Page 84

Matthias

My phone vibrates, pulling my attention from Margot curled next to me in our bed.

I’ve been watching her sleep for hours. She looks so serene, so peaceful, like none of it ever happened. I’m beyond relieved she can even sleep after the week she’s had.

Since I got her back, I haven’t been able to tear my eyes from her.

I can’t put space between us, and I know she feels the same.

She hasn’t let me leave her side. This shared need, this tether between us…

it gives me hope. Maybe she doesn’t hate me.

Maybe she’ll forgive me. I don’t deserve her love anymore, I don’t deserve her , but I’ll spend every second proving how sorry I am. Proving how much I love her.

When she told the doctor she wasn’t safe without me in the room, it broke me.

Because I want to be that for her, be her safety. Her sanctuary.

But it also gutted me .

Because she only felt safe with me after a week of hell without me.

The phone buzzes again. I grab it quickly, not wanting to wake her.

Dom.

I answer but stay silent. My sweet girl is asleep. I’m not breaking the quiet for him.

“Matthias, we’re in your office. We figured you wouldn’t want to leave your house for this meeting. Come downstairs.” Dom says it like he’s doing me a favor

He’s lost his goddamn mind if he thinks I’m leaving this bed.

“No. Go away. I’m not leaving her side,” I whisper-yell.

“Matthias, get your ass down here. We need to debrief. I’m meeting with Viktor tomorrow.”

That’s the only thing he could’ve said to make me move.

“Go get Benny and meet me upstairs.”

“Who the fuck is Benny?”

“My dog. Dotty will bring you to him.”

“Fuck. Fine. I’m not holding this meeting in your bedroom with Margot in there. She doesn’t get to hear Syndicate issues.”

“You bet your ass you’re not coming into our bedroom,” I growl. “Especially not while she’s sleeping.”

“Fine. We’ll grab the dog and meet you upstairs,” he mutters, then hangs up.

We. Of course they’re all here.

I should be more grateful. They spent the past week doing everything they could to get her back. But I’m not. I don’t want anything Syndicate-related near her ever again.

I hear Benny’s footsteps approaching and sigh as I slip from bed, careful not to wake her.

I open the door to see Benny alert and ready, and Dom holding his bed with a scowl .

“When the fuck did you get this monster? I didn’t even know you liked dogs.”

“Who doesn’t like dogs? And don’t call him a monster. He’s just a puppy.”

Dom snorts while I take Benny’s bed and set it up beside Margot.

“Watch her,” I tell him. Benny sits like a sentry, eyes locked on the door.

I leave the room but crack the door just enough to keep her in view. I turn to face my three brothers.

“Alright. What’s going on?”

“You’re kidding, right?” Dom snaps. “We’re not doing this in a hallway.”

He wouldn’t get it. Dom doesn’t have a heart to give someone. He’s a frigid bastard with no emotions.

“Leave him alone,” Roman says, surprisingly the voice of reason. “They’ve been through hell. Let’s just get started.”

I blink. Empathy is a strange look on Roman.

Dom rolls his eyes but starts, “I’m meeting with Viktor to explain that today’s break-in was a rescue mission.

That Margot is a Montclair woman and therefore off limits.

We’re not escalating this to a war. Viktor didn’t know.

But I need to know what she told him. How much he knows.

We’ll be backing off tracking shipments for now. Peace takes priority.”

I glance through the crack in the door again. Margot’s still sleeping. I exhale and close it a bit more.

“I’ll keep looking,” Bash chimes in. “But nothing that can be traced.”

Dom nods. “Roman?”

“I’ll only touch Bratva men who cross into our territory. It’s still Syndicate law, even during peace.”

Dom turns to me .

“No,” I say immediately. “I’m not forcing her to relive what happened. We know what we need to know. They took her. They hurt her. Now she’s home.”

“Matthias, be sensible. They lost four of their men in this raid. Two of ours were injured. I need the full context for negotiations and to get the bounty off Margot.”

I curse under my breath. He’s right. And that pisses me off even more.

“Fine. I’ll talk to her when she’s ready and get back to you.”

“Tomorrow.”

“No.”

“Matthias, tomorrow morning. I have to meet with Viktor in the afternoon. We can’t give him time to assume the worst.”

I glance toward the door again. Margot hasn’t moved. I grit my teeth.

“Fine. In the morning. Then I’m out. I want nothing to do with the Syndicate.”

“You don’t get to opt out, Matthias. We’re not a fucking email list. You’re a Montclair. You’re in it whether you like it or not.”

“I have to protect my woman. And the Syndicate isn’t safe for her. She’s done with it. I’m done with it. I won’t risk her again.”

I step into his space, toe-to-toe.

Roman shoves between us. “Matthias will step up when necessary. But give him some space, Dom. He just got his girl back.” He glances between us. “Figure your shit out. I’m sick of playing referee.”

I step back and take another peek into our room. She’s still sleeping. Dom’s fucking lucky he didn’t wake her.

Dom exhales. “Fine. Get me the info in the morning. I’ll let you know what Viktor says.”

“I will. Now leave. I need to get back to her. ”

Dom gives me a look, his don’t screw this up look, then heads out.

Roman and Bash linger. I glare at them.

“How is she?” Bash asks. Roman actually looks like he cares. Dom’s footsteps stall on the stairs.

“She’s going to be okay,” I say softly. “Everything will heal. It’ll take a few weeks for her to get her strength back.

She hadn’t eaten since the gala. Her silent rebellion.

Actually, not silent, I’m sure. Not my spitfire.

” I smile. “The doctor gave her fluids. We’ll keep doing that.

She’s bruised, bloody, and banged up, but she wasn’t raped. ”

Three audible sighs.

“Good,” Roman says, voice gruff. “Take care of her, man. Let us know if you need anything.”

He pulls me in and slaps my back once before turning. Bash does the same.

When I hear them reach the stairs, I slip back into our room.

They can see themselves out.

I can’t be away from her another second.

I crawl back into bed and pull Margot into my arms.

And for the first time in a week, I sleep.