The day had felt like an explosion waiting to happen. Matthew could feel the weight of the world pressing down on him, the tension in the air thick enough to suffocate. He knew things were spiraling out of control—Vinny was too deep in the mess, and Tom was always lurking, making things worse. The pieces had already been set in motion, and now all Matthew could do was ride the chaos until it came crashing down.
The phone call he had received earlier that afternoon from Tom had set off something in him. His chest had tightened when he heard Tom's voice—smug and taunting—like he had been expecting it. Every word from Tom was like poison injected into his veins. But this time, it was different. This time, Matthew wasn't going to back down. He couldn't. He wasn't going to let Tom win.
That wasn't even the worst part. The worst part was knowing that Vinny was getting pulled into it. Vinny deserved better than this. But Matthew couldn't protect him from everything. Not if he kept keeping things from him.
Matthew's fists were clenched as he stood by the window of the apartment, staring out at the city below. The streets were still busy, people moving about their daily lives, oblivious to the chaos that had been building for weeks. But for Matthew, it was all too real. The game he had been playing with Tom, the lies, the secrets—it had all brought him here. And now, he had no idea what was coming next.
He didn't even hear the door open, the soft click of the hinges barely registering in his mind. But when a voice cut through the stillness, he turned with a jolt.
"Matthew," Vinny's voice was low, hesitant. He stood at the entrance of the room, eyes scanning Matthew's form as if searching for answers in the tension of his posture.
Matthew couldn't mask the unease he felt. "Vinny."
"What's going on?" Vinny asked, his voice soft but firm. There was an edge of concern in it that made Matthew's stomach twist. "You've been distant again. And I can feel it. Whatever's been bothering you, I need you to tell me. I'm not stupid, Matthew. I know something's happening."
Vinny's words hit him like a brick. They weren't accusations—they were simple truths. And they cut deeper than anything Tom had said.
"I... I don't know what to say, Vinny," Matthew murmured, stepping toward him but stopping short. He could feel his heartbeat in his throat. This wasn't how he had imagined it would go. He wanted to be honest with Vinny, but the weight of everything—Tom's manipulation, the guilt, the fear of losing him—held him back.
Vinny didn't wait for him to finish. He closed the distance between them in a single step, his hands finding Matthew's shoulders, his touch grounding. "Look, I'm not going anywhere," Vinny said, his voice steady, unwavering. "You don't have to carry this on your own. Whatever it is, I'm here. Just... talk to me."
The words hit Matthew harder than he expected. He hadn't realized how much he needed Vinny's reassurance. His mind was a whirlwind of confusion, the aftermath of Tom's manipulative words still echoing in his head.
But before he could say anything else, the phone rang again, cutting through the silence. Matthew winced. He didn't have to look to know who it was.
"Tom," he muttered, his frustration bubbling over.
Vinny looked at him, eyebrows furrowing. "You gonna answer it?"
"No," Matthew said, his jaw tight. "I don't want to talk to him. Not right now."
Vinny nodded, understanding, but the tension between them was palpable. This was more than just an argument or a misunderstanding. This was about the past catching up to them, about the damage done by people who had no idea how to let go.
As if on cue, a loud knock echoed through the apartment door. Vinny's eyes flicked toward the entrance, concern deepening in his gaze.
"That's probably Tom," Matthew said darkly. "I'm done with him."
"Let me handle it," Vinny said, stepping away from Matthew and moving toward the door. "Stay here. I'll talk to him."
Matthew opened his mouth to protest, but he stopped himself. Vinny wasn't backing down. And Matthew wasn't sure if he had the strength to argue.
Vinny opened the door, and sure enough, there stood Tom, his smirk in place like nothing had ever happened.
"Well, well, well," Tom said, his eyes flicking between Matthew and Vinny. "Looks like the little lovebirds are still going strong."
Vinny crossed his arms, standing tall. "What do you want, Tom?"
"I want to talk. We need to clear the air," Tom said, stepping forward. He tried to push past Vinny, but the taller man didn't budge. "I'm not leaving until we talk."
"You're not welcome here, Tom," Vinny replied coldly. "You don't get to just walk in here and try to manipulate things anymore."
Tom's expression shifted, the smirk vanishing, replaced with something darker. "You don't get it, do you, Vinny?" he said, his voice suddenly serious. "You think Matthew's going to be good for you? You think he won't ruin everything?"
Vinny's eyes narrowed. "Don't talk about him like that. You're just mad because he finally stood up to you."
Tom's eyes flickered with something dangerous, but he didn't back down. "I'm not mad. I'm trying to protect you from him. You think Matthew is really someone who can take care of you? He's toxic, Vinny. He's using you."
Matthew flinched at the words, but he could feel the anger rising in him. He couldn't take it anymore. He stalked forward, pushing past Vinny and standing face-to-face with Tom.
"Enough, Tom," Matthew growled, his fists clenching. "I've heard enough of your bullshit."
Tom sneered. "What, you gonna fight me now? You're pathetic. You've always been pathetic."
Without another word, Matthew lunged, throwing the first punch. It landed squarely on Tom's jaw, knocking him back a step. The sickening thud of their fists meeting echoed through the room.
"You think you can just tear apart everything I have with Vinny?" Matthew shouted, his voice raw with rage. "You think I'm going to let you manipulate him again?"
Tom staggered but regained his balance quickly, wiping the blood from his lip. "You'll regret this, Matthew."
Vinny stood frozen, watching the fight unfold in front of him, his heart pounding in his chest. He had never seen Matthew this angry before. There was something primal about the way he was fighting, something that was both terrifying and, in a way, exhilarating.
Matthew's fury was all-consuming. His next punch sent Tom crashing into the wall, the impact shaking the entire room. The sound of flesh meeting drywall echoed in the tense air.
Tom gasped, stumbling backward, but he didn't get a chance to recover. Matthew's next punch landed with all the force of his frustration, and suddenly, Tom was on the floor, looking up at him with a mix of disbelief and contempt.
"Stay away from Vinny," Matthew spat, his chest heaving as he stared down at Tom. "You don't get to control him anymore."
Tom's glare was cold, full of hatred. "You think this is over? This isn't over, Matthew. You're making a mistake. I'm not finished with you."
Matthew didn't respond. He turned to Vinny, his anger still simmering beneath the surface. "He's gone, Vinny. I'm done with him."
Vinny stepped forward, his eyes flicking between the two men. He reached out, placing a hand on Matthew's arm, grounding him in the moment. "You don't have to do this anymore. You don't have to keep fighting him."
Matthew's eyes softened as he turned to face Vinny. "I just wanted to protect you."
Vinny's hand cupped Matthew's face, pulling him close. "I know. And I appreciate it. But you don't need to fight my battles for me. I'm not some fragile thing you need to protect. I can take care of myself."
Matthew swallowed hard, the weight of Vinny's words settling on his chest. He didn't want to admit it, but he needed Vinny. He needed him in a way that scared him. He had never felt this vulnerable, this exposed.
"Just don't leave me," Matthew whispered, the words coming out before he could stop them. He knew it was stupid, but the fear of losing Vinny had been gnawing at him since the moment Tom had started stirring the pot.
Vinny's gaze softened, and he pulled Matthew into an embrace. "I'm not going anywhere," he promised, his voice low and steady.
And for the first time in what felt like forever, Matthew believed him.