I jolted awake to frigid water being splashed on my face. Snapping my eyes open, I glared at the man standing in front of me and looking down at me with a triumphant glint in his eyes.

I bounced off the chair I was in. Actually, I tried to. Then I realized I was bound to the chair, my hands tied behind me and my legs tied together.

“Mikhail.” Montse's voice brought my attention. She was still bound to her chair with tears in her eyes but her eyes were alight with joy. “You're alright!”

“Oh, how sweet.” The man in front of me crooned harmonically. “One advise my friend. You got to let your bitch know when to shut her mouth when she's told. I wouldn't have had to punch her three times.”

I looked at Montserrat and noticed the trail of blood on her lips. Fury tore through my veins but my intentions of springing up and ripping the bastard's throat were foiled by my shackles.

“You bastard.” I bit out. ”Consider yourself a dead man.”

He laughed humourlessly. “Don't you just love it when helpless people act like they have all the power?”

He brought his pistol to his lips and kissed the mouth, regarding me curiously. “Aren't you gonna ask me who I am?”

I looked at him cooly without saying a word, and he continued. “You really thought you'd taken everyone out and that you and your little girlfriend were safe, didn't you?”

Coming closer, he placed his hands on either of the armrests of my chair, starting into my eyes. The look in his eyes were dead-cold, not that I cared.

“I'm Ernesto. The man you killed in that bar. . . I loved him. Even if he didn't feel the same, I would put my life down for him. You took that chance away from me. Why did you do it? What did he do to you?”

I opened my mouth, making him think I was going to give him an answer. I smashed my head into his instead. He stumbled back, groaning. Then he punched me on the mouth. Montse screamed my name.

He chuckled. “I'm sure you told Angelo your reasons before killing him. You know... Angelo, idiot brother of the love of my life who went after you personally even though I assured him our plan was going to work. I knew you were going to kill him.”

He paused. “Sorry, I'm stalling. Back to the question I asked. Why did you kill him? Don't worry, I'll be killing you whether you tell me or not but I just want you to enlighten me. He told me about all his enemies. He never mentioned you.”

I wanted to growl and tell him all the things I told Angelo, that his brother deserved it. But I looked briefly at Montserrat and she had a peculiar look in her eyes as she stared at me and completely different words came out.

“I don't know what you're tal...”

Ernesto aimed his gun and pulled the trigger. A bullet pierced through my thigh. Montse screamed but the only thing I allowed to come out was a muffled grunt even though it hurt like a bitch.

I gritted my teeth, biting against the pain. I couldn't give him any satisfaction.

“Don't make me ask again, Mikhail.” Ernesto growled.

He was so focused on me he didn't hear Montse moving. I saw her from the corner of my eyes quickly untying her feet and remembered her saying the ropes on her wrist had gone loose.

Whatever she was planning, I hope she didn't do anything that would cause the bastard to shoot her.

I took my eyes away from her totally so that Ernesto didn't suspect anything and glared at said man. “You really want to know?”

He slammed the butt of the pistol against my mouth and I tasted my own blood. “I told you not to make me ask again.”

“Hey.” Montse suddenly spoke.

I looked up to find that she'd picked up the gun of the goon I'd shot before Ernesto had come. She had it aimed against Ernesto's back.

“What now pretty li...” Ernesto asked in a bored tone while rotating to face her.

Her hands were shaking, and for a moment I feared she couldn't do it. She proved me wrong by pulling the trigger. It caught Ernesto in the heart.

Montse yelped, instantly dropping the gun. She looked so shocked at what she'd just done.

“Good job.” I told her firmly.

She nodded dazedly before running over to unbound me.

“Let's get out of here.” I told her.

“What about your thigh?" She asked uncertainly, pointing with a finger.

“I'll be fine.” I assured her. ”Let's go.”

Just when we were about to step into the other room, I paused and looked back at her.

“I need you to close your eyes.”

“Close my eyes?”

“Trust me. Don't open them until I tell you to.”

There was no way I was going to let Montse see all the dead bodies strewn there. Once she closed her eyes, I swept her off her feet bridal style. The bullet in my thigh stung but I gave it little focus as I took Montse out of there.

