Chapter 24
Each day that passes, Riley grows more protective of Liz, making each member of the team promise she will never be left unattended.
He has given them all strict orders to pull her from whatever task or training is taking place and return her to their apartment if they spot Matt. The plan has worked so far.
Mikey switched up their workout routine, forcing her to the gym extra early to avoid any unwanted interactions, delivering her safely home right after.
Tyler and Alex run interference, keeping Matt away from Liz with fake information about Dmitri and his operation.
A task they happily took on after walking in on Mikey, Liz, and Riley wearing robes, fluffy headbands, and face masks while Liz introduced them to the wonders of trash reality tv.
Thanks to one man’s deplorable actions, Liz is now back to being a prisoner. Unable to leave or see anyone other than her approved four people and, despite them trying to make it enjoyable, she misses the freedom she had.
Liz practically dances across the lot on the way to the gym, letting the warm sunshine blanket her face, the smell of freshly fallen rain soothing something deep in her soul.
She spent her morning snuggled up in bed with Riley, talking about all the things they have missed out on doing together. That prompted him to ask her to do some hand-to-hand training with him later. One of the things they have missed most.
Nearly halfway through their workout, Liz’s phone chirps with a text.
Her face lights up the moment she sees it is from Riley.
He is on the way. She drops what she is doing, leaving Mikey to re-rack her weights while she rushes to the bathroom to freshen up.
He may have already seen her at her worst, but things seem to always get a little—intense, when they workout together.
Mikey separated them at home for that very reason.
Liz double checks herself in the long bathroom mirror one last time.
Her eye is looking better. The stitches finally came out, and her lip is almost fully healed.
She gives herself one more look before prancing out.
Her excitement turns to dread when she steps through the door.
Leaning against the wall, arms crossed like he has been perched there, waiting for her to emerge, is Matt.
She frantically looks around, wondering how the hell he made it past Mikey.
“Hey, honey. I miss you,” he says cooly, pushing off the wall, blocking her exit. “You haven’t returned my messages. I was hoping we could go out again.”
“Even if you didn’t pull the shit you did, I wouldn’t go out with you again. I told you, I am seeing someone. That night was a mistake, one I won’t make a second time,” she retorts.
He looks at her with his brows furrowed, a look of confusion on his face, one that quickly twists into anger.
“See, this is what’s wrong with you. This is why no one will ever fucking love you, Liz. You are delusional. Batshit fucking crazy!” he shouts.
Liz flinches like his words physically slapped her.
“He has no interest in you! Everyone heard what he said that day. For fucks sake dude, he told me to try and fucking date you, practically begged me to get you the fuck away from him! I have been trying to help you, to keep you safe from the people who want to kill you and maybe give you the life you deserve. Yet here you are still, holding out hope he will have feelings for you someday!” he practically screams.
She looks around, frantic. She has no weapons. Fighting him will buy her time to try and slip away. But one of the stupidest things she could do is fight him while he is in a fit of rage and yelling to Mikey is no use. The second she walks away his headphones get turned all the way up.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Liz says with all the confidence she can muster, hoping if she refuses to play into his tantrum he will let her leave, though a feeling of unease grows with the volume of his voice.
“I know exactly what I am talking about. I could have kept you safe and made you happy if you would have let me. We could have built a relationship, one where you’re not only good for a quick fuck while I hide behind a mask.
How are you so fucking stupid that you think a man too ashamed of himself to even show his face could ever love you?
” he screams, so lost in his anger he can’t hear the figure approaching behind him.
Liz’s eyes light up, a smile tugging at her lips when she sees him reach and pull the mask off, tossing it aside.
“What the hell are you smiling at?” he demands.
“Her husband.” A deep voice booms.
Matt jumps. He spins around to find himself toe to toe with Riley. He scrambles back, nearly bumping into Liz who is now watching him with amusement dancing in her eyes.
“Who the fuck are you?” Matt snaps, so lost in his anger he forgets they are on a military base, filled with men and women who outrank him.
“I’m your fucking commander, and I will give you to the count of one to step away from my wife,” he orders. The way his voice commands authority sends chills skating over her body.
Matt steps aside, allowing Liz to march right to Riley’s side where he promptly wraps his arm around her and pulls her against his chest. He dips his head, placing a quick kiss on her lips before moving her safely behind him.
“You’re commander Corson?” Matt sneers, sizing up the god of a man in front of him. “You think I’m stupid. He never goes anywhere without hiding his face.”
“Right. Because I’m too ashamed?” he asks, voice dripping with sarcasm.
“Thats what you said right?” He takes a step closer.
“When you were screaming at Liz, berating her for not settling for you when she has me at home.” He smiles at Matt when his eyes go wide.
He may not have seen his face before, but there is no forgetting the edge in his voice.
Another step.
“What? Nothing to say? Only brave enough to scream at women you assault in dark hallways? Better get it all out because I am going to kill you this time.”
“No murder!” Liz groans from behind him, looking around to find the gym nearly cleared of anyone who had been in there before.
“No promises, love,” he calls back. His lip kicks up in amusement watching Matt’s eyes dart between the two of them.
“Don’t lose your nerve now,” he says, stepping toward Matt once more, backing him up until he nearly touches the wall.
“Not so fun, is it? To be cornered by someone bigger. Stronger. Someone who wants to hurt you. All I want is to see you dead, so imagine how scared Liz was when you tried to take more than just her life?”
“I didn’t do any—” Matt stammers.
Riley’s hand encases his throat, squeezing until Matt’s hands fly up, grabbing at his arm.
“I saw the security footage,” Riley shouts, slamming Matt into the wall. He grips tighter. Squeezing. Riley stares into his eyes, watching them turn from fear to absolute terror.
Matt weakly swings his arm out, the loss of oxygen getting to him already. Riley lifts his free arm, easily blocking his fist. Riley’s first hit breaks something. Blood pours from Matt’s nose, dripping onto the arm holding his throat.
“I watched you touch her.” The second hit is harder. Drops of thick crimson spatter across his face.
“I watched you hurt her,” he yells, swinging again.
“I watched you try to take something that doesn’t belong to you,” he shouts with one final swing.
Matt’s head is sent flying to the side, blood spraying the wall beside them. The moment Riley loosens his grip, Matt crumples onto the floor, gasping for air.
Liz rushes back to Riley’s side, letting him pull her into his side, listening to Matt’s ragged breaths like it’s a symphony. She has so many questions about what just happened.
“Clean yourself up,” Riley says. “You should probably set that broken nose before your investigation starts.” He steers Liz back down the hall, away from the scene he made.
“Stay here,” he says, running to where Mikey absentmindedly lifts weights, either not knowing, or not caring about what just happened.
She can’t take her eyes off of him. It has been so long since she has seen him in his element, thriving.
It’s an incredible sight. He jogs back to where she waits.
Riley grabs her hand, pulling her out the door and across the parking lot to Mikey’s truck.
Liz scrambles in, scooting herself into the middle, needing to be close to Riley.
He climbs in next to her, starting the truck before gripping her leg with one hand and the steering wheel with the other.
Butterflies erupt in her stomach as they peel out of the lot, heading somewhere off base.
Liz snuggles closer, wrapping her arms around Riley’s arm, careful to avoid any blood.
She rests her head on his shoulder, ecstatic to have a small sense of normalcy back.
“Where are we going?” she asks, smiling up at him when he gives her leg a little squeeze.
“Home.”