Chapter 81 His Love, his damnation
Joye’s eyes widened when she saw him. “Vincs?” she whispered. Then she quickly covered her mouth, remembering she wasn’t supposed to call him by his name in the presence of the guards here.
Vincent grabbed her wrist and pulled her towards the side of the building before she could react.
Away from the guards.
Joye breathed, anxiousness written all over her. The moment he successfully tucked her in a corner, she started speaking. “What-” Her words were cut short, because suddenly and unexpectedly- Vincent crashed his lips against hers.
She blinked profusely against the kiss, but when she realized that Vincent wasn’t backing down, she submitted to it- allowing herself to feel the heat and intensity of it all.
Something in her spoke to her not to question it. The kiss felt urgent, needing, and desperate. She kissed him back, letting his hands fumbled with her gown as he lifted her against the wall. Joye gasped in shock. But Vincent didn’t pull away.
His motive was obvious now. And Joye realized that despite herself, she didn’t want him to stop.
Vincent settled her down for just a moment, just to undo his belt. Joye breathed hard, already wanting him deeply too. When he was done, he lifted her up again and shifted her panties to the side. Without warning, he plunged into her.
Joye’s lips parted as the familiar sensation of Vincent entering her overwhelmed her senses. She covered her lips with her hand to prevent herself from moaning out loud. He grabbed her thighs tighter as he drove in and out of her in the dark corner with restrained groans.
She responded with the same urgency, her fingers gripping the front of his shirt as if she had missed him just as much.
The world around them seemed to fade- the guards at the gate, the quiet mansion behind them, the heavy darkness of the late night.
For several minutes, they were lost in each other.
When it was over, Vincent finally dropped her and stepped back, his breathing uneven. Joye leaned against the wall- her cheeks flushed and strands of hair clinging to the damp skin of her forehead. She chuckled tiredly. “That was a hot one. You…gave me no time to think.”
Vincent exhaled slowly, still catching his breath. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “I’ve missed you.” He closed the small gap between them and shared a softer kiss with her. He ended it and kissed her forehead. Joye savored it by closing her eyes.
Then Vincent glanced at the driveway. “It’s past two in the morning,” he looked back at her. “Where were you heading to?”
Joye blinked. “Oh… I wasn’t heading anywhere.” Her voice faltered slightly. “I just couldn’t sleep. I was restless.”
Vincent studied her face. “Restless?” Joye nodded.
“You were out there in… danger… looking for my boss’ wife. I was… so scared.”
Her gaze lifted to him. His eyes were trained on her. He said nothing immediately, so she asked, ‘Did you find her?”
Vincent nodded once. “We did.” Relief flashed across Joye’s face. “I’m so relieved to hear that.” She sighed. “And Phoenix? …Is the boy safe?”
A short frown-almost invisible- appeared on vincent’s face. But it disappeared before it could be visible. “Phoenix is safe.” He lied, his eyes remaining focused on Joye. He didn’t want to miss any of her reaction.
Joye seemed taken aback, searching his face. “Really?”
Vincent forced a small smile. “That’s why I am excited, love.” He palmed the side of her face, but she didn’t lean into it. Vincent noticed her restlessness even though it wasn’t obvious.
Joye swallowed and nodded. “That’s… great news. I hope whoever kidnapped her had been dealt with.”
Vincent’s heart tugged almost painfully. Something didn’t feel right.
He held her hand and pulled her into him- into a warm hug. He felt her tense. His jaw clenched. He pulled back from her and stepped back. “Go inside, love. Julian is at the hospital with Seraphina. I only came to make sure you’re safe.” He swallowed. “I should get back to him.”
Joye didn’t reply right away. Her eyes had what looked like fear in them as they narrowed at him. Vincent noticed but turned anyway.
But before he could leave, she grabbed his hand suddenly. “Vincs?”
He turned back to her, his eyes dropping to their locked hands. Joye closed the gap between them and kissed him. Deeply.
He was taken aback, his heart feeling heavier for a reason yet unknown. Joye pulled away and looked into his eyes with an intensity that made him inhale sharply. Then she spilled the words. “I love you, Vincent.”
As much as that sounded good, he wasn’t ready to hear it. He smiled faintly at her. “I will see you soon, Joye.”
He didn’t wait for her reaction, He turned and left, his chest heavy.
Minutes Later
Vincent slid into his car. The moment he closed the door, he exhaled a harsh breath- frowning. Something wasn’t right.
Joye knew that Phoenix was missing. She knew. She hadn’t asked because she cared. That, he could depict.
