As soon as they arrived at the hospital, Diana was rushed inside.
Matthew gave a sharp nod to the bodyguards.
+ "Go in. Keep your eyes on the girl. Nobody makes a move without my say."
He didn't wait for a response and headed toward the ambulance where Jacob was.
The moment Jacob saw him, he was climbing down, IV still attached to his hand.
He opened his mouth to ask something, but Matthew raised a hand, two of the medics immediately stepped in front of him.
+ "I'll explain. Wait."
/"His vitals are stable, but we still recommend a few scans and tests to be sure there's no head trauma from the fall."
Matthew gave a curt nod and kept walking toward the main hospital building where they had taken Diana.
_"What the hell happened, Matthew?"
"What about Diana? Did someone take her? Did she run? God...how did I not even notice someone get that close to me?"
+ "It was Diana."
_"What?"
He blinked, confused.
Matthew clenched his jaw before answering.
+ "The one who stunned you… was that stubborn girl."
Jacob was so shocked, he forgot how to breathe..
Or think
Or react.
A short, awkward laugh escaped him.
He had no idea what to say.
_"How did she even… how was she that quiet?"
Matthew turned back toward him, ignoring that they were standing in a hospital corridor.
He grabbed Jacob by the collar and growled in his face
+ "That's the damn question, isn't it?"
+ "Why the hell was your guard down so far that some clumsy girl could get close enough to stun your ass, and you in the middle of the damn street pull your gun like a rookie and fire? You get what I'm saying or not?"
_"I… I didn't mean to shoot…"
And then..
Like a coin finally dropping..
It hit him.
He stared in disbelief.
_"I shot her?"
"I… oh God…"
His eyes scanned the building like he could suddenly see her through the walls.
_"Diana."
His chest tightened.
_"I shot Diana?"
The scenes started to replay
One by one
In brutal clarity.