Consumed by darkness

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.