Page 77 of Blindsided

He gently guides me out of the car with a gentle hold on my arm. Another officer unlocks the cuffs. The second my arms are released, I sink to the ground. The officers jump to catch me. The one who helped me out of the car scoops me up into his arms and carries me over to a waiting ambulance.

The paramedics check me over while the officers ask me questions. I’m barely able to string two words together. My brain is in a fog. It still doesn’t feel real that I’ve been saved.Please, God, don’t let this be a dream.

“Can you do this later? Your questions are impeding my ability to do my job,” the medic snaps.

The officers reluctantly walk away. Once they’re gone, I take a deep breath.

“Thank you,” I whisper to the EMT.

“Their questions were driving me crazy. And you seemed like you needed a minute,” he says. “I’m Jason, if you didn’t hear me before. I’m going to take your blood pressure again now that they’re gone. Do you have any other injuries besides the head wound?”

“No. I got that when I tried to escape. Hit my head on the sidewalk when he knocked me down. He also backhanded me.”

“Okay. Your blood pressure is a little high, but that’s normal after what you went through. I don’t see any signs of a concussion, but if you experience any nausea or dizziness, or if the headache gets worse, you’ll need to go to the hospital immediately.”

“Talia?” Desmond’s voice breaks through the noise of the officers processing the scene. I lean around Jason to find Des barreling toward me.

“Des.” I hold my arms out, and he wraps me up in an embrace tight enough to squeeze the air from my lungs. This is exactly what I needed to prove once and for all that I’m not dreaming.

My face is buried in Desmond’s neck as he holds me.

“Are you okay?” He pulls away slightly to look at Jason. “Is she okay?”

Jason raises an eyebrow at me. I appreciate him asking for permission first, despite the obvious connection I have to Desmond.

I nod my head. “This is my brother. You can tell him.” It’s then I finally notice another man standing behind Desmond, and I gasp.

Matthew’s face is etched with longing, and I practically throw myself out of the ambulance at him. Thank God he has quick reflexes, because he catches me around my middle and holds me tight to his chest.

“What… How… You’re here.” My words are muffled in his chest.

His arms are around my shoulders, squeezing me just as tightly as I am him. “I wouldn’t be anywhere else, pretty girl.” He pulls away only far enough to look at my face. “Are you okay? Do you need to go to the hospital?”

“I don’t think so. I only have a minor head injury. Nothing else.” I look over my shoulder at Jason, and he nods his head.

“She doesn’t have any signs of a concussion, but keep an eye on her, just in case.”

“Is she cleared to go home?” Desmond asks.

“I don’t see any reason you need to go to the hospital. The officers may still need you, though.”

Desmond glances at Matthew for a beat and then heads over to find one of the detectives. I don’t loosen my hold on Matthew the entire time Des is over there. I feel as if the second I let go, he’s going to disappear. He doesn’t seem to mind. He’s holding on to me just as tightly.

Desmond comes back over to us. “We can take you home. The officers asked us to come to the station tomorrow to finish getting your statement.”

I nod at him. Exhaustion has settled in, and I can no longer think straight. I want to go home to Matthew’s. I don’t want to be in the city any longer.

CHAPTER35

Tilly

Istare at myself in the mirror.

I don’t look like me. My brown hair is limp around my shoulders, I have scrapes on my chest from being tackled, and my eyes are hollow.

I barely recognize the woman standing in front of me.

Steam begins to fill the bathroom. I can’t seem to make myself move.

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