Family Ties [Sequel to She Belongs To Me]

Abusive

Stella watched Vincent as he wrapped up his conversation with Emily.  She had no clue what Emily was saying to him, but judging by the way his facial expressions were repeatedly shifting from fear to joy, it must have been something he was eager to hear.

He hung up the phone after a few more seconds and sat there with a stunned expression on his face. Stella's eyebrows raised and she folded her arms in front of her chest. 

"Well, what did she say?"

"She said she wanted to meet me.  Tonight."

"Tonight?" Stella marveled, "That was awfully sudden.  Do you think she's up to something?"

"I wouldn't put it past her." Vincent answered, a fragile smile playing at his lips. "My Emily has a rebellious spirit. It's one of the things I love about her."

Stella cringed with an emotion she couldn't quite put her finger on. She was starting to grow weary of all of his drama with Emily. She couldn't help but wonder how one girl was enchanting enough to turn Vincent into a helpless, lovesick boy. 

She shook the thought from her head and asked, "What are you going to do?"

He ignored her question and grabbed Stella's car keys from the coffee table, shoving them into his pocket.  "How much cash do you have on you?"

"Just a little over four hundred bucks.  I was saving it for a new...." The rest of the sentence faded from her lips when Vincent pulled her wallet from her purse and began digging through it without an ounce of permission.

He stuck all of her money into his other pocket and started walking towards the door.  "I need to run into town before I leave for Rockport.  I'll be back in a little while."

"Wait!  What am I supposed to do while you're gone?"

"Watch Hope."

Stella's glanced over at Hope, who was listening to their conversation intently, and frowned.  "What?  So, now I'm a babysitter?"

Vincent sensed her irritation and offered her a smile, stroking her cheek with his hand.  "Come on, Stella, I won't be gone that long, and I'll pick you up something nice in town for the trouble.  What do you say?"

His brown eyes nearly caused her to melt like warm butter.  She could never stay mad at him when he looked at her like that.  It reminded her of the first night they met, the way he stared up at her as if she were the only person in the world that could save him.

Oh, how badly I do want to save you. She thought as her blue eyes pierced his brown ones. If only you would stop pursuing someone who wants nothing to do with you and let me heal your pain.

She clasped her hands behind her back and sighed, "Okay.  I'll watch her."

"There's my girl." He grinned, patting her cheek in approval.  "Just make sure that you leave her tied up until I get back, and gag her if she starts getting too chatty."

"Why?"

"Because I don't need her trying to talk you into letting her go."

"You don't have to worry about that." Stella insisted, "She will be just as you left her when you get back."

"Thank you, Stella.  I'll be back soon."