Page 95 of Breaking Matt

He narrowed his eyes. "That still doesn't explain how you got here."

"I snuck out of the house with a friend while everyone else was busy trying to find you."

"You put yourself in danger to try and find me?" he asked incredulously, our eyes locked together.

I nodded.

"Do you know howstupidthat was?" he asked angrily, looking at me with disbelief.

"As stupid as you going to meet with the guy who wanted me dead?" I threw back, and then grimaced as my injury flared up.

Matthew frowned as he dropped his hands to the hem of my shirt and lifted it slightly.

"I'll kill them," he said, turning his attention to Leo and Frank, who were looking as guilty as hell.

"They will be taken care of," Nick said over his shoulder to Matthew as he took a menacing step toward my two torturers.

How was he going to take care of them? I had visions of them being killed and buried in cement. And after everything they had done to me, I didn't care.

Matthew's jaw tensed as he glared at Leo and Frank. He looked like he wanted to repay them with the same injuries I'd suffered. Then he swung his attention back to me.

"Can you sit down?" he asked when he saw me shift slightly and grimace when the pain shot through me.

"It hurts." I wasn't sure I could sit down.

He supported me as I sat down and I held my breath as I finally settled on the floor. The pain made me wince. He bent down beside me and pulled out his phone before dialing a number.

"I need an ambulance," he said after a few moments. He then gave an address I didn't recognize.

When he closed his phone he shoved it into his back pocket.

"Get them out of here," Nick commanded to the two other goons when they appeared in the room.

I watched as Leo and Frank were marched out of the room flanked by Nick's men. Nick remained and walked over to where I was sitting.

"How is she?" he asked, his gaze momentarily flickering to me.

None of what was happening made any sense. Why would he be concerned about me? Hadn't he been the one who'd wanted me dead?

"They beat her pretty good," Matthew answered. He lifted my shirt and inspected my stomach. "There is significant bruising."

Nick nodded. "They will pay dearly for this."

The sound of police sirens made Nick stiffen.

"Go," Matthew instructed. "I can deal with things from here."

Nick gave us one last sweep of his gaze before he left the room.

"I don't understand," I murmured, still fixated on the doorway he'd just exited.

"It's a long story," Matthew said. "We need to get you to the hospital to get you checked out."

I focused on Matthew and reached up with both arms to cup his face. The feel of his face against my hands was amazing, and my eyes watered. I brushed my thumbs across his skin.

"I thought you were dead." I swallowed hard, trying to rid myself of the lump in my throat.

"Who told you that?"