VICIOUS

62.

We're still sitting in his office, talking about what happened between us in the past. 

''The taste of your lips, probably the only thing sweet about you,'' The words roll out of his mouth with ease, making it clear that he doesn't regret them. 

I let out an annoyed sigh and look out of the window. ''You dodged my first question.''

Somehow, he remembers it perfectly. 

''We became allies for Hayden's own safety,'' He explains. ''Ah, the poor man begged on his knees, wanting us to stop. Multiple people from Vicious knew, they only had to keep it a secret from you.'' 

''Why?''

Before he answers my questions, he pours himself a second glass of whiskey. ''Because I knew you'd step out of the game once you heard we had to be colleagues.''

Is this man on drugs or something? It seems like he has an obsession with me. That's just pure bullshit and he knows that.

"That's bullshit," I say.

"Is it?" Brandon slightly tilts his head. "We took each other's lovers. I don't think it's bullshit that you didn't want to work with me."

My heart skips a beat and I swallow. There was no need to mention either Ben or Louise. They're in the past and it's not the time to tell their story.

"You shouldn't mention Ben or Louise," I say, speaking up. "We both know what happened and there's no need to bring it up."

Brandon chuckles and looks me in the eye. "You just don't want to bring it up since you were the one who caused the death of your boyfriend."

I stay silent and feel my whole body tense up. He did not just say that.

Seeing me tensed up, Brandon continues. "You took Louise from me, I took Ben from you. That's only fair." He shrugs and takes a shot of whiskey.

It stays silent for a minute. The whole thing about Ben and Louise threw me off guard.

''Can we talk about the reason why I came here?'' I ask him, completely ignoring the comment he just made. 

He nods. ''Go ahead.''

Alright. I'm about to throw all of my mental shit on the table, so I might as well drink while doing so. 

''All this killing.. I'm done with it,'' I say. I move forward in my seat and let my forearms lean on my knees. ''I'm here for Rank 2. So that you will leave them alone.''

''Awh, poor little assassin with a heart of gold,'' He says with a grin. 

I roll my eyes at him and he laughs at my reaction. 

''Do you really think that after all these years of fighting, I'm just going to let you fucking retire?'' He asks me in disbelief. ''Do you really think I'm going to let you go like that?'' 

''No, listen,'' I say and I shake my head. ''Keep in mind, this comes from me. The person that doesn't have mercy, the person that keeps going until all her problems are solved. I just want to reason with you.'' 

Oh, great. I can feel tears starting to burn behind my eyes. It tells me that I'm really fucking tired of everything. 

''I want the whole..'' I pause for a moment, looking for the right word. ''..Fight.. Between us, to be over. I'm sick of it. I barely got out of Vicious' place when those bombs exploded and I nearly died while doing so. I just want to live a 'normal' life for a little while and then shoot a bullet through my head or something.''