by Mj Fields
“I’m going to pick up my father with Pace. We’ll drop you off at your ship—”
“Boat,” I correct her.
“Whatever.” She rolls her blue eyes. “If he wants to talk to you, we’ll stop. If he needs a day or ten to process, he can have that, too. He’s healing; coming home for the first time in weeks.”
“Paige …” I begin.
“No, this isn’t up for discussion, Vincent. This is my father.”
Before I can argue, she yells for Pace, “Let’s go.”
“I’m not okay with this,” I hiss at her.
“Try harder to be, Vincent.”
Not one word is said while I ride, not drive, in a vehicle with Paige and her brother to the marina where I get out and shut the door behind me, angry, so fucking angry that this isn’t going as planned.
I walk down the dock toward my boat, thinking about the words she may have thought were encouraging or may have been used as her way to put me in my place. I’m not sure which.
I step onto the boat and immediately walk down the stairs, grab the bottle of Dominic’s award-winning Greco do Tufo, named Alesstina after his and Valentina’s mother, the wine Paige seemed to enjoy the most while in Italy, and pop the cork. I don’t bother with a glass. I just sit on the leather corner couch and drink from the bottle.
Try harder, Vincent.
My earliest memories of my father was when he used to tell me that I wouldn’t speak with the women he brought in and out of his life when I would go to work with him. The women who told him I was strange.
I wasn’t strange. I was a kid who knew his father was fucking around on his mother. The woman he would tell he loved most mornings before he left for work. It was confusing.
I was trying hard, too hard to understand what the hell was going on around me.
Try harder, Vincent.
He would say that when I would beg him not to leave me with my mother after he no longer lived with us and she cried too much, drank too much, and slept too much.
When he was killed in a car accident, I was forced to try harder.
Try harder, Vincent.
My mother would slur that when I tried to carry her up the stairs after she had fallen asleep on the stoop outside of any given shitty apartment we happened to live in with her man of the month. Men who used her body while she used them for whatever they had to offer. It didn’t take long for me to figure out it was drugs.
Try harder, Vincent!
She would shout that when I tried to get her to understand that she didn’t have to live like that. She just needed to get a job and a place for us.
I was trying harder, and it wasn’t doing a damn thing.
Try harder, Vincent.
My mother cried that the first night she snuck out of her bed to come find me after her boyfriend had beaten me with a leather belt so badly I bled.
Try harder, Vincent!
She would scream that at me when I fought off the next five who came at me with intentions of harm, and I did the same.
Try harder, Vincent.
She would whisper that when I was old enough to realize she was selling her body and, in that last year, trying to sell mine, as well.
Try harder, Vincent!
She would shriek that when she was no longer mentally capable of realizing how fucked up it was that she couldn’t break me, bring me to a level of understanding that that kind of life was acceptable. It wasn’t.
Try harder, Vincent.
She would beg that when we lived on the streets because I wasn’t just going to save myself, but her, too. I wasn’t going to allow her to be broken anymore. When I would find her trying to score, I would fight one man or ten, holding my own either way, but not without physical scars.
For sixteen years of my life, I tried harder than any human possible to help someone who didn’t want to be helped … before I walked away, deciding to never do it again, without it being something that would help me, too.
Now, here I was again.
In the brief time I considered buying the marina, the boats, the home, that was used as collateral for the loan, I had an inner struggle, trying to figure out if I was repeating my past mistakes. Paige hadn’t asked for help.
I concluded it was a chance I was willing to take, and unlike the situation with my mother, I could take care of myself. And if this ended badly, I could walk again.
Chapter 14
Nothing In Between
Vincent
I wake to the sound of my phone and reach for the glow in the darkness, hitting accept.
When I hold up the phone, it’s not Paige, as I expected. It’s Dominic.
Immediately, I feel like something is wrong.
“Is everything alright?”
“On this end, things are great.” He looks at me like he’s trying to figure me out. “How about on your end?”
“Fine,” I answer, not giving any more.
“So, this is how it’s gonna be, huh?” He smiles.
“I’m not sure what you’re asking, because you’re not actually asking.”
His smile broadens.
“I bought a new boat.”
He leans back, putting his hands behind his neck. “And a marina?”
And there we have it, I think.
I shrug. “That, too.”
He laughs out loud and leans in closer to the camera. “Paige’s family’s marina?”
“Why ask the question when you already know the answer?”
“I don’t know, Vincent. Maybe because I thought one of my oldest and most trusted friends, someone I consider family, would have discussed something like this with me,” he answers, still amused. “Maybe one of my oldest and most trusted friends would have told me he was in love with one of my wife’s oldest and most trusted friends.”
“I’m not in love. I’ll never be in love.”
I see Laney lean into view of the camera and whisper, “Jesus Christ.”
“You better treat her like you would him.” She points at Dominic.
How do you tell a woman to shut the fuck up and mind her own business when you’re pretty damn sure someone made it her business?
