BOUND TO MY FATHERS ENEMY: Hating Him Was Easy…Until I Started Wanting Him

CHAPTER 9: CHOOSE WHO BLEEDS

The shot did not end anything. It changed everything.

For a second, no one moved. Then Kessler staggered. My breath broke. “Kessler” He held himself against the door, his hand clamping over his side, but this time the blood did not slow. It pushed through his fingers, thick and relentless, as his body had finally stopped fighting to hold it in.

I moved towards him without thinking. “Stay back,” he said. “You’re hurt,” I said, my voice tightening. “You need help.”

“I said stay back.” His eyes lifted to mine. That was what froze me. Behind me, the man lowered the gun with calm precision, as the outcome had already been decided.

You see it now, he said. My head snapped towards him. “See what?” “That hesitation has consequences.” My hands clenched. “You shot him.”

“No,” he said quietly. “You did.” You stood there,” he continued, “caught between two sides, and did nothing.”

“That’s not true.” Then prove it. Kessler forced himself upright again, pushing away from the door with visible effort, every movement controlled through pain he refused to show.

“Enough,” he said. The man barely looked at him. “You don’t have time for control anymore,” he said. “You’re bleeding out.”

I’m still standing for now. He should not still be standing. He should still not be fighting. And yet he was still between me and the gun.

“Why?” I asked. Kessler’s gaze shifted to me. Because your father asked me to, he said. “That’s not enough,” I said immediately.

“It is.” No,” I shook my head, “Not for this. Not for what you’re doing.” I don’t do anything halfway, he said. Behind me, the man exhaled slowly. This is pointless, he said. “You’re wasting what little time you have left.”

You want a decision? he continued. “Here it is.” You came with me, he said, and you live long enough to understand why you matter. And if I don’t? His gaze flicked towards Kessler. “Then he dies here.”

“No.” It came out instantly without thought. “Don’t,” he said. I turned to him. “Don’t what?” Don’t make a choice based on me. That’s not how this works, I snapped. “You’re the one bleeding, and you’re the one being hunted.

He’s right, the man said quietly. “This isn’t about him. I’m not leaving you, I said. Kessler’s gaze locked onto mine. “You might have to.” No,” I said immediately. “No, I’m not choosing him over you.”

That’s not what this is, he said. Then what is it? “It’s what keeps you alive.” You said you control that, I said. “So do it.” I am.” His hand came up towards me. I barely had time to react before something sharp pressed into the side of my neck.

Pain flashed. “Kessler” The room tilted instantly. My knees gave out beneath me. He caught me before I hit the ground. Like he had not just taken two bullets.

You don’t get to choose like this, he said quietly. My vision blurred. “You… lied…” I whispered. His grip tightened slightly. “Always.” The word sank deeper than it should have. Because it did not feel like a lie. It felt like a promise.

Darkness crept in fast, pulling everything away piece by piece, sound fading, light collapsing at the edges. The last thing I saw was his face. Closer than it had ever been.

He lowered his head slightly. Close enough for his voice to brush against my skin. If you stay, he murmured, “you die.”

My breath caught. Because, for the first time, I believed him. My vision darkened completely. But just before everything disappeared, I heard it. A gun is being raised. Not once, but twice.

And a voice said, “You just made your last mistake, Kessler.” Then, the sound of a shot, and something heavy was hitting the ground.