Page 41 of Gilded Princess

I can’t be sure, but I have a sneaking suspicion that I’m in shock. And I just know that I’m going to kick my own ass for not soaking up Matteo’s voice and protectiveness, but no matter how much I want to, I can’t make myself snap out of it.

“I’m here.”

“I’m coming for you.”

His promise reverberates in my body, imprinting on my soul.

Chapter Sixteen

MADDIE

Shock.

I’m in shock.

And even though some part of me recognizes that, I can’t seem to snap myself out of it.

It’s like I blinked and all of the sudden, I’m in the back of an ambulance. Someone’s shining a light in my eyes, and I can see the EMT’s mouth moving, but I can’t quite make it out. It feels like someone shoved cotton in my ears, muffling all the noise.

I turn my head to look for Matteo, the movement feels heavy and fast. He promised that he’d be here, and I stayed on the phone, but then the cops and ambulances and firetrucks got here. And I couldn’t hear anything over the sirens.

Two cops rushed me, asking too many questions that I didn’t have answers to.

What happened?

Who blew up the warehouse?

Are there others inside?

An EMT pushed the cops aside and helped me off the ground and over to her ambulance. And I guess that’s where I’ve been for the last few minutes, sitting on the back bumper and scanning the area for Matteo. The EMT tried to get me to lie down on a stretcher, but I wouldn’t budge until I saw Lainey—and Matteo. I could’ve sworn I saw a glimpse of him.

I can’t believe he actually came.

And I really can’t believe that I called him. It was almost fateful—the entire day. It feels like something out of a movie script, not real life, and definitely not my life.

Finally, I spot him. His dark gray suit stands out in a sea of destruction even if he’s looking a little dusty and dirty. Anxiety prickles my senses with him so far away from me.

The notion doesn’t even make sense, considering I’ve seen him more in the last week than I have in the last two years combined. I shouldn’t be dependent on him—or anyone—for my comfort. My mom taught me that lesson a long time ago.

And yet, here I am.

My heart races and my adrenaline spikes when the building shudders in the background and a chunk collapses. I flinch when the crash reverberates through the industrial park.

I watch him as he shoulder-checks a cop, snarling something in his face as he passes him. He holds my gaze as he weaves around the people separating us, getting to my side a moment later.

“Madison.” His eyes tighten as he scans me from head to toe.

“You came,” I breathe the words out. I tip my head to the side, as if seeing him at this angle will offer the insight I so desperately need right now.

He takes two steps closer toward me, the fabric of his pants brushing against my shins. Sitting up on the back of the ambulance like this puts us at a closer height than normal.

He tips my chin up with one finger and leans in. “I’ll always find you.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I see the EMT stiffen at Matteo’s words, but she keeps cleaning the cuts and scrapes on my arm.

Any other day, and I might be creeped out by that sentiment. But not today. Today, I’m grateful. I reach out and wrap my fingers around his hand that’s not touching my face and give it a little squeeze. “Thank you, Matteo.”

He holds my gaze long enough that I hope he can read the sincerity in it. “It was nothing,” he murmurs, sweeping his thumb back and forth over my jaw.

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