A puzzle left to solve

A loud gunshot echoed as Vincent shot Rosaline right on her stomach. A shuddering breath escaped her lips and in an instant her hand flew to her stomach as she felt an excruciating pain. Her steps staggered and she immediately fell down on the floor with a thud. Leon's jaw dropped to the ground. He had never thought that Vincent will really kill Rosaline. Caleb and Mr. Taylor too looked at Vincent in shock who was staring Rosaline with cold eyes. He was still holding the gun but his eyes were devoid of any emotion. They were hollow and his expressions were stone hard. His stance was rigid. He looked as if he didn't have an ounce of guilt for killing the girl for whom he had been crazy about all these years.

Suddenly Leon's ears perked up hearing the sound of loud gunshots and explosions, one after the other. Vincent looked at Leon in confusion. A deep frown etched on his face when he heard the sound of choppers. He immediately cocked his gun and rushed outside the building but his eyes widened witnessing a massive bloodshed. Half of his men were covered in a pool of blood while half were reduced into ashes. Vincent along with his men tried to shoot but they couldn't even detect their targets as they all got enveloped with thick black smokes which was making difficult for them to breathe, let alone see. They were getting targeted from all sides and Vincent couldn't think straight.

"COVER YOURSELF!!", he blared in a raucous voice.

His men immediately put on their masks and goggles while Vincent covered his nose and blinked his eyes repetitively so as to get a clear view. They all immediately shielded their faces with their arms as a gush of air forced them to move backwards.

*BANG*

"CALEB!!"

Vincent flinched hard when he heard a gunshot followed by Leon's scream. He immediately turned to his left only to see Caleb lying on the ground. Leon quickly crouched down and shook his shoulders but it was of no use as he was dead as a door nail. Suddenly another gunshot echoed and targeted Mr. Taylor. He immediately died. Vincent was befuddled. He instantly shot his head up only to be left shocked.

Rosaline was standing on her feet while pointing the gun at him.

His gaze further dropped down only to see hot smoke escaping from the muzzle of her gun. It didn't take him a second to put two and two together.

She was alive the whole time and was the one who had killed Caleb and Mr. Taylor.

~Flashback

A day before

"There will be high security Eli. We can't enter from the entrance nor from the windows as Vincent's men will be guarding the whole area.", Antonio said while staring at the blueprint that was sprawled all over the round wooden table. The Scorpions were currently inside the meeting room and were discussing their plan to attack Vincent and his team. Jennifer looked at Xavier who was staring at the blueprint with scrutinizing eyes.

"What do you say Xavier?", she asked him. Everyone else also snapped their neck to his direction for his response. Xavier slowly lifted his eyes up and looked at them.

"I think it's time to use Mr. Ivanov's high-tech Alligators.", he rasped. Noah nodded but Antonio frowned didn't buy his idea.

"So, you're planning to attack them by air? Have you lost your mind or what? Rosa will be bloody inside the building with that rascal. Our one mistake can cost her life. And what do you think that they won't be keeping an eye for air activities? I am sure that hacker Leon would have installed his radars around the building so that no one can encroach upon their area. Attacking by helicopters can be too dangerous.", Antonio spat. Xavier looked at him with dark eyes.

"For fuck’s sake Antonio, use your loaf. We aren't attacking them by commercial planes. Ivanov's Alligators are itself equipped with radars, missiles and are the fastest choppers in the world. Even if their radars detect some air activity, they won't even get time to see our choppers so shooting and destroying it is completely out of the picture. I have a good plan. Just work according to it.", he smirked. Emily nodded.

"As soon as we enter there, the first thing we will do is destroy their air missiles. We won't even give them time to counterattack as Mr. Ivanov had send around 20 choppers and had also send their whole team for our help. Vincent will be having only his most trusted men with him. We have an upper hand as we have more weapons and fighters as compared to him. His men won't be able to stand against our wide army. And don't care about Rose. We have trained our girl well.", she spoke proudly and looked at Jennifer who winked at her.

End of Flashback~

Vincent glared at the smiling Rosaline. She then lifted her shirt a bit and his eyes widened when he saw a bulletproof vest beneath her shirt. He balled his fists in anger and clenched his teeth.

"How dare you!", he gritted. Suddenly he heard footsteps behind him and he very well knew to whom it belonged to.

Vincent and Leon turned around only to see Xavier and his army marching towards them. Vincent had never ever imagined that things will turn this way. He fell in his own pit which he had dug to trap Xavier and Rosaline. Vincent then darted his eyes around and found that majority of his men were dead and only a handful of his men were left now. So, surrender was the only option. He gripped his gun tightly and looked at Xavier with red eyes who himself was glaring him.

"Your game is over now my dear best friend. Time to send you to hell.", he sneered. Vincent looked at him with sheer hatred and rage. Defeat is something which he can't accept but today it seems like luck was not on his side. He had to bite the bullet whether he liked it or not. He along with Leon were caught by the Scorpions.

