Chapter Nine: Flames of Fate.
Vincent Virenson.
The second rattle of the window wasn't a warning-it was a promise.
I shoved Violet behind me, gun raised, every muscle strung tight. My pulse thundered like a war drum. The silence shattered as the glass gave way.
The first intruder dropped inside-mask, blade, all black. Not a thief. A killer.
He lunged.
I slammed the butt of my gun into his jaw. Bone cracked. He staggered, but didn't fall. Persistent bastard.
Another shadow slipped through the window. Then another.
"Three?" I muttered. "What is this-a party?"
Violet gasped behind me, sharp and terrified. My jaw clenched. Not for me-for her.
Two shots dropped the second man before his boots touched the floor. The third dove for her.
Wrong move.
My bullet tore through his skull before he could take a second breath. He collapsed at her feet, blood soaking the rug.
Silence.
Three bodies. Shattered glass. Violet trembling, clutching her arm where he'd touched her.
"You okay?" My voice came out rough.
She swallowed. "Define... okay."
I almost smiled. Even now. "Still breathing counts."
But my instincts screamed. This wasn't it. They never send three to kill a dragon.
"There'll be more," I muttered, reloading.
Her breath hitched. "More? How many?"
Boots thundered outside the door before I could answer.
Showtime.
---
Five this time.
Bullets tore through the walls, the loft exploding in plaster and smoke. I dragged Violet down behind the couch.
"Stay down!" I barked, firing back.
"I hate this!" she screamed.
"You and me both." I rolled out, three shots, two men down.
Her hand clutched my sleeve. "Vincent, stop! Please!"
For one second I looked at her. Her eyes weren't begging me to stop fighting. They were begging me to come back alive.
And the fire in my chest wasn't just rage anymore.
It was her.
---
The last of them fell. Blood. Smoke. Silence.
She stared at me like I was something less than human. "You... you're not human."
I gave a dark laugh. "Told you I was the devil."
"No," she whispered. "You're worse. You burn everything. Everyone. You'll burn me too."
That shouldn't have hurt. But it did.
I stepped closer. "Then maybe I will. But you'll burn with me."
Her lip trembled. "And if I don't want to?"
"Too late," I murmured, brushing her cheek with bloodstained fingers. "You already do."
She slapped my hand away. "You're insane."
"Probably." I smirked, though my chest ached. "But you're alive. You're welcome."
Her whisper cut through me. "Flames of fate, Vincent. You'll be the death of me."
I leaned in, voice low. "No, Violet. I'll be the reason you live."
---
By dawn, the bodies were gone, but ghosts lingered. Whiskey burned my throat as I stared at my reflection in the glass wall-blood, bruises, fire still in my eyes.
Her voice was soft behind me. "How many more, Vincent? How many until it ends?"
I didn't turn. "Until they stop coming."
"They won't, will they?"
"No."
Her exhale cracked. "Then what am I doing here?"
I turned finally, eyes locking on hers. "Surviving."
She laughed bitterly. "Surviving with you isn't surviving. It's waiting to die."
The words gutted me. I closed the distance, grabbed her wrist, pulled her against me.
"You're alive because of me. Hate me, curse me, fight me-but don't you dare walk away. Because the second you do, they'll rip you apart. And I..." My voice broke. "I can't watch that happen."
Her eyes widened. "Why?"
Because I'm already burning for you.
But I swallowed it. Masked it. Smirked. "Because you're more trouble alive than dead, princess. And I like trouble."
She stared at me, shaking, torn between fear and something else.
Finally, she whispered, "Flames of fate, Vincent. You'll destroy me."
I leaned in, my breath hot against her ear. "Or save you."
And just as the first rays of dawn lit the blood-stained skyline-
A second rattle shook the window.
Deeper. Louder. Stronger.
I froze, gun in hand, heart hammering.
If I killed eight men tonight, who the hell was waiting next?
How many more would come?
And this time-could I keep her alive?
FYI, Mr. Ex, I'm The Heiress of A Billionaire
"Then let's get a divorce!" With courage, Leora left her husband's house, after being accused of poisoning his mistress. Her in-laws and sister-in-law had planned various ways to kick her out of Peter's house and in the end Leora gave in. However, no one expected that things would turn 180 degrees after the divorce. When everyone who had hurt her was happy with each other's lies, Leora returned. This time, she was no longer the poor orphan girl from the orphanage. She has changed and not only that, she also carries a big secret that will make everyone turn to worship her feet.
