After Alex rattled off the address, Reese nced at Roman. He gave her the smallest nod and said, "I''ll get the local police on it."


    Then he turned to Alex, his tone all business. "You know what it means to be a witness, right?"


    Alex''s eyes flickered with a hint of hope. "Does this mean I''m making up for what I did?"


    Roman, who''d been doing this forever, saw right through him. "Your case is


    special. In the end, the prosecutor will decide. But you helped us out, so your life isn''t on the line anymore."


    Alex''s face fell. One mistake had led to another, and there was no going back. Still, this was better than sticking with Grace and ending up dead.


    As the cops led Alex away, Reese finally felt like the nightmare was wrapping up. She let out a shaky breath, but then she noticed Matthew swaying beside her. She turned, saw his face was ghostly pale, and reached out to steady him. Her hand came away wet with blood. Her heart jumped into her throat.


    "Matthew!"


    He''d said it was nothing, just a scratch. So why was there so much blood?


    The paramedics who''de with Roman rushed over, pulling out a first aid kit. Matthew sat down on a makeshift bench as they cut open his ck sleeve, revealing a nasty, bleeding wound.


    Reese dropped to her knees next to him, clutching his shirt so hard her knuckles turned white. Her eyes were rimmed with red, her gaze locked on the injury. She barely dared to breathe.


    "We don''t have much to work with. This is going to hurt," the paramedic warned,ing closer with some antiseptic.


    "I''m fine. I can take it." Matthew didn''t even look at his arm. Instead, he turned to Reese and gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "Don''t worry. It''s just a scratch, I promise."


    Reese looked up and met his eyes. There was no sign of pain, only a calm meant to steady her. Her nose stung as she fought to hold back tears. She turned her head and mumbled, "Okay."


    The medic worked fast, cleaning the wound. The sting of alcohol made Matthew''s jaw clench, but he sat straight as ever, just squeezing Reese''s hand a little tighter. The needle slid through his skin again and again. Reese couldn''t bring herself to watch, but she heard every tiny sound, every stitch pulling through flesh. Each one felt like it was threading straight through her heart.


    "All done. It''s deep, so he needed seven stitches," the medic said, bandaging the wound. "Change the dressing every day, keep it dry, and watch for infection."


    Reese nodded and hurried to help Matthew up.


    "I''m good. I can walk," Matthew said, standing steady despite the fact that his face was even paler now.


    Reese didn''t let go, her hand even firmer on his arm. "Take it slow. Don''t push yourself."


    Matthew caught the worry still glimmering in her eyes, and his lips curled into a faint smile. "I''m tougher than I look."


    Roman wasn''t about to let Reese drive an injured Matthew back alone, so he sent a cop with them before heading off with Alex and the rest of the team. The ride back was quiet, just the soft whir of the air O conditioning filling the car Reese kept sneaking nces at Matthew. He was leaned back, eyes closed, longshes casting shadows across his too pale face. Somehow, he still managed to look dignified Sensing her gaze, Matthew opened his eyes, a yful glint in them. "Is there something on my face?"


    Reese''s cheeks flushed and she looked away fast. "No. Just... get some rest, okay?"


    Matthew closed his eyes again, and soon his breathing was slow and even.


    ***


    Meanwhile, over at the Bridger Lake


    shopping center, the sound of


    shattering ss shattered the calm


    inside a private club. Grace stood in her bedroom, her face as pale as the sheets, chest rising and falling as she tried to hold it together. Her most trusted aide stood by the wall, head down, too scared to say a word.


    “Useless,” Grace spat, her eyes cold and sharp. "He can''t even handle one person, and now the police got him!"


    She knew Seth would never betray her. But Alex was still alive, and he had the recording. She couldn''t escape this. Was she really about to watch everything she''d built fall apart?


    "Mom, what''s going on? You look awful." Sofia came in, fresh from the spa next door, and froze at the scene. Dread crept up her spine.


    Grace snapped out of her thoughts, grabbed Sofia''s hands, and pulled her close. "Sofia, Seth''s been taken in, and the police have Alex. You need to pack your bags and leave Bridger Lake right now.


    “Go abroad. Yes, your visa''s still good, isn''t it? Leave right away. Tell your dad there''s a project and you have to go, just make something up."


    If there was still a chance to fix this, Sofia could alwayse hometer. But if things really went south Grace would make sure her daughter stayed clear of it all. Bailey and Hank would know that Sofia had nothing to do with any of this.


    Sofia stared at her, panic spreading across her face. "Mom, what about you?


    You''ll be okay, right? You have a n?”