He ignited the car and drove a short distance down the street and parked where the house was still visible through the darkness.
Then he waited.
The minutes crawled by.
Nothing happened. But his instincts willed him to stay.
Vincent leaned back in his seat, staring at the mansion gates.
Then—
Movement.
His chest tightened.
A figure slipped out of the house.
The person wore a hoodie pulled low over their head.
But Vincent recognized the walk instantly.
Joye.
His pulse spiked.
She hurried down the driveway and climbed into a waiting car that he hadn’t noticed was there before.
The vehicle pulled away immediately.
Vincent’s fingers tightened around the steering wheel.
He started the engine and followed.
Silently- Keeping his distance and trying to keep his nerves under control. What he feared the most all evening seemed to be happening. He had suspected Joye.
The drive was longer than he expected.
The city lights faded as they moved into a quieter part of town.
Vincent’s thoughts raced.
When he told her Phoenix was safe…
She had looked surprised.
Too surprised. Like she knew he wasn’t safe.
And there was another problem. No- a major one.
Only three people knew where Phoenix was being kept.
Julian.
Vincent.
And Joye.
Vincent closed his eyes briefly.
He remembered the night he had told her.
It had been late.
They had been talking for hours after their usual intimacy session.
He had trusted her and also trusted her with the secret.
Heck- he loved her.
And love had a way of making people careless. He hadn’t intended to have sex with her earlier. But fear had gripped him. Like if he didn’t have it with her then, he might not ever have the opportunity to again- just incase Joye happened to be someone he wished her not to. So he had pretended to himself that everything was alright and got himself lost inside the woman he had carelessly, unintentionally, fell in love with.
Finally, the car ahead slowed.
It stopped in front of a low building with no upper floor.
Joye stepped out.
The driver’s door opened as well.
Vincent leaned forward.
His breath stopped as the person in the driver seat stepped out after her.
Damien.
Julian’s twin brother.
Vincent immediately grabbed his phone, his heart shattering at the sight before him. Joye was a traitor. His Joye.
He dialed Julian.
Julian answered after two rings.
“Where are you?” Vincent asked urgently.
“What happened?” Julian asked over the phone.
“I think I found how to trace your son.”
Julian went silent.
“There’s a building on Cedar Street,” Vincent continued quickly as he gave more detailed address information. “You need to get here right now.”
“Seen my son?"
“I’m not sure yet,” Vincent said. “But I think we’re close.”
Julian didn’t hesitate.
“I’m coming.”
The call ended.
Vincent dropped the phone and let his shoulders sink as he watched Damien and Joye communicated silently before they went into the building.
A wave of exhaustion and pain washed over him.
Joye.
The woman he had been falling for.
The one person he had trusted enough to tell Phoenix’s location.
Had betrayed him.
And worse—
He had helped her do it. Unknowingly.
A dull headache spreaded through his skull.
He should have listened to his instincts earlier.
That uneasy feeling had been there all night.
That was why he had pulled her into the shadows earlier.
Why he had gotten intimate with her the way he did.
Why he had held her like it might be the last time.
Because somewhere deep down…
He had already suspected the truth.
And now it was confirmed.
Vincent straightened slowly.
He would wait for Julian.
He couldn’t risk going inside alone.
But before he could think of a plan at all, the door of the building opened.
Four figures stepped outside.
His eyes locked onto them immediately.
Damien, Joye…he strained his eyes to see the third person, and he did. Keith.
And beside them was a small boy. Phoenix.
Vincent’s heart slammed against his ribs.
Julian had been right.
It was Keith who was behind it.
And Damien had been involved too.
But the sight that hurt the most…
Was Joye standing beside them. It didn’t look like she was in trouble. She must have been their informant.
Vincent exhaled slowly, feeling so stupid and used. He hadn’t felt this weak and heartbroken in a long time. How had Joye gotten to him? He wondered aimlessly.
He noticed they were about to enter the car.
He couldn’t wait anymore.
If they left now, it might not be easy to locate the child again.
Vincent reached into the glove compartment without thinking.
He slid two guns inside his jacket and held one firmly in his hand.
Then he stepped out of the car.
The night air felt cold against his skin as he walked toward them- just when they opened the car doors and were sliding in.
“Don’t move the kid.” He stated, his voice audible and deadly amidst the dark hour of the night.
All three heads snapped toward him.
Joye’s eyes widened in shock immediately she saw him.
“Vincs?”
Vincent’s jaw clenched tightly, anger brewing under his skin.