001~ A MONSTER

Aiden

I held her hand tight as we walked through the corridor, my heart still pounding. The moment I got the call, she had been kidnapped, I had left the meeting and driven like a madman, killing anyone in my way. I thought I would be too late. But seeing her alive and safe had been the first breath of relief in hours.

I swore to myself then, I would never let her out of my sight again

She suddenly stopped. I felt a tug as her hand slipped from mine.

I turned, confused. "What is it?" I asked softly.

She stepped back. "I wanted to forgive you. God, I tried," she whispered. "But every time I let my guard down with you, I regret it."

I swallowed.

I moved toward her, but she flinched, retreating two steps, her voice shaking. "Stand there, Aiden. Don't you fucking come closer."

That's when I saw the gun in her hand. She pointed it at me.

Her eyes were wet with tears. "You ruined my life, my family. Everything!"

Her words cut me.

I tried to take another step, tears burning behind my eyes. "Let's talk about this when we get home."

Her fingers trembled around the trigger.

"I don't have a home with you in it." she shook her head. "There never was. There never would be."

Her tears fell freely now, streaking her face. "I told you didn't I? One of us has to die for this to end. And it has to be you, Aiden, because even after what you did to me—" she hit her chest with her fist, like her words hurt her. "I can't stop this fucked up heart from loving you."

She wiped her tears with the back of her palm and forced a broken smile. "You will have to die so I can stop hating myself."

My chest ached badly it felt like it might split open. I hated that I was the reason she was hurting.

"I love you," I said, my voice cracking foolishly, hoping my confession would change her mind.

Her eyes widened.

"Don't fucking say that!" She screamed. "You don't treat someone you love like this. All you did was disrespect me and hurt me. You never listened to me. I tried for you, but you just take and take!"

"Leah..."

Hwr face hardened."This is the end for us, Aiden."

Bang!

Three months earlier...

I sat at the back of the car, smoking, watching two men stumble out of the abandoned building across the street, swinging wildly at each other.

"What time is it?" I asked, my eyes still on them.

"Half past four," the driver replied.

I exhaled slowly, leaning back into tge chair.

Goddamit.

If they keep this up, we will end up attracting the police. And it was too much hassle having to find something every damn time for those roaches.

The driver sensing my irritation offered, "Should I go check it out, boss?"

I drummed my fingers on the door, contemplating. I didn't want to ruin my suit, not when I was supposed to meet someone at 9. If it was any other day, I wouldn't mind joining in on the fun.

I swung the door open and stepped out of the car, and drew my gun from its holster.

I shoved the man on top with my foot and I fired twice before he could move, the gunshot echoing through the quiet street. The man lay lifeless as I turned my attention to the other man still lying on the floor, his shirt soaked in his blood.

"I am one of your boys, boss!" He screamed before I could pull the trigger.

I narrowed my eyes, my gun still pointing at him. He struggled to sit up, lifting his shirt to reveal a tattoo, a skull impaled with a sword. The symbol of the Kingston family.

"Do I need to keep you alive if you are going to end up dead anyway?" I eyed his stab wounds.

"This won't kill me, boss," he smiled weakly.

Yeah, right.

I stepped into the building, the clang of metal on metal, grunts, and screams growing louder as I approached. Turning a corner, my eyes fell on a chaotic mess of men swinging steel pipes, wooden planks, and hammers with the intent to kill at each other.

"Fuck," I sighed, running my fingers through my hair. I let the cigar fall to the ground, then crushed it under my shoe.

I fired at two men who were pinning down a man I recognized as part of my crew. The gunshot shattered the tumult, and the men froze, their attention turning towards the source of the noise.

"Hi," I waved casually when their eyes were now on me. "I think it is time to wrap this up. We have all burnt enough fat this morning."

"Shit, isn't that Aiden Kingston?"

Murmurs started spreading among the men from the rival family, and they stepped back, trembling in fear.

"Don't worry, as long as you all behave, you will die painlessly," I assured. "All I need is the leader of this shit crew. Just raise your hand so I can see."

They all stayed quiet, stealing glances at each other. "Come on guys, the day will soon break! We don't have any fucking time to waste!"

"Aiden Kingston!" I heard a man scream my name.

I turned to see a huge bald man with an eyepatch, his face twisted in anger. "Great, are you their leader?"

"Do you remember me?" He gritted.

I raised an eyebrow. "I don't usually remember every insignificant person I've met."

He clenched his jaw, pointing at his eyepatch. "You took my eye three years ago! How dare you forget me!" He yelled, marching towards me.

I chuckled. "Ah, you must have caught me in a good mood. I let you off easily, and you have the balls to show up again?"

"If you are man enough, let's settle this in hand-to-hand combat." He said. "I will have your two eyes gouged!"

"Hmm... No."

I shot his legs, and he crumpled to the ground, grunting. I approached him slowly, pressing the barrel of the gun against his forehead. He glared up at me. "You bastard," he spat. "I won't beg for my life."

"You don't need to, buddy."

"The Kingston family will fall soon, and you will be the first, Aiden Kingston. The other families..."

I pulled the trigger, ending his life and interrupting whatever garbage he was planning on spewing.

"Boss, behind you!"

I spun around quickly, my gun raised as I fired, the bullet hitting his chest. I stared down in horror as a spray of blood splattered across my coat and shirt.

"Fuck it," I tucked my gun away.

I slid a pair of gloves on, picked up a bloodied steel pipe and moved through the room. I swung it, the pipe connecting brutally with the skulls and ribs of anyone that was in my way. The smile never left my face, my eyes glinting with excitement from the dark pleasure I derived from others screaming.

The early morning air was free from the tainted smell of gunpowder and blood. I placed a cigar between my lips, my fingers searching my pocket for my lighter.

"Here," Storm said, offering a lighter.

I smiled as I looked up at him. "Why do you carry a lighter if you don't smoke?" I chuckled, holding the tip of the cigar over the flame.

"Beats me," he chuckled.

"You look like shit," I murmured, my gaze lingering on a deep cut on his arm.

"I won't die from it. It's not my time yet."

I laughed, my eyes flickering to the lifeless body of the man from earlier who said the same thing.

"It seems the other families are planning something big," Storm said as I took a drag.

I smirked, "I am hoping they do. I am looking forward to it."

This city has been awfully quiet for a long time.

***********************************

I adjusted my tie, scanning the car park when a blonde woman laughing into her phone caught my attention.

The sound of her laughter was carefree and warm. It was a strange sensation, but it was her eyes. Those fucking emerald green eyes that locked with mine briefly as she walked past me making my heart skip.

It fucking skipped!

I couldn't bring myself to look away even if I tried. There was something in the curve of her smile, the way her hips swayed. Something that made me forget the blood on my hands and the violence I just stepped away from hours ago.

I found myself curious about a woman I just met, and without thinking, I followed behind her.

She stumbled, a gasp escaping her lips when my arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her against me.

She had turned around, her beautiful eyes blazing with anger. I was sure of one thing at that moment. I wanted her, and It didn't matter how.