"Do you think you''re untouchable? That nothing can hurt you?"


    Matthew knew Reese was only scared for him. She was shaken, still caught up in the what-ifs, so he didn''t try to defend himself. He just kept quiet and listened.


    Owning your mistakes was something he''d learned as soon as he joined the army. You don''t argue, you face up to what you did.


    When Reese finally started to calm down, Matthew eased himself onto the edge of the bed beside her. They sat close, barely a hand''s width apart. He could smell the gentle scent of her shampoo, see the tired red in her eyes.


    "I know you''re worried. I know I shouldn''t have gone behind your back," he said softly. "But Derek''s the one who was gonna give me a second chance. My bone marrow donor. He''s the reason I''m still here."


    "Nathaniel only grabbed him because of me. He tortured him. I couldn''t just stand by and do nothing."


    "And I didn''t go in alone." He tried to meet her eyes, searching for a sign she understood. "Before I left, I called Frank from SWAT. We set a n. The siren was our signal. The whole team was ready to move in. I wasn''t being reckless. I knew I could protect myself and get Derek out."


    He reached out, wanting to take her hand, but Reese pulled away so fast it stung.


    "Confident?” Her voice rose, trembling at the edges. "You think that matters? Bullets don''t care if you''re confident. Nathaniel deals in human organs, Matthew. There''s nothing he won''t do.


    “What if he''d lost itpletely? What if he''d pulled the trigger? Would your


    confidence have stopped a bullet?


    "If something happened to you... what would I do?


    "Did you ever think about me?” Her voice cracked. "Did you ever think about your body, what you''ve already been through?"


    "If something went wrong, if you left me...” She choked on the words, unable to finish. The rest caught in her throat Hereyes filled with tears spitting over before she could even wipe them away.


    She knew his sense of duty, the weight he carried. She just cared about him so much it hurt. The thought of losing him scared her more than anything. The more she picture what could have happened the colder she felt, her chest growing tight.


    Watching her eyes go red, seeing each tear sliding down her pale cheeks, Matthew''s heart cracked wide open. He couldn''t take it.


    He pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her and holding her tight.


    "I''m sorry, Reese. It''s my fault,” he whispered. "I shouldn''t have kept you in the dark.


    I never wanted to make you worry like this."


    He stroked her back gently, trying tofort her, his voice low and soothing. "No


    more crying, okay? I''m here. I''m safe. Nothing happened to me."


    Reese leaned into him, letting herself rx in the circle of his arms, listening to the steady rhythm of his Heartbeat Her anger faded, leaving only fear and something softer, raw and aching.


    She hugged him tighter, burying her face in his chest. Her tears soaked through his hospital gown, but he didn''t let go.


    “Nathaniel''s a wanted man now," Matthew murmured quietly, his breath warm by her ear. “The police are after him. He can''t hide, not anymore. He''s not going to hurt anyone else.


    "And Derek is safe. He''s hurt, but he''s going to recover. He just needs time to heal.


    “And Bailey... the cops know everything now. His deals with Nathaniel are out in the open. He won''t get away with it. Not this time."