Vegas and Pete: the series

Enemies and Lovers

POV Vegas

The war had begun. Death hung in the air mixed with the scent of blood, gunpowder, and smoke. There is only one way this ends.

I had told Porsche that whatever happened I wouldn't let anyone do anything to Pete. I meant it, but with all the bullets flying around it was not a promise that I could guarantee. I had seen him on the upper floor protecting Kinn along with Pol. I'd shot Pol in the arm. A mercy that I allowed him as he was Pete's friend, but that was all I could afford him.

I might have gotten Kinn then if Porsche hadn't intervened. They'd made it down to the garage and I had had them at my mercy, gun pointed at Porsche. Then that fucking toy had showed up out of nowhere and set off an explosion allowing them to escape.

I'd used one of my men to cover myself from the blast but the sound of the explosion was still ringing heavily in my ears and my movements were sluggish and off kilter. Kinn and Porsche would have gotten away by now. Damn it!

I shake my head trying to right my vision in the dissipating smoke. As it clears I see a person standing before me, barring my pursuit. He raises his weapon and I do the same.

Pete and I stand there staring at each other neither one of us making a move. I didn't want this, and who was I kidding, I couldn't shoot him. I lower my weapon and wait. I wait for him to pull the trigger. If this was how I had to die there were worse-

The sound of pounding feet echo behind me and two main family bodyguards appear. One of them shouts and both of them raise their guns to me. I spare them barely a glance before turning back to look at Pete. As if on cue he fires.

The bullet hits right below my shoulder digging into the flesh. Blood immediately begins to well up as I fall over from the pain, collapsing to the grimy floor. "Follow Khun Kinn." Pete orders the other guards as he comes to stand over me. "I'll handle this."

The guards are quick to follow his orders and I hear their footfalls disappear into the distance. I grip my arm as blood flows from the wound and turn my eyes up to meet Pete. His anger radiates off him like a wave and he takes a swing at me. His punch lands heavily on my skull and knocks me onto my back. I taste the metallic tint of blood in my mouth as Pete grapples onto my jackets and straddles me. His anger is palpable, weighing as heavily on me as himself.

I can't blame him. I've killed people he worked with. Hurt his friends, tried to kill his boss. Still I can't help the warmth that spurs through me at the feel of him near me.

He punches me. Once, twice, nearly knocking me unconscious. I can't let him. There were still things I needed to do. His fist swings down for a third strike and I catch his arm. Then, leveraging my strength, I manage to flip us over.

I stare down at him, holding him down but trying to catch his eyes all the same. "I'm sorry for everything."I say breathlessly through the pain. This might be the last time that I get to say it. There was nothing I wanted more than to be forgiven for what I've done. Even though I know I don't deserve it, especially after today.

"Sorry?" Pete grits out at me. His eyes blaze with pained fury as he tugs hard on me and flips us back over again. He punches me hard across the face, again and again. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry I think, unable to get my voice to work properly. So instead I raise my bloodied hand and try to touch his face, to memorize it even in this situation. I want to hold him in place, see him for what might be the last time, and tell him all that I've wanted to say.

"If I die today," I ask breathlessly. "Could it be you who kills me?" I can't ask for anything more. I can't want for anything more, nothing more than the chance to die at the hands of someone who I loved.