UNHOLY DESIRE

MATTEO

Why didn’t the alarm go off yet?

I couldn’t tell. My eyes narrowed as I watched the engineer working to mitigate potential damage to the ship. Vittorio had described it as minor, but the frantic activity in the engine room suggested otherwise.

Stepping away from the engine room, I headed to the wheelhouse. “Where are we? I need our exact location,” I asked the captain, sweat coating his face despite the air conditioning.

“That’s the problem. For an hour now, we’ve been in the middle of nowhere, and…”

“An hour?” I snapped. And yet, no one had mentioned anything.

“Yes. We might be at risk of the ship sinking due to the storm. I predict a cyclone is on its way. We can only hope for the best,” the captain said.

“Where’s the nearest island from here?” I pressed. I didn’t suppose the ship sinking had anything to do with the storm, and I doubted a cyclone was on the way.

“I wouldn’t know,” he admitted.

Striding towards him, I grabbed him by the shirt and slammed him into the door. “You wouldn’t know? I have a wife on board, and my kid is at home waiting for me. Others are here, too. You’ve known something’s wrong for an hour, and you kept it to yourself. Do you enjoy playing with people’s lives?”

Captain Roy, as his badge read, widened his eyes. “I-I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for it to happen,” he stuttered.

I didn’t care about his apology. I cared about safety-Deirdre’s safety.

Letting him go, I returned to the engine room. Vittorio was still with the engineers.

“Any updates?” I asked him.

“Not good,” Vittorio shook his head. “Although it’s still guesswork. They think the bilge pump is malfunctioning, and there’s a slight breach in the hull. Water is flooding in fast. But help is on its way.”

“Help?” My voice tightened.

I was certain no one in their right mind would come to help us now, not with the storm. We were on our own; that much was certain.

Hurrying from the engine room, I collided with Deirdre in the hallway.

“Matteo,” she gasped, her eyes meeting mine. “What’s happening? I saw people rushing with life jackets.”

“We should grab one, too,” I said calmly.

Guiding her to where the life jackets were stored, we found only one left. I snatched it before a heavyset man could reach it.

“It’s mine!” he shouted. “Give it back.”

Ignoring him, I pulled Deirdre back into the room.

“Take the lightest things you have; we’re leaving,” I instructed.

“You never told me what’s going on,” she said as I helped her into the life jacket.

“The ship is malfunctioning,” I explained.

“Oh,” Deirdre murmured, horror in her eyes. She kept looking at me, though, not saying anything further.

“I’ll be right back,” I said, pushing her hair away from her face.

As I headed to the door, Deirdre gripped my hand, stopping me.

I frowned at her, raising my brows. She stared at the floor.

“Come back to me,” she said, fingers interlocking with mine. “If something happens to you, I don’t know what I’ll say to Kendall.”

Smiling, I approached her, cupped her face, and before I could think, our lips met.

Deirdre didn’t resist; instead, she pulled me closer, reciprocating the kiss.

Breaking away moments later, I tilted her chin to meet my gaze.

“Do you trust me?” I asked.

“I do,” she breathed out, biting her lip.

“Then trust that I’ll come back to you,” I assured.

Deirdre nodded, “Please do.”

Exiting the room again, I ran into Vittorio in the corridor.

“How’s everything?” I inquired.

“Still not good,” Vittorio replied, then added, “There’s something else you need to know.”

“What is it?” I pressed.

“Javier was in the engine room. He was seen on CCTV,” Vittorio disclosed.

“What did he do?” I murmured, apprehensive about his response.

“I could only see him entering and leaving. I’m not sure if he’s responsible. The bilge pump is completely wrecked, and we’re stranded. An order to evacuate has been given to avoid flooding and capsizing,” Vittorio explained.

“You didn’t grab a jacket?” he inquired.RêAd lat𝙚St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

“I don’t need one,” I replied. Deirdre had one, and I assumed I didn’t require it. “Are there any lifeboats left?”

“Only a few, and by the time I reached for one, they were all taken,” Vittorio said, giving me a helpless look.

“Damn,” I growled, glaring.

“I’ll search for another option. The flooding is controlled for now, but the sealant won’t hold long due to the breach in the hull,” Vittorio explained.

“Find any means necessary,” I urged.

“I will.” Vittorio headed back toward the engine room.

Even though I didn’t inquire about the alternative, any option was welcome.

As long as Deirdre made it safely to land.

Returning to the room, I found Deirdre packing clothes into a duffel bag.

She turned, rushing toward me.

“Matteo,” she murmured, wrapping her arms around me.

Her heart pounded, and without words, I sensed her fear. I was scared for her, too. If I hadn’t brought her on this mission, she’d be safe at home with Kendall.

My selfishness had put her in this situation, and she would bear the consequences with me.

I sighed, embracing her tightly and inhaling her scent as if it might be the last time.

We stood there for a while before I let her go.

“Are we going to die?” Deirdre asked, stumbling as the ship swayed.

Gripping her to steady her, I said, “I won’t let that happen.”

“You’re not even wearing a life jacket,” she pointed out.

I shrugged. “It was the last one I could find.”

“What about Kendall?” Deirdre’s lower lip quivered. “I promised to go back to her. You promised to take her to Disneyland. This feels like the end for us.”

She shook her head, tears welling in her eyes.

“Deirdre, look at me,” I insisted as her gaze remained downcast.

“No,” she sniffled.

“Look at me, Deirdre,” I urged, and finally, she raised her eyes to mine.

“You’re not dying,” I assured her. “I’ll make sure of that.”

“What about you?” She clutched my shirt tightly.

For the second time, she asked, and I had no certain answer. I didn’t want to falsely raise her hopes.

“What about you, Matteo?”

“I’ll do my best,” I replied, offering a small smile.

Deirdre nodded, seemingly finding solace in that response. For now, finding an alternative to keep both of us alive was the only thing on my mind.