Paige.
As calmly as possible, I tell them both, “This is between her and me. I’ll make sure to have that conversation with her.” I look away from her and at Dominic, who is still smirking. “Don’t you dare.” I look back to her to see she’s glaring at me. “With all due respect, Mrs. Segretti, this is between her and me.”
“Laney. My name is Laney. And if you hurt her or her family, I will …” She pauses and scratches her head in thought.
Dominic laughs out loud. “You’ll do what, beautiful?”
“I’ll cut him, Dominic. I. Will. Cut. Him.”
Dominic pulls her onto his lap and holds her head against his chest. She says something that’s muffled.
He looks at me. “Paige doesn’t know that we know.”
“Then, how do you know?” I’m not sure if I believe him. Then again, he’s never lied to me.
“The bank called, concerned you may have an issue. You have me listed as your contact. I had them follow the money. The boat is beautiful, by the way,” he says.
“It is,” I agree.
Silence, and then he laughs. “Come on; give me something, Vincent.”
“It’s no secret that I love to fish, and I saw an investment opportunity.” Neither is a lie.
Laney looks back at the camera. “Why didn’t she tell us that she needed help?”
“Would it be typical of her to do so?” I ask, knowing the answer is no. “I do know she had planned to use her retirement and savings to buy the place from the bank.”
“What bank?” Laney asks. When I’m still trying to figure out how to answer without giving away the truth behind my purchase, she yells out, “Warren Black!”
I nod.
“That man is a total piece of shit, Vincent. Keep him away from her.”
“I plan to
.”
“What are you going to do when she goes back to New York?” she asks.
“She won’t be,” I say sternly.
To that, Dominic laughs.
I shoot him a look, telling him to shut the fuck up.
Laney completely misses it as she continues, “You can’t tell her that, Vincent. You won’t get anywhere telling her what to do.”
“I already know this about her.”
She leans in closer to the camera. “Then, what’s the plan?”
“The plan is to …” I pause and shake my head. “It’s between her and me.”
She laughs a sigh. “You may think you know her, but she is career-focused. She is determined to make her mark. She’s tough, and ballsy, and badass, Vincent. She’s already proven she isn’t going to cave to a man who tries to tell her what to do, or who treats her badly.”
“Let’s get one thing straight; she’s never been with a man.”
I see Dominic nod ever so slightly.
“She’s lived with—”
“Pussies she can order around, control, and who can’t handle being with a woman like her.”
“Like her?”
“Paige is also smart, and soft, and has insecurities.”
“And you’ll feed off those.” Laney points at the camera. “If you do—”
“I’ll feed off all that. It makes her even more beautiful than she even knows. I’ll feed off whatever it fucking takes so that she is mine. And … And she’ll be stronger because of it. Because you may think you know her, but I can guarantee I know her at a much deeper level, and it’ll continue to deepen.” I point back.
When Laney’s jaw drops, I feel like a fucking asshole for showing them both the private, innermost thoughts I have about Paige. Then Laney smiles and waves, and I roll my eyes.
Frustrated, I palm my face and try to come up with the right words to correct my fuck up. There really aren’t any, except these, “As I said before, that’s between her and me.”
“And them now.”
Shocked, I look behind me to see Paige waving back at the camera.
“Fuck,” I sputter.
“Hi, Laney. Hi, Dominic.” Paige holds her hand over her stomach.
“You’re below deck?” Laney laughs.
Paige nods, keeping her hand over her stomach.
“In the berth?” Laney continues to laugh.
Paige turns to walk up the stairs, and I follow. Once on the deck, she turns and looks at me.
“I can’t be down there.”
“Pea,” I hear Laney’s voice coming from the phone in my hand.
I hold it up to end the call, but Paige takes the phone and turns her back to me. “Shouldn’t you be asleep?”
“How’s your dad?” Laney asks.
I turn and look at the phone from over her shoulder.
“He came home tonight.” She nods. “He’s okay.”
“What happened?” Laney’s concern is obvious.
“I think stress with the business,” Paige admits.
“Why didn’t you ask us for help?”
“Laney, I didn’t even know until I got here. I found the letter the night we were doing Wine Wednesday on Facetime.”
“Why wouldn’t he ask you for help?” Laney asks.
She shrugs then smiles sadly. “Pride? I’m his daughter? Maybe he just had enough?”
“Your parents were always good with finances. I was always a bit jealous your mom was at home, baking cookies, making furniture, gardening, being super mom. And your dad was always out working. That’s why we always went to your house after school.”
“I think things changed after her accident. I know they had to hire nurses to be here with her and Babička. When things got too bad, he took out a loan, trying to do whatever he had to.”
“Black Financial?”
“Had he just asked me to look it over …” Paige closes her eyes and shakes her head. “Had I just come home and helped.”
“You’re there now,” Laney tries to soothe her obvious regret.
