Page 85 of Selfish Desires

A heavy silence filled the room as we each processed Stephen’s words. His face was a canvas of anger and pain as he peered at Vincent with absolute loathing.

“Stephen,” I began. “Let’s just calm down and think things through. It doesn’t have to end this way.” I blinked back thick tears as I thought about everything I’d miss out on if Stephen’s plan succeeded.

Stephen locked eyes with me, and for a second, I thought I caught a glimmer of hope flickering in his deadened eyes. “Sorry, Wendy. Not tonight.” And then he turned back to Vincent. “You’ve taken everything from me,” Stephen continued, each word seething with raw emotion. “You’ve decimated my life, piece by piece, until there was nothing left for me to hold on to.”

“Stephen...” Vincent began haltingly, “I didn't mean to cause...”

But Stephen wasn't done. He roared out his pain, cutting off Vincent's attempt to explain himself. “And now that I have nothing left to lose.” Stephen paused. “I’ll make sure you pay every bit of the debt you owe me.”

The room fell silent once again, a silence so deafening it was almost tangible. I watched Stephen’s gaze turn to me, his eyes softening slightly. “Do you still love him, Wendy?”

A single tear traced a jagged path down my cheek, but I cleared my throat, meeting Stephen's gaze head-on. “Yes,” I said firmly. “Despite everything, I still do. And I always will.”

Stephen nodded as if he had expected the response. He took a deep breath and looked at Vincent one last time. “The debt starts with you losing something you love,” he said, pointing a finger at me.

My heart pounded so loudly in my chest that it was all I heard over the blood rushing in my ears. As Stephen left the room, I turned to Vincent, our eyes locking in a silent plea for forgiveness and understanding amidst the chaos we found ourselves trapped in.

“Wendy,” Vince whispered. “I’m going to get us out of here. Don’t worry. If it’s the last thing I do.”

“Oh yeah? What’s the plan, Vin?” And then my breath hitched when a single tear ran down Vincent’s face.

He opened his mouth, but nothing came out. Something that seemed to be a common theme since we woke up. As much as we hated to admit, I was right. We were doomed. “How long have you known about the baby?”

“Just earlier today.” My eyes dropped to the floor as another tear spilled from the corner of my eye, slinking down my nose. “Since these are probably our last minutes, I’ll be honest and say I was going to call you about the news today or tomorrow.”

“Wendy, I am so sorry for leaving. Letting you leave. You were right all along. I should have gone with you. I should have listened to you. You were always right and always deserved better than me. I don’t even know what else I can say to you to prove my trust anymore. I’ve messed up so many times. I don’t deserve you.” Vincent shook his head. “I never did. But please, Wendy. Give me one last chance. My heart meant well, but my mind wasn’t there. And it hurt you. I know I hurt you. But now, all I want to do is make us better. Make you better. I know I can do it, too. Just give me one last chance, my love.”

“That’s a pretty hard request from a soon-to-be-dead man,” Stephen chimed in.

Vincent glared at Stephen but averted his eyes back to me. “I promise, when we leave here tonight alive, you’ll see that I’ll never go anywhere again. I’ll be the best father to our child. And whatever you want me to be to you, that’s what I’ll be. I’ll accept your choice but never stop loving you. Whether we’re together or apart, you are my world and always will be, Wendy. My intentions were always built around the idea to protect you. If you go on forever hating my actions, just know, Wendy, that my intentions for you were true.”

The tears flowed down my face, and I didn’t try to hide them. How could I even with my hands tied behind my fucking back? “Vincent, just stop. I don’t want to hear it.”

“But you have to hear it.” Vincent’s chest heaved. “I love you so much.”

“I know you do, I know. I just wish you weren’t so fucked up.” I shook my head. “I will say this. If, by some miracle, we make it out here tonight, I’m going back to New York and will raise the baby there. It was a mistake to run from my life. I miss my old life. Newport is nice, and it’s been good to me. But it was never my true home.”

“Can I come with you?” Vincent tried to reach for me, but it was a fruitless attempt.

“You can go wherever you want. But whatever I decide, you have to respect it.”

“I already said I would respect any decision you make.”

“Yes, but will you actually listen to it?” I hissed.

“I know anything I say right now sounds like bullshit, but I will do anything for you. Believe it or not, in my mind, I thought I was doing right by you all this time. Trying to keep you safe. And now look at us.” Vincent laughed weakly. “If I had only known how this would have ended, I never would have strayed. I would have soaked up every second with you because every time I turned and saw your face, it reminded me of how good I had it. How lucky I was. I even feel lucky now just to be with you again. Does that sound crazy, Wen?”

“No,” I whispered. “I feel it, too.”

“Then trust me, Wendy. Trust me one more time.” Vincent's blue eyes begged me to believe him.

I looked at him, the man I loved and who tore my heart apart, trapped in this danger because of his past mistakes. “It’s just…” I began until the creek of the door interrupted us, and Stephen reappeared.

Except he wasn’t alone.

Behind Stephen trailed figures who made my stomach flip and my heart lurch. How much more betrayal could my brain process? But a huge part of me wanted to watch Vincent’s face register the scene before us.

“Hey, lovebirds,” said Stephen, stopping dead center in the room with Zachary to his right and Cyrus stationed to his left but slightly behind him. “I think the two of you know our special guests?” Stephen motioned to the men. “As a matter of fact, today wouldn’t have happened without everyone’s dear and loyal friend Zachary over here. Isn’t that right, Zach?”

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