Page 10 of Monster's Claim
“A couple of days in bed and she’ll be rightas rain.Just a bruised bone,” Dr.Kelly said.
Matthias had panicked when Lara blacked outin his arms, so he called the only person he trusted.It turned outRyker was on a date with his wife.Sky would keep this matterquiet, so he wasn’t worried.
The doc was someone the Familia used often,someone Ryker trusted.Ryker assured him that Dr.Kelly would keephis mouth shut about this incident, even from Marco.That was allMatthias needed to know.
Matthias ignored the pointed look Rykerflashed his direction.He wasn’t ready to give Ryker an answer.Assoon as Ryker escorted the doctor out, he reached for Lara’s hand,curling his fingers around it.So soft and warm, clean of scars andany other imperfections.When she’d told him about Skip’s abuse, hekept envisioning a pattern of ugly bruises on that creamy skin.Thethought drove him up the wall.
The moment Matthias heard Lara’s confession,Skip just made himself a walking dead man.He’d take extra care,keeping the poor fucker alive, just to wring extra screams from hisbody.Matthias wouldn’t forget the fear that consumed his entirebody when Lara fell.If he hadn’t been there, Lara wouldn’t belying on his bed; he’d just have a corpse to bury.
Matthias knew she’d bolt after he unchainedher, had expected it.Let her.If he really wanted to keep her, shewouldn’t even reach the stairs, but hearing the reason why she cuther hair and her relationship with Skip, he didn’t want to addanother scar on her already broken heart.
This woman was dangerous in so many ways.Weak didn’t exist in his dictionary.Until her.Matthias never felta shred of guilt or remorse, didn’t ask questions each time theFamilia needed someone to talk.Minutes was all he needed to makethem sing.
Lara hadn’t lied to him once.Matthias hadbeen doing this long enough to develop certain instincts to pickout the liars.She volunteered to tell him all she knew about Skip,and she knew absolutely nothing.
Matthias let her go, only to realize therewould be no escape for her.She’d already seen him.The Familiawould never let her walk out of this.Matthias had a solution forthat.He studied Lara’s sleeping figure.After she fell, he’dstripped her out of her clothes, save her underwear.He likedseeing his shirt on her and would probably not wash it afterwardsfor a few days so her scent lingered.
A knock on the door made him snarl, but itwas only Sky, with a tray of food and water.He relaxed, letting goof Lara’s hand to take the tray from her.She batted his hand awayand set the tray on the table next to his bed.
“I’m pregnant, not lame,” she complained.That got a smile out of him.
“How is she?”Sky asked.
“Bruised bone, nothing serious.”
“We have different definitions of nothingserious.Matthias, what the fuck?”Ryker demanded by the door.
Before he could say something he probablywould regret, Sky interrupted them.“Out, have this conversation inthe living room.This poor girl needs rest.”
At that tone, they headed outside.It wouldbe good, he realized, if Lara woke up to Sky’s friendly face, nothis fucked-up one.They headed to the dining room.
“Matthias,” Ryker said, sounding impatient.“Marco needs answers soon.He’s had our men scour the entire cityfor Skip.”
Matthias pulled out Lara’s phone from hispocket and slid it across the dining table.“She’s a dead lead.Knows nothing, had no clue Skip worked as a bookie for us.”
Ryker frowned.“I didn’t see any of yourhandiwork on her.”
“There wasn't a need to.”
Tension mounted in the room.
“Matthias, it's not like you to be sloppyjust because she’s a woman.”
He growled, clenched his fists, and slowlycounted to ten in his head.It didn’t help.Matthias still wantedto punch the living daylights out of Ryker.Ryker wouldn’t be aneasy opponent either.
“You’re lucky your wife came with you.Otherwise you wouldn’t be walking out of here with that prettyface,” Matthias finally said with a sneer.
Ryker glowered at him.The old Ryker he knewwould resort to violence first and ask questions later.It lookedlike being married to Sky had done something remarkable, becauseRyker blew out a breath and only loosened his tie.
“Explain this situation to me then.”
Matthias didn’t like to drag out Ryker’spast in the spotlight, knowing Ryker was touchy about it, but hehad to make his point.“Years ago, you killed River, your ownbrother, as vengeance for what he and his friends did to Sky.Skywas only a stranger to you then.This situation is no different.The moment I took Lara, I knew.”
Ryker flared his nostrils then let out abreath.“You’re fucking serious about her?You’ve only had her fora day.”
“It’s enough.”
Ryker considered him for a long moment.Seeing as Ryker looked more relaxed now, Matthias grabbed two beersfrom the fridge and handed Ryker one.
