Captive Angel Ch. 14 - End

Chapter Fourteen

Hunter pushed past that last tiny bit of rock and broke through into the sunlit afternoon. He felt a rush of exuberance as he let his eyes grow accustomed to the brightness of daylight. They'd done it. They'd gotten the stone, made it out of the cave alive. Now all they had to do was to contact Sebastian...

"I'll take the ruby, if you please, Aaron."

Hunter's eyes flashed open, his pulse, finally slowing after the cave in, stuttered in shock and then rushed to pick up the beat. He saw the swarthy little man, his hand gripping Angel's arm, a pistol at her head.

"Hurt her and I'll kill you slowly and with my bare hands," he growled.

"I have no intentions of hurting the good doctor. If you pass over the stone right now, no harm will come to her." Sebastian smiled slowly, a cruel smirk that bespoke his words. "Give it over to Clyde now Aaron, and let's put this whole mess behind us."

"Next you're going to tell me that we can be friends, aren't you?" Hunter asked, wasting time. Brandon wasn't here. He was nowhere to be seen. That meant, he'd either gotten away or he was dead. He could only pray for the former and figure out his plan of action based on the latter.

"Oh, I do doubt that. You're family has caused mine so much wasted time and energy over the years, and sad to say, mine has caused yours too much pain and death. Friends trust, and there could definitely be no trust between us, Aaron."

"What do you mean, pain and death? Shanna...?" he trailed off as Sebastian slowly shook his head.

"Oh, no, your sister is hale and hearty. She was supposed to be on a plane today, but I've had to cancel those plans. She's quite the delectable little minx. Floyd has been enjoying her company greatly. I was referring to your parents, Aaron." He smiled slowly. "I can't believe I didn't tell you before. So incredibly lax of me. Your parents, they went down into that cave thinking they'd gotten away from my men. They hadn't. Your mother was quite the wildcat from what I've been told. And quite the beauty; not up to my standards, but needless to say, my men found her very entertaining."

Hunter took an involuntary step forward as the rage that was building inside of him struggled to get away. He stopped only when Sebastian pushed the pistol hard against Angel's temple causing her to wince.

"I'm going to kill you, Sebastian. I'm going to rip you apart," he growled, rage flooding through his system in waves of adrenaline.

"No, I wouldn't think that would be a good idea, Aaron. Now, if you don't mind, I'm a busy man. Please, hand the stone to Clyde." Sebastian pulled Angel closer, the pistol pushed into the flesh of her temple.

Angel shivered at the look in Hunter's stormy eyes, seeing rage and hatred unlike anything she'd seen before. She could feel his longing to reach out, to rip the gun from Sebastian's hands and then to tear him into pieces slowly, relishing every bit of his pain. She could also see his pain and his helplessness as he stood there.

"You're despicable," she hissed at the man holding her.

Sebastian just laughed, his fingers digging into her arm a little tighter. "You'll find out just how despicable I can be if your lover doesn't hand over my ruby," he hissed. "You might want to urge him to comply, dear. Otherwise, I'm afraid I'll have to kill you."

Hunter reached into his pocket, pulling out the huge red stone and held it up into the light. "Let her go, I'll drop the ruby back into the cave and you can pick it up as soon as we walk away from here."

"No." Sebastian smiled slowly, his eyes going to the fire that burned so deeply inside of the gem. "Hand it to Clyde, now! Or else she dies, Aaron. Do you really want her death on your conscience?"

"He'll kill us anyways," Angel argued, trying to pull from the maniacal man's hands. "As soon as he gets the stone, he'll shoot us, Hunter. Run!"

"I'm not leaving you here with them," Hunter said quietly, his eyes on hers. He held out his hand, letting Clyde take the stone from him without a fight.

Clyde took the huge gem carefully, wrapping it into a scarf of silk and then placing it into a bag before taking it and placing the shoulder strap over his arm. "Got it boss," he said, smiling. "Can I shoot this prick now?"

"Get the car," Sebastian said.

Two more of his men came from off of the trail stopping beside Clyde. They spoke to him softly and then went to stand beside Hunter, their guns trained on him.

In the distance, the roar of a gunshot sounded, followed quickly by another and then there was silence but for the scattered and panicked sounding cry of the birds.

"Your friend, Brandon, wasn't it? I'm afraid he won't be joining you, ever again," Sebastian said, his smile growing over his pale face. "It seems my men are a little on the trigger happy side today."

The growl of a motor interrupted him and he turned, seeing a four-wheel drive jeep making its way carefully through the twisted trail, slowing to a stop next to him. "I'm afraid that this is where we must part ways, Aaron. I truly did appreciate having you as a competitor. You were a fine and worthy opponent. But as with all things, it must come to an end. Don't worry about Angelina. I know the good doctor will be just fine as soon as she and I have a chance to talk." He turned, dragging Angel along behind him before forcing her into the back of the jeep and following her in.

"What you want done with him, boss?" Clyde asked, sitting in the driver seat as the two men outside kept Hunter at bay with their guns.

"Kill him when we are out of sight. I want Angelina to hear the gunshots, though I don't think she needs to watch as he falls into the dirt." Sebastian reached out and stroked Angel's red hair. "It is far better this way, my dear, as you will come to understand in time."

Angel jerked away from him. "No! Don't kill him. I'll do whatever you want, please," she pleaded, willing to beg for the life of the man she loved.

