Page 107 of Concealed

My body is still battered from my battle with Wang Yong, and I am not winning this fight.

And if I die, I don’t want her to have to live with the images.

Every breath is razor blades, and my limbs are exhausted. I’m only landing half-hearted blows to my opponent’s chest, and then his fist connects with my chin, making stars dance before my eyes.

Matt’s weight suddenly collapses on me like a rag doll.

“Wyatt!”

Rebecca’s beautiful, tear-stained face comes into view, standing over top of us like an angel. She’s holding Matt’s gun, and she smashes the butt into his head again for good measure.

But when she cocks it, I shove him off me and painfully jump to my feet.

“Babe, no,” I insist. “It’s not worth it. I promise he’ll go to jail this time.”

“You might, too,” she whispers.

“I’ll get fired. I won’t get arrested. You were in distress that could be heard from the street, and the Vegas PD is clearly incompetent.”

“They’re scared,” she whispers. “Scared of him and his dad.”

“Did he…”

The words hang in the air, and when she shakes her head, a long breathe whooshes out of me. But rather than relief, I wince, my ribs aching.

Vegas PD chooses that moment to enter the bedroom with Grant on their heels.

“Tell me you weren’t waiting for a warrant when you had reasonable grounds for entry,” I snap.

“Do you know who–”

“I know. And I don’t give a shit. He was going to rape her and then probably kill her while you stood on the porch like a pair of pussies.”

I want to get in their faces, but the most important person in my world needs me right now. She runs into my arms, and I hug her for all I’m worth, ignoring the pain radiating from, well, everywhere.

To their credit, Mike and Bernard cuff an unconscious Matt and not me.

“You’re going to need to come with us to the station and make a statement. Both of you,” Bernard says.

“Sure,” I agree. “My boss will drive us there while you deal with Matt.”

I stare Bernard down, daring him to try and arrest me or make me leave with them. But he doesn’t, and it’s a good thing because there’s no chance that I’m letting Rebecca out of my sight.

“Do you need to go to the hospital?” Grant asks, while Mike and Bernard radio for the paramedics and stand guard by Matt’s side.

I shake my head. “I’ll stay with Rebecca. I’m good.”

“You look like hell,” Rebecca notes with tears in her eyes. “I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. Nothing about this situation with Matt is your fault.”

“But you getting hurt is my fault,” she wails.

I guide her toward the bed and grab a blanket, wrapping it tightly around her. None of her clothes are here – they’re at my house – so this will have to do until we can get a rental car and then a hotel room.

“Babe, I’m fine. Don’t worry. I’d kiss you, but I’m covered in blood.”

She gives me a small, tentative smile. “I should have stayed with you. I just didn’t want him to ruin your life.”

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