Page 97 of Concealed

Not only does he know it, but he’s also not afraid to advertise his status and use it to his advantage at every possible opportunity.

The familiar dread and fear that I lived with for so many years rises in my chest and takes over my body. This is where my freeze response comes from – I can’t overpower him, and he usually goes easier on me if I don’t try.

Fighting back only fuels his quiet rage and, besides, he loves it and gets off on my struggle and pain.

“It was easy to convince your friend Alex to tell me where you were, and it didn’t take me long to find you here,” Matt says cheerfully, as though announcing the winning lottery numbers.

Alex.

But why didn’t she warn me?

“If you make this situation hard on me, Alex is going to have a very unfortunate accident that she may not survive,” Matt continues. “And the little boyfriend you’re living with? He’s already getting fired, so don’t make me kill him, too.”

Bile rises in my throat and I retch. My past can’t ruin Wyatt’s future – or worse, take his life. I won’t allow it, and even the prospect that it could happen fills me with dread and self-hatred.

I never should have come here.

Maybe that means I never would have known love, but at least Wyatt wouldn’t have to learn the specific, terrible brand of pain and destruction that fighting with Matt brings.

“Now come on,” Matt says softly, as foreboding fills me. “We’re going home.”

Home.

Except I’m already home.

Being with Wyatt is the best part of my new life. But now I have to go back to my old one in a desperate attempt to spare him any anguish.

He’ll never understand, but he doesn’t have to. Sacrifices need to be made, and I’m the one who came here and brought trouble through his front door.

So, I’ll be the one to suffer.

Wyatt is going places in his career, and Matt’s family can ruin everything for him. I never should have expected anyone to save me, especially a sweet stranger who doesn’t deserve all the chaos I brought with me from Vegas.

I chose Matt, and now I’m stuck with him.

There’s no doubt Matt is going to make me pay, but it’s too dangerous for everyone else in my life if I try to leave again.

He’s already threatened Wyatt and Alex. What if he kills my parents? My brother?

No.

I won’t let it happen.

Matt’s arm is around my bicep like a vice, while he drags me toward the black Suburban that is going to take me straight back to hell.

We’re twenty feet away from the passenger door when Wyatt’s truck screeches to a halt in front of us, blocking the path.

Oh, no.

When Wyatt jumps out of the truck, his hand is already on the butt of his gun. His eyes are filled with hatred, fixated like a bullseye where Matt is touching me.

Wyatt is looking for a reason to shoot Matt, and I can’t give him one. A decision like that one will end Wyatt’s life as he knows it.

“Let go of her, Matt,” Wyatt says.

His tone is a deathly calm warning, and wild horses stomp through my insides while my gaze ping pongs back and forth between the man I love and the man I loathe.

“What a surprise,” Matt says. “The wannabe boyfriend is here to save the day.”

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