowly. It even hurt to breathe.

"Let's get out of here," Leo said to his right-hand man.

Why were they moving me? Why did they seem to be in a hurry to get me out of here? I put my hand to my stomach to ease the pain as I limped.

"Nick." The sound of the surprise in Leo's voice made me look up to see Nick Cole. He was dressed in black with a leather jacket. He looked the part of the mean gangster who ruthlessly ruled the members of his gang.

Leo took a step back. For the first time I saw a flicker of fear on his face. His reaction made no sense.

"You have some explaining to do," Nick told Leo with a cold voice. There was no mistaking the dangerous undertone.

Frank slackened his hold on my arm.

Nick entered the room. I'd never met him before but even I felt his commanding presence. My eyes followed him into the room.

"Sarah," a familiar voice said. My eyes shot back to the doorway to take in the unbelievable sight of Matthew. He looked just as surprised to see me before he rushed over to me.

His eyes darkened when he took in the bruises and marks on my face. My face was still slightly swollen from before. His eyes scanned my features as his hands cradled my face. His touch felt so good.

"Matthew," I said deliriously. I'd mourned him and here he was, alive. He put his arm around me.

"How did you get here?" he asked, looking bewildered.

"You didn't know I was here?"

He shook his head.

"I overhead you talking to my father about the meeting. And when no one could reach you, everyone was convinced something really bad had happened to you."