***

After placing Montse gently into the front passenger seat, I rounded the car to get inside. Pain shot through my thigh as I sat down.

Montse looked at me in concern. “Are you okay?”

“I'm fine.” I replied. “You?”

“I'm not the one with the bullet wound.” She said lightly. I looked at her and she looked away, when she finally looked back, her lips were quivering.

“That man... I shot him without a second thought.” She breathed out a raspy sigh. “Tell me I did the right thing, Mikahil.”

This was exactly what I had feared. The shock of killing someone for the first time was yet to ebb. People like Montserrat could never kill for the first time and not have their conscience prick them, even if they did it out of self defense.

“You did the right thing.” I told her firmly. “You shot him to save me. To save us. He would've killed us without hesitation. It was self defense. You more than anyone should know you did the right thing.”

I brought my hand to her face and stroked her cheek lightly. ”Okay?” She nodded and smiled even though it didn't reach her eyes. “Now let's get out of here.”

I drove for an hour. I expected Montse to fall asleep but she didn't. She didn't keep up her usual chatter either. She just stared ahead of us.

It scorched me more than the last time she'd gone mute on me because I knew the gravity of what was weighing her down now was heavier.

We got to our destination. A chalet located on the outskirts of the city, it's back overlooking a stunning lake.

“Is this yours?” It was the first thing Montse had said since our drive started.

“Yes.”

She looked at me curiously. “I thought you would be taking us to the hospital to treat yourself.”

I tensed, hoping she wouldn't notice. I probably should've expected that question. It had however been the last thing on my mind.

“Uh, it's just... When we go to the hospital, they'll ask questions. I first have to contact my agency so that there are no problems.”

I thought I lied rather smoothly but Montse stared at me like she didn't understand a thing.

I got out of the car. I went round to open hers for her but she was already out of the car. She was looking at the house in wonder.

“You own such a house and you prefer to live in...” She stalled. “Not that the other one is not beautiful but this is just so spectacular.”

I simply smiled and motioned for us to move forward. “I have a lot of houses.”

“How rich are you?”

“Rich enough to own a chain of restaurants and hotels.” I replied, trying my best to tone down the limping. I had to get this bullet out of my thigh soon.

Her eyes widened and I chuckled at her expression. At least I didn't have to lie about that part of my life.

Initially when I started this work, I took money for every job I did when I was still under the thumb of my teacher. Now I had built enough to provide me a lot of wealth. That was why I barely charged anyone nowadays.

When we got inside, Montserrat seemed even more marvelled. “This is beautiful.” She whispered. “But it sure does look lived in.”

I knew the last part was sarcastic. I'd bought this place so that I would come here whenever I felt like taking a break from my job as a vigilante and enjoy some serenity especially because of the lake.

I'd used it only once, then I'd realized that taking a break wasn't for someone like me.

“Your lips.” I said. “Wait here.”

I went to the kitchen and brought the first aid kit, thankful to the previous owners for not taking it away.

I dabbed at her lips with some spirit until the surface was as clear as possible. I couldn't afford an infection.

“All set.” I said.

“Your lips look bad too. Let me...”

“It's okay. I'll be fine.”

Ignoring me, she took the box from my laps and proceeded to treat the cut on my lip.

“See, it wasn't so hard was it?”

I smiled. Leaving the kit on the couch, I took Montse upstairs and into a room. Climbing the stairs was such a bitch but I bit back all my groans.

“Come. You need to rest.”

“I'm not the one with the bullet in my thigh.” She looked at my thigh bloodied through my trousers and cringed. “Seriously Mikhail, this looks bad. We should go to the hospital.”

“Right after I've contacted my agency.” I lied.

“Why don't you tell me more about the agency?”

“You know enough.” I replied curtly. “Just get some sleep. I'll go get my thigh treated, okay?”

She nodded and climbed onto the bed. I left the room and went back downstairs.

I'd only ever been shot thrice since I started this work, today being the third. I cut my trousers off and glanced at the wound. It looked bad.

I first wiped the surface with some alcohol which burned like hell. When the wound was clear enough, I brought out the forceps.

Taking out the bullet was as painful as my muffled sounds of pain indicated.