He walked down the long road silently, caught in a daze of expectation. He'd trekked a one kilometer distance after having left his car by the road, a silly choice, but he wanted to try to be able to walk down the streets without assessing certain nuances about people with a lens of scrutiny.

He walked by a couple, the woman laughing as the man tickled her ribs, face buried in her neck. Would he and Montse be just like that? He hoped so, because God help him when it came to romance. He still had so much to learn.

The thought made him smile, the first genuine soul-felt smile he'd had in sixteen years that wasn't provoked by something Montse had said or done.

The excitement seemed to be thrumming inside his veins in waves. He was going to start a new life, a new life with Montse, the woman he'd fallen in love with.

He passed by a brutal fight between two men. Spectators stood around watching, but no one made an effort to separate the men, both of whom were bleeding in the nose and other parts of their faces.

He watched with a sense of detachment till they disappeared from his sight as he finally took the route that led back to his car. He started the journey home.

When he got into the woods, his heart was feeling like it would just burst out of his chest. He'd been away for more than a month. How was Montse doing?

Was she missing him, praying he would be home soon? He sure hoped so. He'd missed her like crazy.

He parked the car as close to her cabin as the woods would allow. Her lights were on, and he could see a faint glow of flames probably coming from the fireplace.

Taking a deep breath, he got out of his car and headed towards the porch. Grabbing the doorknob, he rotated it, a liitle annoyed to find the door unlocked.

What if it'd been someone else wanting to harm her?

She was standing by the window, and he wondered why. She probably didn't hear him come in because she didn't turn, which he didn't mind. That would give him the chance to execute his plans.

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the box inside which the ring he hoped she would accept rested. He opened it and got down on one knee. He opened his mouth to speak and it felt like he'd lost all memory of the alphabets.

Damn, he should've probably rehearsed the words to speak before heading home. Taking a deep breath, he finally let words out of Hus mouth unfiltered.

"For sixteen years, my life was devoid of any kind of fun. I loved solitude, being alone, and all that time I thought it was okay. Then you came along and made me realize just how not okay it was. That I need someone in my life. That I needed you in my life."

He paused, wondering why she hadn't even turned to face him. He continued anyways.

"Suddenly all I knew was that I couldn't stand the thought of being away from you. That I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you. That I've fallen so head over heels in love with you that my neck might as well break from the impact. And that's why I want to ask you now. My princess, will you be mine? Will you make me the happiest man on earth by agreeing to be my wife?"

He waited, then waited. Then waited. She still wasn't saying anything. He knew he was screwed. She was going to reject him.

When she finally spoke, he expected her to say no. He expected her to explain why she couldn't marry him. However, her words caught him completely off guard.

"Did it make you feel good?"

He grimaced, wondering why she'd spoken so indifferently without even turning from the window. And what was she talking about?

Was she upset about his leaving without even personally saying goodbye or explaining his reasons?

"Look, Montse, I'm so sorry. I know I'm an idoit for leaving without any explanation, but I promise you that what I had to do was... "

It wasn't the fact that she cut him off in that moment that shocked him. It was the words she spoke next.

"Did you enjoy taking the life of so many people?"

It hit him like a sucker punch to the stomach. She knew. Holy fuck, She knew. How?

His heart somersaulted inside his ribcage. This was the last thing he'd expected while coming home. It took him about a minute for the shock to dissipate enough for him to decide to do something.

He got to his feet, wanting to approach her. To see how best he could alleviate the gravity of the situation. Before he could even take a step forward, she spun around, a Glock in her hand which she pointed at him.

He recognized it as one of his own guns. He'd left it intentionally here so that she would get something to defend herself in case there was an attack.

"I can't believe I've been living with a murderer all this time. The same person who killed my father and so many other innocent people for his own selfish gains." She was looking at him as if she couldn't recognise him.

Her finding out about his identity had done exactly what he'd feared it would do.

Mikhail could only stare back at her in shock. "What are you talking about? I didn't kill your father."

"But you killed the others?" Her free hand flew to her mouth, her eyes turning teary like he'd just confessed to his crimes.

Except he hadn't. Someone had painted him completely black in her eyes

Her hold on the gun loosened while she shook her head vigorously. "I hoped it was a lie. I prayed the person who told me had only been deceived. I can't believe that I've fallen in love with you like some idiot and all you've been thinking about is my inheritance. That is why you killed Miguel Valdez."

Who'd fed her all these lies? If the person was in front of him, he would snap their neck without butting an eye. He couldn't stand the judgement in her eyes. It felt like a knife stabbing right into his soul.

He stared at her, knowing the only arsenal he had now was his words. To convince her of his drives, his intentions.

"I was only ten years old when my parents were tortured and murdered without mercy right before my eyes." He chuckled. "If that is not the perfect recipe for revenge, then I don't know what else is. I grew up knowing what I wanted to be. After high school, I went to be trained as an assassin. The first thing I did was kill the four people who'd murdered my parents personally, and I've just returned from killing the bastard who sent them. After killing those four men, I realized that there were so many more like them in this town. People who kill without feelings. I wanted to get rid of those bad guys, to make this town a safer place."

Montse continued shaking her head like she believed he was lying, her gun still pointed at him. He continued. "Yes, I declare guilty. I declare guilty of killing hundreds of men, but none of them was innocent. All cold blooded murderers."

He took tentative steps towards her, wanting to take the gun before she didn't something she would regret.

"But I also declare guilty of some other things. I declare guilty of wanting to change for you. Wanting to be a better person. I declare guilty of being so infected by the light inside you that I want nothing than to be part of you. I declare guilty of falling in love with you, Montserrat."

