~ Can't You Help Me As I'm Starting To Burn? ~

Part 19

Matt's POV

I stood in the middle of a hospital room, staring at one of my best friends in the world.

I saw his mouth moving, and I knew he was talking.

But nothing coming out was making any sense to me.

Bella?

In the hospital?

In critical condition because of an abusive boyfriend?

It didn't make any sense at all.

Bella isn't being abused.

She would've told me.

I know she would have.

At least I hope she trusted me enough to share that secret with me.

But she didn't.

She had trusted Jimmy.

I tried not to let jealousy sting too much.

This is Jimmy we're talking about.

Everyone loves and trusts Jimmy.

Of course she went to him when she needed help.

I should have seen this coming.

Everything was starting to piece itself together now.

Why Bella sometimes didn't come in to work, but she would have conference calls with us over the phone to check our progress.

Why she sometimes wore bulky clothing that covered her entire body.

The dark make-up, bracelets stacked up and going passed her wrists.

All the signs of someone trying to hide something.

And she was trying to hide bruises.

Because she knows we care about her.

And she knew exactly how we'd react.

Either that, or she thought we didn't care at all and didn't want to bother us with her problem.

Well, that idea is crap.

We all care about.

I'll be the first to admit that I like her a lot more then I should.

I have no idea why this happened.

To Bella of all people.

She's the sweetest, most caring person you'll ever meet.

And someone asshole who claims to love her, has been beating her.

Now she's laying in the hospital in critical condition.

The thought of him putting his hands on Bella in a harmful way made my blood boil.

I felt my skin getting hot all over, and my fists clenched into tight fists.

My breath was coming a lot faster and the words kept repeating over and over in my head.

"How did she end up in critical condition?" I whispered.

"Ryan, her boyfriend, put her there." Jimmy said softly.

Over and over again.

Her boyfriend put her there, her boyfriend put her there, her boyfriend put her there.

That piece of shit put Bella in the hospital.

He hurt her so bad, she's laying in a hospital and none of us know what's going to happen to her.