Paige looks over her shoulder at me then back at Laney. “I’m pissed I was too late. I’m pissed it wasn’t me who …” She stops and looks down.
“Paige, it’s because of you that the marina is still …” Laney stops and looks up at me. “It’s still theirs, right?”
Before I can answer, Paige does.
“It’s Vincent’s. He’s offered to keep them on.”
“Keep them on?” Laney gasps.
I start to turn around and leave when Paige reaches back and grabs my hand, stopping me.
“Vincent has offered them a more than fair opportunity.”
“They’re taking it, right?” Laney asks.
Paige shrugs. “I’m not sure. Dad’s upset.”
“Of course he is. He’s lost everything he’s worked toward building for his entire life.”
I’m shocked when Paige laughs.
“Oddly, he was ready for that. He’s upset because he thinks Vincent came here to take advantage of me.”
“He what?” I ask.
She laughs. “You heard me.”
“Does he know you’re not an eighteen-year-old virgin?”
To that, I get an elbow to the rib.
“Well?”
“I’ll always be his little girl.” She rolls her eyes.
“So, I’m public enemy number one, and all those fucks in New York were what?” I’m pissed.
“Roommates?” She laughs again.
“You can’t be serious,” I sputter.
“I’ll stick up for her dad.” Dominic laughs. “My daughter will be a virgin in my eyes until she has a child of her own.”
Paige looks back and nods.
“Well then, let’s rectify that.”
Laney, Paige, and Dominic laugh as if it’s a joke.
It’s not.
“I’m being very serious.”
“I knew you were in love with her!” Laney shouts out.
“Vincent doesn’t do love.” Paige laughs.
“I do better than that,” I tell her, trying once again to get her to understand the truth about why love doesn’t last.
“There is nothing better than love, Vincent,” Dominic interjects.
I have no desire to argue this with him or anyone else. Paige is the only one who needs to fully understand it.
I look down at her, hopeful that she does.
She smiles very slightly, and I know I will have to show her more, prove myself more.
And I will.
After the phone call ends awkwardly, we stand on the deck, her hand still in mine.
“Come to bed with me,” I say, giving her hand a tug.
“I can’t go down there. I’ll get sick. Besides, I’d like to talk about a few things.”
“And I’d like my cock inside you.”
She lets go of my hand and crosses her arms.
“What? I know damn well you want me.”
“Wanting you isn’t the issue, Vincent. Knowing you, on the other hand, takes precedence.”
“You know me. If you have any reservations, if you think I’m hiding something, it should have been erased knowing Dominic isn’t concerned for your safety when it comes to me.”
“I’m not sure why you called them.” She shakes her head. “I didn’t want them to—”
“He called me. At the beginning of the conversation, I was under the impression you had said something to Laney.”
She shakes her head.
“I know that now. My bank contacted him with concerns.”
“Concerns?”
“I’ve banked there since I was sixteen, and I’m sure red flags popped when I spent a large amount of my savings in a day.”
“You shouldn’t have, Vincent. This isn’t your problem.”
“It’s an investment,” I remind her.
“Look around.” She laughs. “This whole area is going down.”
“Trust me, Paige; I won’t fai
l.”
“As my father pointed out, I don’t know you enough to trust your intentions.”
“The contract clearly states what my intentions are. I’m not trying to fuck your family over.”
“Just fuck me?” She smiles nervously.
“Physically, yes, of course. And you know damn well you want the same. I’ve already promised you honesty, loyalty, and respect.”
She looks away from me and kicks at the decking.
“What?”
She shrugs. “I don’t know how to explain that to him.”
“I ca—”
“No!” she gasps. “God no, Vincent. Jesus, he’s my dad.”
“Your mother and grandmother seem fond of me. Even your brother—”
“My mom and Babička love everyone. Pace probably finds this amusing as hell.”
“Amusing?”
“He knows me, Vincent. Really knows me.”
“I know you better,” I tell her.
She sighs exasperatedly and turns around.
I step behind her and grip her hips, pulling her back against my chest. “I may know you better than you know yourself.”
She looks up over her shoulder at me and shakes her head again.
“I do.”
“Okay, fine. I won’t argue, but feel free to deliver on all this trust and respect and tell me more about you, Vincent.”
“Ask the questions, Paige.”
I know it’s about the scars, and I am prepared to tell her, as I was the last time she was on my boat.
Gripping her hips a bit tighter, I step back until the back of my knees hit the leather seating and sit down, bringing her onto my lap.
“Tell me about your family.”
I would prefer she ask about the scars.
“Parents divorced when I was about six. Father died in an accident when I was ten. I lived with my mother until I was sixteen.”
She turns and looks at me. “Sixteen?”
I nod. “I started working for Dominic’s family when I was sixteen, and I have ever since.”
“Do you see your mother?”
I shake my head.
“Why?”
“She’s no longer a part of my life.”
“Why?”
“She’s an addict.”
She swallows hard and nods. “She did that to you?”