Deconstructing Bridges

Chapter Thirty

 Déjà vu overwhelmed Rose. She was swamped with memories of confronting Wallace, then whirling to find Matthew and Eddie storming in and interrupting her chance to coerce some answers. She'd hated him so much, the man who was partly responsible for inflicting so much horror. She remembered the rage and irritation she'd felt. The struggle with the man was burned into her mind. Then there was a second of wanting to kill the man who was trying to kill her, and the blur that resulted in her sticking a knife into that man's neck.

The self-disgust had soon followed, along with the ice-cold barrier that she had forced over her heart to prevent it from haunting her until Matthew had effectively shattered it. Even now, thinking about that moment showered her with hate that she could only direct towards herself. There was no fucking way she would allow that to happen to Matthew.

"Stop," she whispered without even realising it. As soon as the words left her mouth, it hit her. She hadn't run here for Marshall. She'd come for him.

"Stop!" She raised her hands as she screamed loudly this time. His hands were still firm against the man's head, though he paused as his eyes narrowed.

"Don't do it, Matt. Please, please don't do it."

"Why? Because you want to do it yourself?" Bitterness oozed out of every word that came from him, and she winced.

"No. I'm not asking for me. For you. Please don't."

Something dropped over his eyes like a veil, and she could not read him.

"I don't want to kill him. I wanted to hurt him, maybe kick him to the floor, but I don't want you to kill him."

"He deserves to die. You said it yourself. He just tried to kill you."

"It was just one bloody fail-safe," Marshall retorted through his strained throat.

"You cowboy cops just had to show up and attempt to be heroes. I was all set for a very civilised chat with my old friend."

"Shut up!" Matthew tightened his grasp on the man, and Rose felt her heart stop.

"Matt!" she heard a gasp from behind her, and she knew that Hayley had caught up to them.

"Oh God, Hayley," Eddie gasped and she turned to see Hayley run over to Eddie. He looked at her with such shock and relief, and Hayley had tears in her eyes as she helped him struggle to his feet. With her hands steadying him he straightened, his eyes remaining on her for a few extended seconds, and then he took his gun in hand and grimly pointed it towards Marshall.

"Matt, I've got him in my sights. He's not getting away. Let him go."

Matthew abruptly dropped Marshall to the floor, and Hayley and Eddie immediately grabbed the man who was gasping for air, yanking him back into the chair and keeping his hands behind his back. Rose stepped forward with eyes only for her husband but he moved back, his raised hands indicating that she should leave him alone as he heaved furiously.

"It's okay now, Matt. See? I'm here, I'm fine. I'm not hurt, I promise."

"It's fine? I remember telling you that it was fine, and you said it wasn't. You were right. It's not fine! None of this is fine."

He looked down at his hands which still shook uncontrollably, his face still red with the anger from moments before.

"Why did you stop me? You wanted this, remember? You want your revenge. Why did you stop me?"

"I wanted revenge. I don't anymore. I thought about it. Of course I thought about it. When I thought he might get away with it, I fantasised about what it would be like. But, see, I know what it would be like." She edged forward, her hands raised unthreateningly, her eyes fixed upon him.