Page 53 of Point Proven
“And fucked it up, too. He didn’t even let me help wash him or take care of him like I always do.”
“I don’t know much about Levander Vescari, but what I know is that he’s been running that organization since he was sixteen. Meaning, he’s done everything by himself from that point on. Hell, I’m sure it was that way beforehand too, since he was the one who murdered his father.”
Was it my business to disclose Levander’s life history? Probably not, but my best friend was two seconds away from combusting, and if we wanted to save Liam, heneededto be there. Clear-headed.
Contemplating my words, he dipped his chin in a slow nod. “Noted. That… makes a lot of sense.” His eyes sparkled, and knowing Matt, he wouldn’t abandon this newfound hope.
Driving two fingers into the center of his chest, I pushed him back. “Givenyourtrack record, donotallow this to turn into an obsession. You hear me?”
“Me? Obsessive?” He grinned. “Farthest thing from it. I’m collected and calm since being overseas.”
I folded my arms, looking at him with a lack of amusement. “Yeah? What’re you going to do when Levander goes back tothe States, and you’re stuck overseas, totallycalm, cool, and collected?”
Opening his mouth, nothing came out as he snapped his jaw shut. Clearing his throat, he rubbed the side of his neck. “O-Oh… I didn’t think about that. I’m still stationed here for at least another three months.”
“Mmm. Mhm,” was all I offered.
Chewing his lip, he pressed his shoulder against the wall as he turned. “Enough about me. You were headed out, weren’t you? Want company?”
“I was just going out for a smoke—” I caught myself, knowing the mention of such an act would immediately warrant a red flag in Matt’s head.
He knew metoowell.
“Asmoke?” Positioning himself in front of me, he narrowed his eyes. “So my intuition was correctagain. And by the way, while everyone else might not catch it, I saw that fake fucking smile you plastered on your face when speaking to Oren. So, tell me, what’s going on between you two?”
“Fake smile?” My anger spiked, fists balling with enough pressure that my nails cut into my palms. “I don’t fakeshitaround him.”
“Excuse me. Not fake as in a lie, but fake because it’s not full of happiness. And sure, get defensive, because you’re only proving my point. Is it the stress? Trying to manage everything by yourself? Keeping Oren safe? Keepingeveryonesafe?”
“God, Matthew. Shut up. I’m not in the fucking mood.”
“Well, you never are, which is why I’m in your life to pester you until you own up. So, do you want me to keep spouting off what I think is going on, or would you like to tell me? Because from what I can tell, you’re at the end of your rope. And Iknowyou don’t want to tell Oren, because you adore him more than life itself and don’t want to burden him.”
My jaw tensed with enough force to pop. “I’m not having this goddamn conversation right now. Not when we have far greater things to worry about.”
“Oh? Andyouremotions aren’t important? How you’re handling all of this isn’t important?” He scoffed, but he tugged against my shirt, hauling me into his arms. “Well, best friend, looks like you’re stuck until you do. And for the millionth time, youdon’thave to be strong around me.”
Every part of mecraveda hug, to be held and understood in the bullshit I was shouldering, but I knew if I allowed it, I would fracture. I didn’t have time for brokenness.
Shoving him away, I snarled.“Don’t.”
“Why? Because then you’ll fall apart, and you don’t have time to? Because if you break, how will you keep everyone safe?” He shook his head. “Well, if you don’t want to say it, I will. You’re doing amazing, buddy, and if I say so myself, you’re surrounded by people who love and cherish you.
“You carry way too fucking much and shoulder everything, because it’s what you believe you’re meant to do. You’re scared to lose Oren, of that I’m fucking sure, and rightfully so because of what happened last time, but your team is here to supportyou. Just like you did with me.”
My chest tightened, breathing a near-impossible task. Moving to step around him, I tucked my hands back into my hoodie pocket. “I’m fine. I’llbefine.”
“Mhm. The great Thorne Graves, who won’t even look at me right now, because he knows if he does, he’ll cry. Andthat’snot something he can allow himself to do, because everything will crack and fall apart. Well, it won’t?—”
“Itwon’t?” Pivoting on my heel, I slammed my palms into his chest. “Itwon’t?That’sboldcoming from the one who turned his back on me alongside Liam and Simon when myone goalwas to protect Oren from that mission! That’sironiccoming from theman who watched me walk out of thatgoddamnhospital room and didn’t bother to fucking chase after me. And you still had the balls to claim I was your best fucking friend! Every goddamn person in this unit, this…whatever the fuck,has turned their backs on me each fucking time I’ve tried to ‘do my best.’Youare included in the fucking count. So do not sit here and speak to me as if you have a goddamn clue or any concept of understanding when you’ve acted just like the rest of them!”
Matt stepped closer, brows pulled tight as a solemn expression replaced his once confident tone. “Thorne, I?—”
“Baby?” Followed by a yawn, my sleep-deprived blonde rubbed at his eyes with his knuckles. Dressed in a pair of sweats, his chest was bare, hair disheveled from slumber, but my eyes settled on the scar on his abdomen—the scar that almost took him from me. “Mmm… loud. Every… Everything okay?”
“Just…” Running a hand down my face, I bit my lip with enough force to draw blood as I tried to keep my tone level. “Go back to bed. I’ll be in soon.”
Shaking his head, he teetered to the side. “N-Nightmare… I-I woke up… alone.”
