The Lies We Tell
A/N Hey sorry I didn't update yesterday. I had to work all day and crashed when I got home. Anyway, for all of you who figured out it was Evan he is going to talk to, you get a huge virtual hug! Enjoy!
Chapter 7
Vincent pounded on the door. From within, he heard, "Hold your horses! I'm coming!" Vincent pounded harder. Seconds later, the door swung open. Evan stared at him, exasperated.
"Ah, it's you. How did I know that I would be seeing you again some day?" he asked, sarcastically.
Vincent chuckled. Suddenly, he grabbed the front of Evan's shirt, and pushed him backwards into his apartment. Evan shook him off, and brushed off his shirt. "What the hell, mate?"
"Why are you threatening Catherine?" Vincent growled out. Evan stared at him, mystified.
"What the hell are you talking about? I haven't had any contact with Catherine since before her child was born."
Her child? Don't you mean your child?" Vincent queried. Evan raised an eyebrow.
"My child! You must be blind. In order for it to be mine, sex would have to be involved. The last few months of our relationship, I needed a blowtorch to melt that frigid little bitches' thighs apart." Evan said. The next thing he knew, Vincent lashed out, and punched him in the jaw. He reeled backward, and stumbled against the couch. He glared at Vincent, who had murder in his eyes.
"Don't ever say that about her again!" Vincent yelled. Evan's eyes widened. He started smirking.
"Well, that answers that question," he said, as Vincent fought the urge to toss him out the window.
"What question?" Vincent asked. Evan chuckled.
"So, was she good in bed?" he said by way of answer. Vincent advanced toward him again. Evan held up his hands. "Hold up, mate! Let's keep our hands to ourselves, shall we? If you want answers, I should probably be conscious."
Vincent stopped, and inhaled deeply. "So...talk!"
"You might want to sit down, Keller..." he said, gesturing toward the kitchen table. Vincent sat down, and Evan followed suit.
"Tell me everything you know..."
Evan stared at Vincent, and started talking...
"About a month after you left, I got a phone call from Catherine. She asked me to meet her. When I got to the meeting place, she told me she was pregnant. I knew it wasn't mine, but she refused to tell me the real father. She said it was imperative that I claim the baby. That the real father could never know. She didn't tell me why, but I got the impression that she was scared to death. For the father or the baby, I didn't know which. I always assumed it was both."
"At first, I told her that I would never claim someone else's bastard. She begged me to reconsider. She told me I never had to be involved. She would raise the child and all I needed to do was tell everyone it was mine. Do you understand? I've never even seen the child."
Vincent stared at Evan, digesting the information. He knew he was telling the truth. The story was too plausible to be made up. But , it still begged the question...Why?
"I always had a feeling I knew who the father was, and that is why she wouldn't tell me," Evan said, staring at Vincent. "Would I be right in my assumption that it's you?"
Vincent shoved his hands in his hair. "The timing adds up, so it's highly likely."
"Well, then. Her fear makes sense now," Evan stated.
"Come again?" Vincent asked, perplexed.
"Come on mate, think about it. Who else would want Catherine to stay away from you, especially if she carried your child?" Evan asked.
Vincent froze, and his blood ran cold. It all made sense now. All of it!
Evan saw Vincent's reaction, and knew he had figured it out. "Didn't think he was capable of it, did you?"
"Max..." Vincent breathed out. "That's why she left early. Why she cut off all contact with me. He threatened her. He threatened my Catherine!"
"If I were you mate, I would do anything in my power to protect them. Max Salter is very influential, and if he knows you know the truth..."
"Yeah...yeah. Um, listen. Sorry about the...uh...right hook," Vincent said. He held out his hand.
"No worries, mate. We always protect the ones we love," Evan said, gripping his hand. They shook.
"Thanks for the information."
"What are you gonna do with it, if I might ask?"
"I don't know yet, but I'll figure it out." Vincent stood up, and headed for the door.
"Good luck, mate. You're gonna need it," Evan said in parting. Vincent nodded, and walked out the door.
On the other side, he remembered Evan's words. We always protect the ones we love. Catherine hadn't just been protecting Ryan. She had been protecting him...
And that...made him love her even more.
A/N Hey Hey! Sorry, I know it is on the short side again, but I wanted to dedicate the next chapter entirely to Vincent and Catherine. It's gonna be a BIG one! Also, I know some of you were probably hoping for a beat down. I honestly couldn't do that because Evan is just as much a victim of Max's deception as Vincent is. He had to claim a baby that wasn't even his, without even knowing why. Hope everyone liked it anyway. Review!