Well here is chapter 5 (finally) I hope you all like it. Remember to drop a review please ( reviews make me happy) :-D

Chapter5 First Meetings

Mkenzie stepped into her apartment and sighed. She ran her fingers through her dark hair and tossed the apartment keys onto the small stand next to the door. They landed with a loud clank next to the plate of cookies, left there earlier when she had hurried out. Mkenzie made a mental note to get rid of them before Sarah saw them. She closed the door behind her and started towards her bedroom when, suddenly, a warning went off in the back of her mind. She couldn't explain why, but suddenly she felt as if she wasn't alone. A cold shiver ran down her back and she stood where she was wondering what had made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. Her dark eyes flicked across the room, searching, then fell on the entryway to the kitchen area. Could someone be hiding there? A small noise on her left caused her to jump slightly and her eyes darted to the partially open bedroom door. The warning bells in her mind were practically screaming at her and her instincts told her that she needed to leave now, but she couldn't understand why. Senses now on high alert she took a cautious step backward. She paused trying to figure out what had alerted her in the first place. Had she heard a noise? Seen a shadow move?

A flash of movement from the bedroom was the only warning she had. Without thinking, she threw herself towards the entryway to the kitchen. The first bullet, which had been aimed at her chest,hit her in the shoulder, knocking her backwards. The second bullet, which had followed quickly behind the first, grazed her arm and slammed into the wall behind her. Hot flashes of pain raced through her arm as she stumbled and nearly fell. Somehow, she managed to scramble into the kitchen and take cover behind the wall. Oddly enough, her attacker didn't immediately follow after her. A voice she didn't recognize cut through her stunned mind.

"You move quick." The voice sounded amused and perhaps a little surprised. "I'm impressed."

Mkenzie swore under her breath.

"I guess I'll take that as a compliment." She growled as she reached up with her left hand and clutched her shoulder. "Shit."

"It was meant to be one."

Mkenzie risked a quick glance around the corner. She was only slightly surprised to see the man she had seen getting out of the cab earlier. Should have known there was something odd about him. She thought. She could feel her blood slipping through her fingers. The feeling made her dizzy and she forced herself to concentrate her thoughts on getting out of this mess and not on the fact that if she didn't stop the bleeding soon she would probably bleed to death. That is, if he didn't kill her first.

Getting away was going to be difficult. The man was a professional and he knew what he was doing. Mkenzie looked around and saw a large kitchen knife lying on the counter. Unfortunately, she couldn't get to it, since she would have to move across the open entryway to pick it up. She had to buy herself some time.

"Armys sent you, I assume?" She said casually, as if she were speaking to an old friend instead of someone who was trying to kill her.

"Who else?"

"Figures." She mumbled

"You were expecting it though."

She scowled. "Of course I was. I just didn't know when."

"Shit" she hissed as a wave of dizziness hit her. She looked at her arm. It was completely covered in blood and she already knew the bullet was still there. "I'm definitely going to feel this tomorrow." She said aloud to herself.

The man let out a quiet chuckle. "No, you won't."

Mkenzie rolled her eyes. "Thank you for that much needed reminder, asshole." She muttered under her breath. "So what do we do now, then?"

"Do? Simple, I finish my job."

"What makes you think it's going to be that easy?"

She could almost imagine him smiling as he said, "I do this for a living."

"Really?" Mkenzie said sarcastically, "I almost don't believe that."

"Why?"

"Because your aim sucks. I've never met an assassin who missed as badly as you did."

"Obviously you must be the expert on such matters."

"Actually I am. It was my job to monitor all "personnel" who worked for the Mafia. I had access to every file on every assassin who worked for the Mafia. In fact, I wrote a lot of them. I know how assassins are supposed to operate."

There was a snort of derision and Mkenzie could have sworn that she heard, "of course you do." She couldn't really tell. Aloud he said, "Which would explain why Armys wants you dead."

"That's part of the reason."

"The other reason was Nicholas."

Mkenzie froze. Why would Armys tell this guy about Nicholas? She swallowed hard, "How did you know about Nicholas?"

" Armys talks a lot when he's drunk."

"Typical, at least for him. Stupid drunk bastard."

Another quiet laugh. "Almost the same thing he said about you."

The dizziness was hitting her fully now, and it was all she could do to stay standing.

If you pass out your dead. Buy yourself more time and make it fast!

She shook her head trying to clear away the fog in her mind. It was a mistake; the shaking only made the dizziness worse. She grabbed a rag that was sitting on the counter top on her left, and pressed it against her wound. "What did he tell you about Nicholas?"

"There wasn't really much for him to tell. Except that he died because he was stupid enough to listen to you."

Mkenzie closed her eyes and leaned even heavier against the wall.

Stay awake! Stay awake!

"He said that Nicholas would still be alive if you hadn't convinced him to come clean."

Mkenzie's eyes flew open at his words. They had sounded so close…

"… because he was stupid enough to listen to you."

Vincent paused for a moment as he listened. She didn't reply to his statement. There was only the sound of her harsh breathing. She was probably ready to pass out. He stepped forward, gun held in the firing position. She didn't even notice him until he spoke again.

But by that time he already had his gun pointed at the side of her head.

Oh so sorry for the short chapter. The next one should be up soon. Probably in a week or two, because finals are over this week. Please tell me what you think about this chapter. And I have a question for you all, how am I doing with keeping Vincent in character? Please tell me honestly.

SpadesJade: ah well I'm not sure if this update was fast enough, lol. But I can assure you that the next update will be sooner since school ends soon. Hope you enjoyed this chapter.

Laurenmlbc: Hi, welcome to the story. Glad you like it. Thank you for you wonderful comments.

Sweet Treats: Hi, glad you like my fic. I hope you enjoy this chapter and the rest of it too. Lots of angst and cliffhangers if I have anything to do with it. Lol

Cleric: Hi, thank you for your kind comments and for the punctuation tip as well. I'm glad you don't mind all the cliffhangers. Lol (there are probably going to be a lot more) :-D