Married to the Son :Owned by the Father
(Sexual Content) I stepped out of the bedroom, sleep having abandoned me. I needed something-anything-to silence the noise inside me. But I wasn't alone. He was there. Standing in the dark, by the window... The top buttons of his shirt undone, a glass of whiskey between his fingers. He turned to me slowly. "Couldn't sleep?" I nodded, my voice barely a whisper. "I don't want to sleep." He took a step. Then another. Until he was right in front of me-close enough for the heat of his body to kiss my skin. He said, "You know you're playing with fire, don't you?" I looked into his eyes-those eyes that shattered all my defenses. And I whispered, voice trembling, "I'd rather burn... than stay this cold." I don't know who moved first. All I know is that suddenly, I was in his arms. Surrounded by his breath. And in that moment-I forgot my name, my marriage... everything. He leaned in, his breath rough against my ear. "I'm your husband's father... this is wrong." Then after a beat, "But I want it to happen." --- I married him to escape the pain. But my heart only beat for one man-his father. I thought marriage would bring peace. A shelter from a bleeding past. But I didn't realize I was stepping straight into the storm. A storm named Leonardo Ricardo. A man who knows no mercy. A man who never accepts defeat. And worst of all? He's my husband's father. His eyes trap me. His voice chains me. And his touch... His touch brands me with sin. What happens when a woman shifts from obedient wife to prey caught between two flames? One gave her his name. The other stole her soul. Forbidden Romance · Age Gap · Family Drama · Steamy · Dark Passion
Mr. Mysterious, Your Wife Is An Imposter
Elena Vasquez, professional con artist who had just returned from a 3-year break after her last huge con, was itching to get back in the game... and this time she'd set her sights higher than ever: the cold-hearted billionaire, Noah Reynolds. When Noah mistakes her for his fiancée, Elena plays along. This was supposed to be her biggest game yet. But the closer she gets, the harder it becomes to keep the mask on. Because Noah isn't just another target; he's the one man who makes her heart falter... The feelings were starting to feel real. When the real bride-to-be returns, Elena finds herself caught in a dangerous triangle of lies, loyalty, and love. If Noah uncovers the truth, she could lose everything. "Unless... He can't remember."
Married to my ex husband's boss
"No one hurts you and goes scot free. Richard, your ex husband, is going to pay dearly for what he put you through, his only saving grace is that his actions brought you to me. From now on, you are going to be with me and in case you haven't noticed, I am madly in love with you, Elle. Richard is your past now and I am your future. So what do you say, will you give me a chance to be your husband?" Was I crazy to accept his proposal when I just signed divorce papers yesterday? Maybe I was or maybe his eyes were just too intoxicating to say no to. * Elle Decker was a dedicated wife who would do anything for her husband, Richard, even if it meant sleeping with his manager to get his signature on her husband's promotion document. Her sacrifice was unfortunately unappreciated as she caught Richard in bed with another woman. He chose power over her and handed her divorce papers as if their seven years of marriage meant nothing. But in her heartbreak, Mr. Raymond stepped in with a revelation that he wasn't just Richard's manager, he was actually the CEO. And as the CEO, he wanted to spend the rest of his life with no one but her. Elle's life literally turned perfect overnight, Raymond showered her with so much love and life was good. Not until the revelation that Raymond knew her long before this. Shocking secrets of the past began to unwrap itself with the ability to destroy anything in its path. What became of Elle and Raymond, can their love power through?
Billionaires Regret: His Ex-Wife Returns From The Dead
Marrying Zeath Lupin was a blessing until he ditched Mellow at a family dinner for his pregnant girlfriend. But the actions she took only led to a deadly situation. Something that would end her alongside the life growing within her-a child Zeath doesn't deserve. She ran for dear life after faking her death. But she was bound to return as Zeath's only means to an end in disguise. Would he recognize her? Would she accept his apology if he ever gave one? And what happened when the threat she once fled from rekindled, endangering her and her child's lives once more? ~ "Do you know how much I wished you wouldn't come near me, even... touch me?" Zeath drones on. "All those cuddles, kisses, and affection? They all made my skin crawl-like a troll embracing its victim before gobbling them. One can only imagine how much it stinks. You're no different. You merely caught my attention because you were a self-absorbed twonk, and we needed to test if you even had the heart to love another." "We?" I croak out. Then Zeath's fingers trail gently along my face, his eyes glinting with pure poison, and his voice no better. "Poor Mellow, it's all a dare, a gratifying one. Divorce or not, it's your choice."
BENEATH HER ASHES
Two best friends Emily Jacobs and Delilah Tomson have been in each other's lives ever since they were young . They have known each other for as long as they can remember so it certainly came as a shock to many when Delilah had an affair with Emily's husband . When Emily found out about the affair , the shock induced her labor two weeks before her due date . As if that was not enough she lost her new born triplets to a fire at the hospital. Instead of her husband offering comfort he blames her for saving her self instead of their new born babies and demands a divorce so that he marries Delilah who had just given birth to his son . In a single day Emily lost her new born babies , her husband and childhood best friend . Ten years later Emily returns with a different face and identity to investigate the cause of her triplets' death and to also take revenge on everyone that has betrayed her in the past . Who will stop the fury of a scorned woman ?