Vinny woke to a faint warmth pressed against his cheek.
It took him a moment to realize he was lying on soft sheets… alone. No heavy arms around him. No chains pulling at his ankles. No cuffs biting his wrists.
He blinked.
Then blinked again.
The moment the realization hit, a slow, satisfied smile stretched across his lips.
"Well, well…" he murmured to himself, flexing his fingers and rolling his wrists. "Looks like someone finally grew a conscience."
He sat up, stretching his back with a small groan. He was a bit sore—okay, a lot sore—but he wasn't going to melt into a puddle of feelings about it. He'd survived worse and still looked good doing it.
He glanced around the room.
Empty.
The spot where Matthew usually watched him like a hawk was cold.
For a second—just a second—Vinny frowned.
Matthew never left him alone this long. Especially not after last night.
Then—
"ARE YOU ALL INCOMPETENT OR JUST BRAIN-DEAD?!"
A furious roar echoed faintly through the hallway.
Vinny's eyebrows shot up.
He knew that voice.
He hopped out of bed immediately, rolling his shoulders as if preparing for a fight or a performance—maybe both. Then he walked out, following the trail of pure, unfiltered rage vibrating through the hallways.
The yelling grew louder.
Vinny stopped at the entrance of the underground laboratory, leaning against the doorframe like he owned the place.
Inside, Matthew stood in front of a line of trembling guards, eyes burning, voice sharp enough to cut steel.
"MONTHS. You've had MONTHS," he snapped. "My mother was lying helpless in that bed, and someone walked right past all of you and disconnected her tubes. And you STILL haven't found who did it?"
No one dared breathe.
Vinny folded his arms, watching silently for a few seconds. Then he stepped inside casually, letting the metal door slide shut behind him with a loud clang.
All heads whipped toward him.
Matthew's eyes widened for half a second—just long enough for Vinny to notice—but he quickly hid it under a scowl.
"You're awake," Matthew muttered, voice softer now but still rigid with adrenaline.
Vinny lifted a brow. "Was I supposed to stay sleeping forever?"
The corner of Matthew's mouth twitched, but he said nothing.
Good.
Vinny wasn't done.
He walked right past Matthew, right up to the row of guards still kneeling on the cold floor.
"Move," Vinny said bluntly.
They scrambled aside instantly.
Matthew blinked. "Vinny—"
"No." Vinny turned to him, gaze sharp. "Let me see the files."
Matthew's jaw tightened. "This isn't something you have to deal with right now. Go back to—"
"Stop." Vinny stepped closer, not backing down. "Your mother didn't deserve what happened to her. And you sure as hell don't deserve to run yourself insane trying to fix it alone."
Matthew stared. The guards stared. The air froze.
Vinny smirked slightly. "Besides, your genius security team hasn't found a single clue in—what? Half a year?"
One of the guards made a strangled noise.
Matthew's expression cracked just enough to show a flash of dark amusement—but only for Vinny.
"You're not wrong," he admitted.
"Of course I'm not," Vinny said, brushing past him to the main table. "Now show me everything. Every report. Every camera feed. Every list of who was on duty. All of it."
Matthew was silent for a long moment.
Then he dismissed the guards with a flick of his hand. They practically ran out of the laboratory.
Once they were alone, Matthew approached, stopping behind Vinny, his presence a warm gravity against Vinny's back.
"You don't need to do this," he murmured.
Vinny shot him a sideways glance. "Maybe not. But I want to."
Matthew swallowed hard, eyes softening despite the storm still raging behind them. "Why?"
Vinny shrugged. "Because the faster we find who did it, the faster you'll stop tearing into every person who breathes wrong."
Matthew let out a breath that was half a laugh, half a sigh.
But Vinny wasn't finished.
He turned fully, meeting Matthew's stare with unwavering determination.
"And because losing a parent like that?" he said quietly. "It destroys you. Trust me, I know."
His voice dropped, but he didn't break. He never broke.
"And I won't stand here watching you spiral until you become someone unrecognizable."
Matthew froze.
Vinny held his gaze.
"If you're falling apart," Vinny said, "then let me help you put the pieces back together."
Matthew's breath hitched—a subtle sound, barely audible, but Vinny caught it.
Without thinking, Matthew lifted a hand, reaching toward Vinny's cheek, almost touching—almost.
But Vinny slapped his hand away lightly.
"Focus," he said. "This isn't a kissing moment."
His smirk turned wicked.
"Unless you plan on kissing me after we catch the bastard."
Matthew choked on air.
Vinny rolled his eyes. "Relax, I was joking."
Matthew was definitely not relaxed.
But he stepped aside and pulled up the files on the holographic screen. Footage, medical logs, staff records—all of it floated above the table like shards of truth waiting to be assembled.
Vinny cracked his knuckles.
"Alright," he muttered, scanning everything rapidly. "Let's see what those idiots missed."
Matthew leaned against the table beside him, arms crossed, watching him with something between admiration and obsession.
Vinny pointed to a specific frame in the footage. "Pause there."
Matthew did.
Vinny narrowed his eyes. "Zoom in."
Matthew obeyed.
A shadowy figure stood near the comatose woman's bed—too vague to identify, but the posture, the height, the way they moved—
Something clicked in Vinny's mind.
"That's not random sabotage," he said slowly. "That's someone who knew what they were doing. Someone who knew exactly where the machines were."
Matthew's eyes darkened.
"Someone close."
Vinny nodded. "Someone who had access to restricted levels… and wasn't caught on the way in or out."
"So the culprit…" Matthew started.
Vinny finished for him.
"Is among your own people."
Matthew's fingers curled into fists.
Vinny reached out, placing a hand on one of them—not gently, not sweetly, but firmly.
"Then we'll find them," Vinny said. "Together."
Matthew stared at him, stunned for several seconds.
Then, in a low, rough voice:
"I don't deserve you."
Vinny snorted. "Obviously."
But he didn't let go of Matthew's hand.
Not yet.
Because for the first time in days, Matthew's breathing steadied.
And for the first time in months, the investigation finally moved forward.