Kissed by the Killer

Chapter Twenty-one: Chosen Not Chained.

Vincent Virenson.

The silence after betrayal is louder than gunfire.

It wasn't Marco's smirk or even Dominic's smug amusement that cut deepest-it was the way Violet's eyes trembled when she looked at me, as if wondering how many more pieces of me she'd have to carry before I shattered completely.

"Vincent," she whispered, her voice trembling, "don't-don't look at me like that. Like you're already gone."

I clenched my jaw. I couldn't let her see. Couldn't let her carry this weight. Not when Marco had sold me out for the second time. Not when Caroline, the viper, slithered closer with her brother Dominic hovering behind her like a dark shadow, eyes fixed shamelessly on Violet.

Marco leaned back in the chair like he was the king and I was the fool. "Don't glare at me, Centy," he mocked, twisting the nickname Dominic had coined for me. "Loyalty doesn't buy bread. Caroline does. And she pays well."

I wanted to break his smirk with my fist, but I couldn't-not when I felt Violet stiffen beside me. My fury was a luxury. Protecting her was necessity.

Caroline's laugh was soft, venom-laced. "Oh, Vincent, you should've learned by now-love makes men weak, betrayal makes men blind. You've had both. How do you plan to crawl out of this hole?"

I opened my mouth, but Dominic beat me to it. He stepped forward, his grin shameless, his eyes never leaving Violet. "Or maybe he doesn't need to crawl out. Maybe he should just let someone else handle his precious flower." He winked. "Tell me, Violet, do you prefer red roses or lilies? I'll have them delivered to your window once I've killed your husband here."

Violet froze. My fists curled.

"Say another word," I growled, my voice low enough to rattle glass, "and I'll make sure it's your last breath."

Dominic only chuckled, hands raised in mock surrender. "Temper, temper. Don't worry, Violet, I like my women fiery. I'll handle the heat."

Her gasp turned into sharp defiance. "Keep dreaming," Violet snapped, surprising even me. "The only fire you'll handle is the one that burns you alive for being pathetic."

Caroline's smirk faltered for just a heartbeat before she masked it. Dominic's grin widened, clearly delighted by the challenge. And me? I wanted to drag Violet behind me, away from their poison, away from their games.

But then the glass shattered.

A bullet hissed past my ear, embedding itself in the pillar behind me. Instinct roared through me-I threw Violet to the ground, covering her with my body as another shot rang out. Dominic swore, Marco ducked, Caroline cursed.

Chaos erupted.

"Sniper!" Daigo's voice cut through the madness from where he had been restrained, now fighting his way free.

Violet clutched at me, her heartbeat pounding against mine. "Vincent-"

"Stay down," I snarled, scanning for the shooter. Another shot cracked, close-too close. My arms tightened around her automatically.

She looked up at me, eyes wide, terrified-but not of the bullets. Of losing me.

"Why are you doing this?" she whispered fiercely, her hands fisting into my shirt. "Why do you keep throwing yourself in front of me like I'm breakable? Don't you see? I'm not chained to you, Vincent. I'm choosing you."

Her words cut sharper than bullets.

Caroline's scream ripped across the room as Dominic dragged her to cover. "Kill him!" she shrieked at the unseen shooter. "I want him gone!"

The sniper obliged. Another shot cracked.

This time it wasn't aimed at me. It was aimed at Violet.

I saw it before she did. Saw the trajectory, saw the glint of metal, saw her fate. And I didn't think-I just moved.

I slammed her down, rolled her under me, and the bullet seared across my shoulder, tearing through flesh. Pain ignited like wildfire, but I didn't let go. I wouldn't.

"Vincent!" she screamed, horror shattering her voice. "You're bleeding-"

I grit my teeth, pulling her face up to mine. "Better me than you."

Tears welled in her eyes, and she shook her head violently. "Stop saying that. Stop acting like my life is worth more than yours. If you die-Vincent, if you die-I'll never forgive you."

I wanted to tell her I was already half-dead without her. I wanted to tell her that love was the only reason I breathed anymore. But the words lodged in my throat, stuck between pride and desperation.

Another shot cracked. Daigo finally got free, tackling the shooter's spot. Shouts, chaos, and then silence-the kind that comes after blood is spilled.

But all I could hear was Violet's ragged breathing, all I could feel was her hands pressed to my wound, trembling.

"Don't you dare leave me," she whispered brokenly. "Don't you dare make me a widow before you've even made me a wife."

Something inside me snapped.

I grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at me. "You think this is about chains?" My voice was raw, torn. "No, Violet. This is about choice. And I choose to protect you, even if it kills me. I'd rather bleed out in your arms than live a century without you."

Her tears broke. Mine almost did.

