UNHOLY DESIRE

DEIRDRE

DAY TWO

I woke up to commotion. I didn’t know who was arguing, and I didn’t care about the details, but all I wanted was to ask them to be quiet.

My head pounded, and it wasn’t because I had anything to drink the day before. I guessed it was the stress from the wreck and being on the island that was now taking a toll on me.

Sleeping had been slightly difficult the night before. I tossed and turned, thinking about the dangers on the island and the possibility of an attack. Despite Vittorio’s assurances and vigilance, I had little trust. Now, just as I was about to get some good rest, someone decided it was time to disrupt it.

“Vittorio,” I murmured, wincing as I sat up from my awkward position. My entire body ached.

Blinking as I adjusted my eyes to the sun’s brightness, I stood up, dusting my palms on Matteo’s shirt that still clung to me. The people causing the commotion were Vittorio and another man. I had thought we were the only survivors on this desolate island. Seeing someone else ignited hope in me. Perhaps help was on the way, I mused.

Approaching them, I frowned as they pointed at something emerging from the sea.

“What’s going on?” I asked Vittorio when I reached him. His face was scrunched up, and he didn’t look happy.

“Seems we’re not the only ones here,” Vittorio said under his breath, and I was fortunate to hear him.

But should that have been a problem? I assumed he should be happy with the news.

“Really?” I glanced around but only saw the man.

Noticing my confusion, Vittorio looked back at me and explained, “He’s the only one here, but he says there are more.”

“Okay,” I said, then pointed to the sea. “Who’s that?” Or maybe it should be ‘what was that.’ It looked like someone on a raft heading our way.

“Another survivor, maybe,” Vittorio said.

Stepping towards the water, I stayed close to Vittorio, who suddenly gripped my hand to stop me from moving further.

I didn’t protest; I simply waited until the raft came into view. When it did, my eyes widened. I didn’t need to ask who it was. The russet hair on the man’s head wasn’t something I saw all the time, and his own was especially striking with silver streaks. Even though his shirt was torn and wet, I recognized it anywhere.

“Matteo,” I whispered as the raft reached the shore.

“Matteo?” Vittorio questioned. I heard disbelief in his voice. It puzzled me since he had been the one assuring me that there was a possibility Matteo was alive. Yet, he looked as if he had seen a ghost.

Matteo stood to his feet, staggering forward. I dashed towards him, catching him before he could fall.

Slowly, I lowered both of us to the ground, cradling his bruised face.

I know what you might be thinking, and of course, I should be mad at him for what he did and should not offer any help to him.

Truly, I was mad, but he was still the father of my daughter. There was nothing I could do to change that. The fact that he was alive made me relieved.

“You’re alive,” I mumbled, caressing his scruffy chin. “You’re alive.”

I repeated that even though he didn’t respond. It felt surreal that I was touching him and gazing at him.

I had seen the ship sink, and I was very certain that Matteo hadn’t jumped into the water.

Looking at him again, I realized he wasn’t wearing a life jacket, and I wondered how he had come out with only a few bruises.

Vittorio placed his finger on the side of Matteo’s neck, perhaps to check if he was still breathing, which was very apparent.

“He’s alive,” Vittorio breathed out. I was glad I wasn’t the only one in shock then.

“Of course,” Matteo groaned. “Were you expecting me dead before?”

Matteo coughed, attempting to sit up, but I pushed him back down, and his eyes flickered to mine as soon as I did.

“Deirdre,” he raised his hand to touch my cheek, and his lips curved up in a small smile.

For a brief moment, we gazed at each other in silence until Vittorio broke it by clearing his throat.

“You should rest,” I said.

“Of course, Cara. I would like to lay my head on your lap all day, but I need to know our location and call for help,” he said, attempting to stand up again, and this time I didn’t stop him.

Matteo had called me Cara as if he hadn’t just told me he didn’t care about me before the ship sank. Or maybe he didn’t. I guessed he called his platonic friends ‘Cara’, too.

Matteo stood up, and despite his limp, he walked over to Vittorio. Both stepped away from me, discussing, but I could hear all they were saying, even though they tried to keep it hushed.

Apparently, Matteo had waited behind because he had caught a glimpse of Javier escaping. He had fought with Javier and jumped into the water as soon as the captain sounded the last warning. Luckily, he had seen a raft to transport him here.

Yet, he didn’t say anything about what he had said to me. He didn’t mention not meaning it.

I tried to push my thoughts away from Matteo; it was hard, especially since he was here. In his absence, I had been able to think of other things aside from him. Now that he was here, my mind was wholly occupied with his thoughts.

“Deirdre.”

I glanced up to see Matteo beside me, and he frowned, his eyes raking over me as though I was in some sort of bikini and he was trying to analyze me.

Now conscious of what I was wearing, I wrapped my arms around myself, but that didn’t stop Matteo from staring at me.

“What?” I asked him.

“Is that what you have been wearing all day with him? He said you arrived yesterday, and you didn’t even bother to change into something appropriate.”

“It is none of your business, Matteo,” I said. “I’d rather be alone, and why are you not dead?”

Matteo was taken aback, and he narrowed his eyes at me before tilting his head back and letting out a laugh. He asked, “You want me dead? Are you serious, Tesorino?”

“Yes.” I nodded. “I wished you a safe trip to hell as well.”

Matteo crouched before me, his voice low, dangerously, and sexily low. “You’ll be seeing more of this man, darling. And you should be grateful I protected you back there. I risked my life for you, Deirdre, but all I got is an ungrateful, selfish little brat.”

I scoffed, jumping to my feet. “I am selfish? Okay, fine, I am. Can you leave me be now?!”

How could he call me selfish when he was the selfish one, disregarding me and treating me like a charity case? As if the insult to me wasn’t enough, he made it look as though Kendall wasn’t his. The nerve of him!

Seething, I stepped towards where Vittorio was, ignoring Matteo as he yelled my name.

“What the heck is wrong with him, and why isn’t he dead?” I groaned loudly.

“Do you truly want him dead, or are you just mad at what he said to you previously?” Vittorio raised a brow.

“Doesn’t matter; I hate seeing his face,” I muttered.

Vittorio chuckled. “You can’t change it. You are stuck with him, and perhaps talking to him about it would make you feel better.”All content is property © NôvelDrama.Org.

“I doubt it,” I said, watching Vittorio walk back to the man he had been discussing with earlier. I was left with my thoughts on how to handle Matteo’s presence.