Matthew's breathing steadied as he sat back against the bed frame, the faint scar on his side all but gone. Gabrielle perched on the edge of the bed, her worry etched into every line of her face. She reached out, her hand trembling slightly as it hovered over his chest before resting there gently.
"You don't have to keep doing this," she whispered, her voice breaking. "Chasing after someone like Ruelle... it's not worth your life."
Matthew took her hand, his grip firm but comforting. His dark eyes softened as they met hers. "Gabrielle, nothing will happen to me. I promise. Ruelle needs to be stopped. The lives he's taken, the destruction he's caused—it ends with me."
"But why does it have to be you?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"Because I can do this," Matthew replied, his tone res
