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.”Content is © by NôvelDrama.Org.

“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.”

“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.