Matteo is there.
He’s standing near the entrance, looking completely out of place in his dark clothes among the sterile white surroundings. His eyes find mine immediately, and the relief that floods through me is almost embarrassing. He came. He actually came.
I go straight to him without thinking. His arms wrap around me, solid and warm, and I sink into him like he’s the only thing keeping me upright. Maybe he is.
“You’ve been crying,” he says quietly.
He doesn’t ask if I’m okay or other pointless questions. He just holds me, and it’s exactly what I need.
“Thank you for coming,” I whisper.
I pull back just enough to look up at him, staying wrapped in his arms because I’m not ready to let go yet. I lower my voice so my family can’t hear.
“Julian was hit by a car. The police showed us a video. Viktor did this.”
His arms tighten around me. His eyes go dark with something dangerous, and for once, I’m not afraid of it. I want it. I want someone to make Viktor pay for what he’s done.
“Son of a bitch.”
“He was smiling in the video. He ran over my brother and he was smiling.”
Matteo’s hand comes up to cup the back of my head, his thumb stroking along my hairline. It’s such a gentle gesture from such a dangerous man, and I press closer, needing the anchor.
“I’ll make him pay for this.” His voice is resolute, barely-contained rage. “For everything he’s done to you. I promise.”
Maybe I should feel guilty about how much comfort I take from that. But I watched Viktor fucking grin after running down my brother. Guilt is the last thing I feel.
We sit down in the waiting room, and I rest my head on his shoulder. His hand finds mine, his fingers threading through my own.
He came. He dropped whatever he was doing and he came because I needed him.
My eyes drift closed. His shoulder rises and falls beneath my cheek, steady as a metronome, and I match my breathing to hiswithout meaning to. His thumb brushes back and forth across my knuckles like he’s not even aware he’s doing it.
Every time he shows up for me like this, every time he proves that I can count on him, I feel another piece of myself slip away from me and into his hands.
If he keeps this up, he’s going to have all of me.
And I’m starting to think that might not be a bad thing.
30
MATTEO
I’m fucking livid.
Viktor was supposed to come afterme.That was the whole goddamn point.I’mthe one marrying Sierra.I’mthe threat. If he got bold enough to go for her directly, fine. I had men stationed outside the bridal shop today, watching. I was ready for that.
What I wasn’t ready for was this.
Her family. He went after her fucking family.
I stare at the wall of the hospital waiting room, jaw so tight my teeth ache. Sierra’s hand is wrapped around mine, her fingers cold despite the warmth of the room. I haven’t let go of her since I got here. Can’t seem to make myself.
I didn’t see this coming. I should have. The man’s a fucking psycho. But I figured his goal of working with the family shipping company would keep him from pulling something this stupid. I figured wrong.
Now I’m sitting in a waiting room while Julian fights for his life, and Sierra’s heart is breaking in real time.
And it’s my fault.
