" We were not a power couple.

We were two people bound by heights of misconceptions and hate

Yet I don't know why

In you I found my soul mate"

.......

Ethan's pov

"What the hell Vivian! I told you I fucking hate you! What goddamit proof do you need for it!"

"Fine. I believe you."

"Then you won't mind me doing this will you?"

Lifting the gun and placing the nozzle of it on her temple, she looks at me with dead eyes.

I stills, the challenge in her eyes. Forcing me to surrender and tell her the truth.

But I don't....I can't tell her. She won't let me go otherwise.

She will happily exchange herself to save Sophie.

That's how much selfless my little Phoenix is.

"Please...just listen to me. Keep the gun down my little Phoenix. Please don't do this."

I almost plead her and her eyes soften, taking this as an opportunity. I take the gun from her hands and throw it aside.

Pulling her to me.

She thrashes crying hysterically. Tears streaming down her eyes, to only have me hold her in my embrace.

Hugging her tightly, to finally feel at ease.
She is fine...thank God she is fine.

Her thrashing still after few minutes as she stays still in my arms.

"Shhh calm down love. You are fine. Everything is fine."

I whisper lowly in her ear, running my fingers on her silky locks, calming them.

When I hear her speak next, my body going stiff.

"She is alive . Isn't she?"

No ..how...how can she know? No one knows about it...then how come.

I pull back from her, looking at her in shock. To see her smile sadly. Sitting down on the sofa.

"Who...who are you talking about?"

"Stop if Ethan. I know.
Sophia is alive and he is asking me in exchange for her. Right?"

"But Vivian...how did you-"

She shows me her hand , stopping me.

"How is not important right now Ethan. The question of what is to be asked first."

Fuck! This is bad...now that she knows. I already know where this is going to go.

"I am going with you tonight. And that's final. Let James think he is winning, to only have us wait for the perfect timing and play the masterstroke."

I don't know what to say anymore. Looking at her hopeful eyes,I just sigh. Getting up .

"Let's discuss with dad first."

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"Vivian my daughter. The plan is great. But the risk is high. We can't leave you alone with him."

"I can manage Dad. I assure you. Plus according to the plan I will be only alone for 10 minutes."

"The backup will enter immediately after it."

Dad was in deep thought, just like me. We discussed earlier only to not envolve Vivian, but she was so stubborn sometimes.

He sighs, nodding.

"Fine. But you have to be careful. Plus you will carry a gun for safety. James men may check Ethan but they won't check you."

"Ethan can teach-"

"I know how to use it dad. Don't worry."

Dad nods and I look at her in surprise. I didn't knew my little Phoenix was a badass. Since when did she learn how to use a gun.

Dad places his hand on her head. Sadly smiling at her.

"You are a brave women Vivian. Be careful."

Vivian nods,smiling and I just stare at her. How can she be so calm after knowing everything.

Vivian Lockwood was a really complex women.

And her mysteries were unfolding with every second I spend with her in a day.
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If only I knew the biggest mystery of all was yet to be unveiled.

If only I knew then , the storms behind the innocent eyes she veiled.
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We were going towards the warehouse, her fingers interlocked with mine over the gear box.

"Nervous?"

I ask, looking at her. To only have her smile. Pulling over the car. I stop to just stare at her.

The warehouse door visible.

"What happened? Why did we stop?"

She asks in confusion. To only have me pull up our interlocked hands. Kissing her knuckles.

"Nothing. I just wanted to look at my beautiful Phoenix before everything begins."

She smiles, a blush evident on her cheeks.
Making me move closer to her.

"I swear Vivian . After everything is over, I won't let you fucking leave my side for even a second of my life."

She chuckles, playing with my collar.

"Is this how much you love me?"

Caressing her cheek with my thumb, I look at her lips to finally meet her eyes.

"Yes my little Phoenix. And much more than you will ever know."

A sad look covers her face as she looks down and I tilt up her chin. Making her look back at me.

"Hey ? What happened?"

She moves her head in a no. And I swear I saw eyes getting watery for a second.

"If you are scared. We can go back Vivian. You don't need to do this. I can mana-"

"Shhhh"

She says, placing her finger on my lip. To look up at me with those beautiful green eyes.

"Shut up and just kiss me"

She urges me and I couldn't help smile. Capturing her lips, like I have never tasted them before.

Engraving the feeling of this kiss, on my lips and soul forever.

Pulling back from the kiss, that seemed to last eternity. We remain like that. With our foreheads placed together.

When I pull out the earpiece from my pocket and adjust it inside her ear, so that it's not visible.

She looks at me in surprise, trying to see it, when I stop her.

"It's for your safety Vivian. You can hear my voice via this. "

"When I leave, we will stay connected through it. Inform if there is an emergency.Okay?"

She doesn't say anything for few seconds, to finally nod. Making me peck on her lips again.

I Just can't get enough of her.

No matter what.

"Ready?"