"Stop. . . stop. Don't say anything more."

Tears were pouring down her cheeks now, but the look in her eyes hadn't changed. She still thought he was a monster. Who'd destroyed him in her yes so much. He got his answer a second later.

"Don't listen to him, Montserrat. He is lying." Rita Valdez stepped out from Montserrat's room.

Logic clicked right into place. Of course it was Rita Valdez who'd fed so many lies about him. And she was here to stroke the fire of deception she'd kindled.

"He killed my husband. He killed your father because he knew he'd left all his properties to you. He's a murderer."

Looking at Montse's face and seeing that she had believed every one of Rita's lies, Mikhail felt lava hot rage flow through his veins. He charged at Rita, grabbed her by the neck and crashed her into the wall.

"How dare you?" his whole body was trembling with anger as he wrapped his hands around her neck in a strangling hold, blocking her wind pipe. "Why didn't you tell her that you sent me to kill her but I refused to do it after realizing that she didn't kill your husband like you told me she had?"

"Let. . . Let me. . . go, you liar. You're. . . choking me." Rita held his wrists, fruitlessly trying to shove his hand away.

He continued to press against her wind pipe. Veins were popping clear on her face and she was turning pale. A few seconds more and she would die of suffocation.

A gunshot resounded thunderously at the same time something sharp penetrated Mikhail's back. The pain of the bullet was incredible, but still he held on to Rita's neck until another gunshot accompanied another piercing pain in his back.

Montserrat had shot him twice.

Letting go of Rita's neck, he stumbled away from her. While she coughed, he slowly turned to face Montse. She covered her mouth as if in shock of what she'd just done. He smiled at her because he knew it wasn't her fault.

To her, he was a monster who was on the verge of killing a woman, the same woman who'd painted him black in her eyes. Pain tore through him, sending him to his knees before he fell on the floor.

"No!" Montserrat screamed, immediately throwing her gun away. She ran to his side and held his head by her hand "Oh my God, what have i done. What have I done? Mikhail! Please, forgive me. I'm so sorry. Rita, what are you waiting for? Please call the ambulance!"

"And why in hell will I do that?" Rita's words were accompanied by her laughter. Pure evil laughter.

She was behind Montse. They looked to find her holding her gun and pointing it to her head. Montse seemed too stunned to utter a word.

Rita began to circle them slowly, her walk triumphant, smile victorious. "You were right Montse. You really are naive and stupid. Sure he really is a murderer but some photoshopped pictures? I can't believe how easy it was to get you to kill the one person that was standing in the way of my getting back what rightfully belongs to me. I'd thought that Mateo killing his father would go to a complete waste. Now all I have to do is shoot, and everything will be mine. When Mateo returns from his trip, he'll realize that we're rich ones again."

If only she knew that her son wasn't on a trip and didn't want to be disturbed like the letter he'd had Vasquez deliver to her said.

"You're despicable." Montse spat at her disgustedly. "Mateo killed Miguel Valdez?"

Rita chuckled mirthlessly. "Who cares about what you think about me you stupid girl?" She stopped behind Montse again and aimed her gun behind her head. "Now if you two lovebirds have anything else to say, you better do it now."

Montse looked down at him, eyes bright with an emotion that made the pain a bit bearable.

"I love you." She whispered.

If he wasn't hurting so much, Mikhail could've screamed. The words he'd dreamt of so many times falling from her lips. Especially when she leaned down to seal it with a kiss like it was a promise.

"Okay, enough sappiness. Goodbye Montserrat. It was a pleasure knowing you. Not." She said, ready to pull the trigger.

She didn't know that while she'd been gloating, Mikhail had slowly and painfully slipped his hand under his jacket and brought out the gun he'd tucked behind his belt.

He was quick to pull it out, and before she could shoot Montserrat, he pulled the trigger over and over again, unloading every bullet inside the pistol into her chest.

A wave of weakness washed through him, and his hand fell at the same time Rita landed on the ground with a loud thud, dying instantly. Montse watched her bloodied body fall with a look of shock and pity, but when she turned her eyes to him, they were pleading, begging.

She stroked his face gently, tears rolling down her cheeks. "Please. . . please stay. Please don't die Mikhail. I'm so sorry. You want to spend the rest of your life with me right? I want the same thing! Let me call the ambulance."

"No, don't!" He protested weakly and managed to grip her hand to prevent her from executing the move.

"What are you saying? Mikhail you're bleeding. If we don't go to the hospital?"

He ignored her. "I. . . I need you. . . to make me a promise, princess."

She shook her head vigorously, and more tears poured from her eyes. "No, don't start speaking like that. Nothing is going to happen to you."

"Promise me you'll be happy. Promise me. . . you won't get yourself arrested. Do. . . what. . . whatever it takes to save your self. You can burn my body and Rita's or bury us. Do whatever it takes..."

"No! I wouldn't have to burn your body because you are not going anywhere." She spoke with a defiant look on her face. A defiant look he would've found adorable if this wasn't so serious.

"Just promise me. Promise me you'll live your life and be happy without me. I've. . . willed all my properties in your name."

"I can't. I'll be happy only when you're with me. Please don't go."

"Promise me, Montse. Dammit, promise me. Please, princess." He pleaded.

"Okay, fine. I promise. I promise. But please don't go. You're the strongest man I've ever met. You can fight this."

"Thank you."

Raising his hand, he covered her cheek and stroked gently. Her hands covered his instantly and she nudged her face deeper into his palm.

There was nothing he would like more than to live and spend the rest of his life with this woman. To love her. To be with her. But he was feeling too weak. This could be his last time seeing her.

"I love you." He whispered just as the world around him began to fade.

The End!