And then, in that chaos-blood on my shirt, smoke in the air, Caroline shrieking orders, Dominic smirking even while dodging Daigo's rage-Violet kissed me.

Hard. Fierce. Desperate.

For the first time, I kissed her back without restraint, without fear, without walls.

Chosen, not chained.

---

Violet Virgilson.

The taste of his blood was still on my lips.

Not because I meant to taste it-but because when I kissed him, I didn't care that he was bleeding, didn't care that bullets had carved through his flesh. All I cared about was that Vincent was alive.

And he had kissed me back.

For a moment, the world shrank to just us: his trembling hands gripping my face, my tears streaking down my cheeks, the weight of everything unsaid pressed between us.

But of course, chaos refused to let us have peace.

"Well, well," Dominic drawled, stepping out from behind a column like he owned the room. His grin was so smug I wanted to throw my shoe at him. "What a sight. Vincent Virenson, the untouchable wolf, finally brought to his knees by a kiss. And here I thought you only bled for bullets, not brunettes."

Vincent growled low, protective even in pain. "Back off, Dominic."

Dominic ignored him entirely-his eyes locked on me. "But why would I? Violet, you were spectacular just now. So fiery. So... intoxicating." He dragged out the last word, his gaze shameless as it raked down me. "No wonder my darling sister can't compete. You're far too much woman for a man like Vincent to handle."

I stood. Trembling? Yes. But not from fear-from fury. "Listen carefully, you overgrown mosquito," I snapped. "You can buzz around all you want, but you'll never be anything more than an annoying itch. And if you ever look at me like that again, I'll personally swat you into next week."

For a heartbeat, silence. Then Daigo-bleeding, bruised, but standing strong-actually snorted. Caroline hissed. Vincent's lips twitched despite the blood. And Dominic? He laughed, delighted.

"Perfect," he said, clutching his chest as if I'd shot him with charm instead of words. "Sharp tongue, sharp mind. Violet, you just became my favorite flavor of trouble."

"Try tasting me," I said coldly, "and I'll choke you with it."

Caroline stormed forward, her perfect curls bouncing like angry snakes. "Enough!" she screeched. "Violet, you don't belong here. You're nothing but baggage, dragging Vincent down with your tears and your sentiment. Look at you-standing there, pretending to be brave. Do you even know how much weaker you've made him?"

Her words landed like daggers because-truth be told-I'd asked myself that same question in the dark of night. Was I a burden? Was I the crack in Vincent's armor?

But then I looked at him-bleeding, yes, but alive, standing taller than anyone else despite betrayal-and I realized something. I wasn't the crack. I was the glue.

"You're wrong, Caroline," I said, my voice steady even though my heart raced. "I don't weaken him. I make him stronger. Because he finally has something worth fighting for. Something worth living for."

Vincent's eyes locked on mine. Fierce. Shaken. Raw.

Caroline faltered. Just for a moment.

Then Dominic ruined it. Again.

"You see?" he said smugly. "That passion. That loyalty. That's what I want." He stepped closer, too close, his cologne choking the air. "Violet, forget Vincent. He'll bleed himself dry for you. But me? I'll worship you. I'll give you power, freedom, choice. Say the word, and I'll make you my queen."

I stared at him. Blinked once. Then slapped him.

The crack echoed through the room.

Dominic touched his cheek in stunned silence-then grinned like I'd just proposed marriage. "God, I think I love you."

Vincent lunged despite his wound, but Caroline grabbed her brother back, snapping, "Enough! This isn't about your petty crush, Dominic. This is about ending Vincent once and for all!"

She snapped her fingers.

From the shadows, more men emerged. Guns. Knives. Masks. An ambush.

I felt Vincent shift closer to me instinctively, his body still between me and danger. But this time-no. Not again.

"Vincent," I whispered, grabbing his uninjured arm. "Let me fight with you."

He shook his head immediately. "No. You're not-"

"Chosen, not chained," I cut him off, my voice trembling but clear. "Those were your words. Let me choose you, too."

His eyes widened. The chaos blurred around us-the shouting, the threats, the loaded guns-and for one heartbeat, it was only us.

"Violet-"

"I love you." The words tumbled out, fierce and broken. "I love you, Vincent Valentino Virenson. And I'm not letting you die for me when I can fight beside you."

Something in his face shattered-his walls, his fear, his endless guilt. He pulled me into him, pressing his forehead against mine.

"I love you, too," he whispered, raw. "God help me, I love you more than I can stand."

And then the room erupted.

Bullets flew. Dominic shouted something about keeping me alive. Caroline screamed for Vincent's head. Daigo roared like a beast as he charged.

And me? For the first time, I didn't hide behind Vincent's shadow. I stood beside him.

Truly chosen. Not chained.