Xavier then ran towards Rosaline who was walking towards him with slow steps while clutching her stomach. Her face was scrunched up in pain making his eyes teary. Although she wasn't shot but the impact was too strong which for sure had left a contusion. Xavier cupped her face in his hands and pecked her forehead.

"You okay Rosebud? Are you hurt?", he asked her while scanning her whole face searching for any injuries. Rosaline chuckled but hissed in pain as a sharp pain shot in her lower ribs.

"Yeah, I am fine just got a few broken ribs. By the way that was a grand entry, my hero. I am impressed.", she smiled. Xavier's expressions turned dark after hearing her words. He looked down and caressed her stomach gently. He then snapped her head towards Vincent and shot him a death glare. Xavier immediately aimed his gun at his head and howled like a raging bull.

"YOU FUCKER-"

But before he could shoot him, Rosaline quickly grabbed his right arm and pulled him back.

"No don't. Leave him Xavier. Remember I told you to not take the law in your hands. He will get what he deserves. There's no need for you to stain your hands with blood.", she said. Xavier's grip on his gun loosened. He sighed heavily and lowered his gun.

Vincent was boiling from inside. He just wanted to burn the whole world down but as much as he wanted to, he was helpless. Suddenly a clanking sound perked his ears up. He looked to his right only to see Noah strolling towards him while swivelling the handcuffs in air with his index finger.

"Ah! I was waiting for this day. Thanks Xavier. Finally, I took my revenge. Nice to meet you, my sweet and caring Boss.", he drawled the last word. Vincent clenched his jaw and balled his fingers in a fist. His face turned red in anger but all he could do at the moment was to drink the venom quietly.

Noah walked to him closer and flashed him a victorious smirk.

"The tables have turned today, Vincent. Remember the day you put me behind the bars and insulted me in front of the whole world. Today I am gonna do the same thing to you. And trust me I am gonna enjoy every second while you will be crying over your sordid life.", he snarled as past memories flooded inside his mind.

"With whose permission you're arresting me?", Vincent growled. Noah looked at him and smirked.

"Mine."

A deep voice echoed which was enough to stop the time. Vincent felt his heart stopped as his whole world came crashing down. His blood ran cold as soon as his eyes met with the familiar dark brown ones who was staring him with pity and disappointment.

"Matt"

A mere whisper escaped his lips as he was beyond shocked. Never in his life he had imagined that his own brother, his own blood will go against him, let alone side with his biggest rivals. Matteo was standing along with CIA's senior officers and cops. He was guilt-ridden but he was done with Vincent's madness.

Vincent looked at him. He understood that they all were there to arrest him. His sad expressions immediately turned into a fierce one. The betrayal of his brother finally pushed him at the end of his tether.

"So, you gave your statement against me but don't forget Matt that you're as much guilty as I am.", he seethed in anger.

"No, I am not.", Matteo finally replied. He then walked towards Vincent who was looking ready to kill him.

"I am sorry Vinci but you compelled me to take such a harsh step. I tried every way to make you understand but you were hell bound to take your bloody revenge. You even trapped Mom and Dad in your filthy games. Just to become more powerful than Xavier, you even stole CIA'S money? How could you? If Elijah wouldn't have made me aware of this fact, you would have kept me in a lie all my life. You're the head officer of CIA, didn't you feel ashamed? Your disgusting actions made me embarrassed. Because of you, our whole family became a laughing stock out for everyone. You tarnished our whole image. Still, you have the audacity to kill Rosaline and her parents? Why are you venting out your anger on her when that poor girl doesn't even know anything? The hunger of power and money has made you mad Vincent. My love for you always forced me to turn a blind eye to your mistakes but enough is enough. You really need to stop now.", he spoke in a gruff tone. Matteo then gestured at Noah. He nodded and wrapped the cuffs around Vincent's wrists.

Rosaline was watching Vincent with pitiful eyes. She indeed felt bad for him but it was necessary to punish him for his crimes. Vincent closed his eyes in despair and lowered his head. His own flesh had even left his side so it won't be wrong to say that he had finally lost the battle today. Noah then started dragging him towards the police car. Vincent quietly followed him. Leon was also arrested as he had abetted him in kidnapping Rosaline's parents.

Noah was about to make him sit in the car when Vincent halted his steps. He turned back and looked at Rosaline. Her eyes glazed over when they met with his sparkling orbs. His eyes itself reflected the pain of his heart. She was herself in a dilemma after hearing his sob story but the fact that Xavier can betray him was making it difficult for her to believe it.

Rosaline internally flinched when Vincent shot her an accusing glare. He then looked away from her and she didn't miss the tint of hatred in his eyes before he teared his gaze away from her remorseful face. Vincent then got in the car along with Matteo and other officers.

A tear slid down her cheek as she stared the car silently till it disappeared from her sight. Rosaline then sighed heavily and looked up only to find Xavier also staring in the same direction from where Vincent had just left. She could see his long face and the dejected look in his obsidian orbs as if he was also....

Guilty?

But why? She couldn't understand anything. She thought that finally everything ended but she had never imagined that things will end in a way which will leave new pieces of puzzle for her to solve.

~~~💗~~~