Obsessed (The Protectors #13) - Sloane Kennedy Page 0,61
of episode in front of was proof that I hadn't gotten stronger—I’d just gotten better at keeping things inside. That dam had been bound to burst at some point given the right trigger.
And Matias, apparently, was the trigger.
Even though I was more in control of my emotions, the need to escape was greater than ever. If I could've crawled into a hole and disappeared, I would have. The best I could do was make a break for it. "I, uh, need to go. I have to pick up my son," I said, my voice hoarse from the tears. I tugged my hand free of Ren’s and stepped around the chair and headed in the direction of the front door.
"Sam," Declan called as he climbed to his feet.
But I didn't stop. I couldn't. I needed to find a way to pull myself back together and I couldn't do that in front of these men. Hell, I didn't even know if I could do it, period.
"Sorry, my son is waiting…" I lied. I was halfway down the hall with the front door in view, so my escape was imminent.
That was when Declan said, "Sam, Matias is okay."
I came to a stumbling halt as my brain processed his words. I whirled around and looked at him.
"He is?" I asked as all the humiliation I'd been feeling was gone just like that and relief flooded every cell in my body. "He's alive?"
Before Declan could respond, I heard the front door behind me open. I didn't know how I knew, but I did. I knew exactly who would be standing there when I turned around.
Still, when I did turn, the sight of Matias nearly drove me to my knees. He looked perfectly fine. Unhurt and strong and beautiful. The lifeless eyes that had been haunting me for weeks were full of light. I almost started to walk toward him but then I saw a man appear behind him, his expression grim. Beyond him were several more men. I looked back at Matias and saw something in his eyes that I'd never seen before.
Regret.
If it had just been me and him and he’d been returning to my house after his abrupt departure, I could've written off the regret as being related to that, but in my gut I knew it had nothing to do with the events of how we’d parted. I confirmed that by looking at Declan. The worry in his eyes was clear.
The worry for me.
Oh God.
Chapter 19
Matias
My relief at seeing Sam unhurt was short-lived because the first words that came out of his mouth were filled with pure terror.
"Ryan? Elliot?" he breathed, his voice catching on his children's names.
I knew instantly what he was asking. As I hurried to close the distance between us, I said, "They're fine. They're both fine, Sam. I promise you."
His relief was palpable. As soon as I reached him, he put out his arm and grabbed onto me. Then his hands were on my face. "You're okay?" he asked as his swollen, reddened eyes scanned my body.
I managed to nod, but nothing more. I couldn't comprehend his level of worry. Why would it be for me? Especially after the way I’d left.
Sam pushed into my arms while his went around my neck. "I'm sorry, Matias, I didn't know what else to do. I was so scared."
I had no clue what he was talking about. But I automatically put my arms around him and held him close. I remembered that we had an audience, but I didn't care. It wasn't until I looked up at Declan and saw him watching the both of us that something finally clicked in my muddled brain. I was so floored by the possibility that I found myself putting distance between my and Sam's bodies so I could look him in the eye. "Did you come here for me?" I asked in disbelief.
Sam dropped his eyes. He looked like he was going to be physically ill. On the drive over to Declan's house, I'd been trying to figure out how to tell Sam about the danger he and his sons were now in because of me. I'd planned to do it back at his house but looking at him now and realizing he was blaming himself for something he had absolutely nothing to feel guilty about, I knew I couldn't wait that long.
To Declan I said, "Is there some place he and I can talk?"