I ask , starting the ignition again. To have her straighten her back in the seat. Nodding at me.

Offering my open palm to her, she placed her soft hands in it. To have me hold it tightly.

I won't let anything happen to you Vivian.

I have finally found you and I won't let you go away from me again.

Looking at her face one last time, I was determined to have her in my arms tonight.
It was and will always be you Vivian.

And that's when we enter the enemies territory, putting the show to a beginning.
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Present:

8:40 pm

5 minutes from the warehouse.

"The fuck!"

Ethan curses,from the backseat. Trying to adjust the earpiece,to only hear nothing except a radio frequency sound.

"What happened Son?"

Ashton asks to only have Ethan speak in anxiousness.

"The earpiece I gave her. It's not working Dad! I checked it before giving her...it was working!"

Ashton feels worried of her getting caught , but doesn't say anything.

"Check the gps. The earpiece had a tracker. Right?"

Ethan nods, taking out his phone, to see her location. To find it at the same place.

"They are there only."

"How much more time Dad?"

"5 minutes at max"
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They enter the warehouse , jumping over the walls. Around 30 men ready with them.

Ashton motions them.

And they circle around the area, closing in slowly.

Ethan tries to hear any sound on the earpiece but it was silent. His eyes looking up , to stop at the room where they kept her.

Moving in slowly, one of the men were almost going to enter when they instead heard a loud scream.

Coming from the ground floor.

They go back to their positions, to only see the main door open as a person comes out screaming. To be followed by others.

Crying , shouting . Asking everyone to run. And that's when it happens.

A loud blast echoes in the silence, making huge chunks of concrete and mortar to shower on everyone. The men move back afraid, while Ashton holds Ethan's head, pushing it down to make him duck behind a wall.

Everything goes numb for a minute.

And no one understood anything.

Ethan tries to look up, but what he saw made his heart to stop. The top floor of the building...it was burning in flames.

The very floor...the very room she was kept it.

No ..this can't be happening...no...

He gets up , rushing in to save her. Not caring about anything. When the flames rise in second floor as well.

"Ethan no! Stop!"

Ethan doesn't listen, staggering to go further. His eyes fixed at the very room which was nothing except a burning furnace now.

"Fuck! Ethan!"

Ashton curses and next they know, Ashton pulls Ethan back from his collar. Covering his body with his own as the second floor blasts as well.

Everything happening too fast to interpret anything.

Ashton luckily escapes unharmed to only have him curse at Ethan.

"Are you blind! Can't you see that the place is going to blow up!"

"Come!"

Ashton tries to drag Ethan to safety, but refused. Getting up to again stare at the same place.

"Sh..e...is inside father.... Vivian...is inside..."

Pushing aside Ashton, Ethan goes in towards the burning flames, to only find every entrance to be already blocked.

"Vivian!!!"

He screams, pushing the burning doors to only have his hand to be burned.

"Son! Are you crazy! Wait the fire men are here...let them do it!"

Ethan doesn't care, letting his hands to burn. The words of his promise to keep her safe, rewinding in his mind.

No...he can't be late in saving her.

He has to save her..

With new found determination, he pulls out a handkerchief from his pocket to tie it around his mouth.The smoke was suffocating him.

When he sees a chit of paper falling from his pocket.

And he stills, his hands trembling as he stared at it.

Using his shivering half burnt fingers, he manages to pick it up. And he couldn't help remember , the first time she gave him a chit like this in highschool, when she confessed her feelings for him for the first time, using the account password that she kept.

A tear drops from his eyes to land on the paper,as the fire men pushing him back to safety. Away from the flames.

His mind too numb to do or say anything.

Eyes focussed on the nicely folded paper, which he opens to only have him loose his footing for a second.

The words resembling death, yet worse than it.

Dear Ethan

You may find this letter when I am gone. But remember I am always with you.

I am sorry for not being able to keep my marriage vows.So,I am giving you back the most precious thing of our marriage

If possible please forget me and give it to the person who it was always meant to be.

The girl that you have always loved since childhood.

The best friend that gave away her life for me once and it is my time now to return the favour.

Sophie deserves your love way more than me Ethan, she needs it for her healing. And only you can heal her.

Tell her ,her sister will always love her.

And for you?

I ❤️ you Ethan Lockwood.

Have and always will.

- Yours truly
Vivian
( Your little Phoenix)

The paper drops from Ethan's hand as he moves his trembling fingers in his pocket. A gold ring lines his finger tip and the second tear leaves his eyes.

A heaviness settling in his chest, that keeps building up. Almost suffocating him.

And he pulls it out, to stare at their engagement ring.

A scream leaving his lips, which had no bounds. To be only silenced by the sirens of the ambulance and fire brigade.

"Viviannnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!

He screams again. His legs loosing his strength. To have him crash down on the ground, surrounded by smoke and flames, except for his little Phoenix missing in them.

.....

Note: 2 more chapters to go. This is not the end.