Chapter 30%
When Xavier asked me to chose Killian’s life or let him die, I could barely breathe with my heart thundering in my chest.
“You are a monster.” I whispered.
“Oh Aria, whatever I am. I am for you.”
Suddenly, a heavy sound made me look around and the door slowly opened behind us.
Click
The unmistakable sound of a safety being removed.
Xavier turned.
Killian stood there, still in his restaurant clothes, his broad frame cutting an imposing silhouette against the hallway light. His eyes cold, razor–focused locked onto Xavier as he raised his hand
A matte black pistol gleamed in his grip.
“I believe you were talking about me?” Killian’s voice was calm, almost eerily so. “Go on, Xavier. Finish your sentence.”
Xavier paled, his cocky grin vanishing like mist.
“You..how”
“How did I survive? Killian stepped closer, the barrel of the gun now an inch from Xavier’s trembling forehead. “Let’s just say your assassins were more talk than talent”
My breath caught. I should have been terrified–but all I felt was awe. Killian was alive. And here
Alive and dangerous.
“Killian, stop!” I said, moving forward and gently placing a hand on his arm, “He’s not worth it.”
“Isn’t he?” Killian’s voice dropped. “He threatened your life. Our children. My patience ran out a long time ago.”
But before the tension could boil over, the room exploded with flashing red and blue lights. The door was kicked open and police flooded in, weapons raised.
“Put the gun down!” a voice barked.
Killian lowered the pistol and stepped back, hands raised. “I’m not the one you want.”
Two officers moved to Xavier, but he immediately broke into a frantic plea.
“No…no, wait! She’s setting me up! She provoked me, I never laid a hand-“8
“Save it. Mr. Vardhan, the officer snapped, grabbing his arm roughly. The entire world saw your little performance.”
“What?” Xavier blinked, confused.
The officer nodded toward the massive window of the high–rise room. Across the city skyline, directly across from us, a skyscraper blazed with a massive digital billboard.
On it, in ultra–high–definition, was the live footage of Xavier’s threats. His manipulation. His confession. Word for word.
vier turned ghost–white &
“No… That’s not possible…”
“Oh, it’s very much possible” I said coolly, stepping beside Killian, I reached into my coat and pulled out a tiny camera–no bigger than a brooch. “Smile, Xavier. You’ve been on candid camera all along.”
The officers looked impressed. “Smart move, ma’am.”
As they dragged Xavier out, kicking and cursing, he turned back, eyes burning 8
“You think you’ve won? You think this is over?!”
I didn’t flinch.
“It is over, Xavier.” I said. “You ended it yourself.”
