Beautiful Surrender(32)

I could feel my heart beating through my chest. The one chance I had of getting out of this mess was gone.

He brought his finger up to his nose to sniff then he touched the pad to the tip of his tongue and grimaced. “Is this like pepper spray or something?”

I shook my head, horrified.

“You meant to use this on me didn’t you? He made you wear this.” Marty went back to Vincent. “Trying to turn her against me? Making me out to be some kind of monster? Let’s see how you like being treated like that.”

Marty squeezed the pendant and squirted fluid into Vincent’s face. Vincent closed his eyes and tried to turn away but it got all over his face.

“Oh god!” I cried.

Vincent didn’t cry out in pain. He kept his eyes closed but his jaw was clenched tightly. I could only imagine how bad his eyes were burning right now.

“Say that you don’t really care about Kristen. Say it and I’ll stop.”

“Please, Vincent,” I pleaded. “Just do what he wants. I don’t want you getting hurt anymore.”

Vincent hung his head, panting. He tried wiping off the mace with his sleeve and managed to get enough off to crack open his eyes. “I don’t care about Kristen,” he murmured, blood dripping from his lip.

Even though I asked him to say it, and the circumstances were extreme, the words hurt more than I anticipated.

Marty grinned wickedly. “That’s what I thought.” He turned to me. “See, Kris? If I hadn’t done this, you would’ve never known what a liar he really is. See how I’m protecting you?”

“You think you’ve proven something?” Vincent growled, commanding Marty’s attention once again. Still on his knees, he threw his shoulders back and brought his head up, his posture like a soldier’s. “My feelings for her go beyond caring. I love her.”

Marty became furious. He socked Vincent across the face again. The force of the blow made Vincent turn his head and I could see his eyes were red from the mace.

“No you don’t. Say it again. I dare you.”

Vincent gazed at me. Both his eyes were bloodshot and one was already swelling from Marty’s blows. He looked miserable—a man on the verge of dying. “Look at me Kristen. This might be my last chance to say this.”

My breath stopped. My heart pounded in my ears.

“I’ve felt this way for a while. I knew it was just attraction at first. But after taking you to my island, I realized it was more. So much more. I love you, Kristen. I mean truly love you. Not obsession. Not lust. Not selfish possession. Not some kind of blind idealism. Not some sick, twisted version of love—but the real thing. One with eyes open. One with respect. One that never underestimates the hardships to its existence, never takes the other person for granted. The only kind of love there really is.”

“Vincent, no!” Tears streamed down my face.

Marty punched Vincent in the face harder than before. Then Marty kicked him in the stomach. “I warned you!”

“I love you, Kristen,” Vincent choked.

“Stop saying that. You’re a liar!” Marty kicked Vincent again.

“Please, don’t say it again,” I sobbed.

“I lo—”

Marty pistol-whipped Vincent on the side of the head. “Don’t try to act like you’re the hero and I’m the villain. Don’t forget you’re the one who started this.”

“No,” Vincent panted, his voice barely above a whisper. “You started it when you hurt her.” Every word was strained and seemed to require all his energy just to pronounce.

“How can you even say you love her?” Marty said, flabbergasted. “You barely even spend time with her. You’re a fucking hypocrite.”

“That’ll change . . .” Vincent was visibly struggling to hold his head up. Most of his face was swelling and bleeding now but his eyes were burning with intensity. “It’ll work.”

“You’ve only been with her for two months. I was with her for two years!”

“You took her for granted . . . You didn’t appreciate her. She’s unlike anybody . . . I cherish every moment.”

“No you don’t. You won’t settle down. All you care about is money and excitement. How can you even pretend to be serious about what you’re saying?”

“. . . We’ll settle down when the time is right. For both of us.”

Marty threw up his hands, frustrated. “You’re going to be a terrible father to Kristen’s baby. You’re too busy. You wouldn’t be there like I would.”

No. Marty didn’t just say that. He didn’t just tell Vincent about the baby. How did he even know about that? Was it from my text messages with Riley about the pregnancy?