"You'll do it anyway. I'm sorry, Angelina, but if he is left alive he will be a constant thorn in my side. He must die." He dodged her flailing fists, lifting the gun once more and pressing it against her side.

Clyde gave instructions to the men before returning to the jeep and climbing back in. He put the truck into gear, making a three-point turn to face back the way they had come and started down the trail.

Angel screamed inside, wishing with all her might that she could do something. She tried to fling herself out the door but it was locked. She tried to attack Sebastian, but he held the gun pointing toward her. She turned her head, staring out the back of the jeep, seeing Hunter standing where she'd left him, his eyes following her as she slowly disappeared down the trail.

His eyes, those beautiful stormy gray eyes that had held such tenderness, such passion for her, shining with love as he stared down at her, watched her now as she was torn from his side. Her hand reached out to him even as sobs of intense pain wracked her slender form. "No, Hunter," she whispered, unable to do anything else.

When the loud reports of two gunshots broke the quiet, she screamed. She fought them then, scratching and biting at Sebastian until he used the pistol, bringing it down hard upon the side of her head.

Bright white lights glittered in front of her eyes, turning quickly to black spots that seemed to coalesce into darkness, sucking her down and away from her pain. She welcomed the darkness, embraced it, wishing never to return to the pain of knowing he was gone.

* * * *

When she woke, she was strapped down in a small jet, her hands taped behind her, her body lying out full length on a small couch. She could hear Clyde's rough voice and Sebastian's more eloquent one, and cringed as the memory of what had happened surfaced along with the pain.

She moaned, tears starting in her eyes against her bidding, trailing down her ashen cheeks to fall to the soft cushion beneath her. She wanted to sob, to scream out her pain. She wanted to beg Sebastian to kill her also, to let her be with Hunter. Only one thought kept her will alive. Hunter's child.

"My dear, you're awake. Come, come, open your eyes. We'll get you out of that restraining harness and allow you to refresh yourself. You are quite filthy, dear. I almost had you put in the baggage compartment instead of letting your filthy clothes on my seats." Sebastian clapped his hands once before she felt hands on her body, lifting her, cutting the tape from her arms.

She opened her eyes slowly, the pain in her head only minor compared to the one in her heart. Lifting her hand, she probed at the small bump on her head, glaring at Sebastian.

"It's fine, dear. No concussion, just a small bump. You'll be fine." He nodded toward the galley and Clyde turned, returning quickly with a small tray of food and a glass of juice. "You should eat. Starving yourself isn't good for either you or the baby."

"How did..." Angel clamped her mouth closed, refusing to speak to him.

"I'm not some boorish backwoods Texas redneck. I can tell the signs. I would say you conceived during your stay with me or just after. I will hand it to Aaron, he never did give up when it was something he wanted."

"Don't say his name, don't ever speak of him to me again," she growled.

"Ahh, there is that fiery attitude. I was wondering how long it would be before you would find it again. Angelina, there is much we need to discuss. But now is not the time." He looked up as Clyde made some motion behind Angel's back. "We are almost ready to land. Will you behave on the trip home or do we have to resort to more unusual ways of transporting you again?"

"Fuck you," she hissed, crossing her arms over her chest.

She felt the sting before she realized what it was, her eyes already closing as she fell back into the chair, unconscious before her head hit the back of it.

"That's what I thought," Sebastian sighed, watching as Clyde slid the tip back on the small syringe he'd used.

* * * *

Angel slowly woke, her body feeling almost impossibly heavy, longing only to fling herself back into the darkness of unconsciousness. There was something waiting for her, something unpleasant that she would be forced to face when she woke. She could feel it, a nagging at her core that urged her to wake, while the weak part of her pined anxiously for the black nothingness it was waking from.

She moaned, pain assaulting her from the many bruises and cuts she'd sustained as well as from her head, from being pistol-whipped.

Pistol-whipped? Suddenly it was clear, almost as if she could see everything play out again in her mind's eye. "Hunter," she whispered, the tears already starting in her closed eyes. "Oh God, Hunter!"

"You're awake."

Angel sat up quickly, her eyes flashing open at the sound of that strange female voice. She regretted it the minute she did for her stomach rebelled, rolling over slowly. She closed her eyes, fisting her hands against her midriff in a hope of holding back the illness. "Who are you?" she asked slowly, gritting her teeth.

"My mom used to say, if you're nauseous, take deep breaths in through your nose and exhale slowly out through your mouth. It should help," the girl said, watching the red haired beauty fight against the urge to vomit.

Angel did, slowing her breaths, until finally the nausea passed, leaving her feeling weak but able to be coherent. "Who are you?" she asked again. She opened her eyes, staring at the dark haired girl, seeing the resemblance in the black hair and high cheekbones. "Shanna?"

"How do you know my name?" Shanna asked her cautiously. "Do you know me?"

"Of you," Angel answered. "I was with Hunter and Brandon..." her voice trailed off as she realized that she had to tell Shanna of her brother's death at the hands of the madman who held them captive.

"Aaron? Is he all right? I've been so worried since I came to Texas searching for him." Shanna sat forward in the chair she was sitting in, her hands clasped in her lap as she stared at the filthy woman who'd been dumped unceremoniously there by Floyd's creepy brother Clyde.

"Shanna," Angel said slowly, her voice catching on a sob that tried desperately to work its way out of her. "Sebastian found us at the cave. He...he shot Hun...Aaron. He's gone, Shanna."

Shanna's head was shaking long before Angel said those final words. "He's not gone. He's not. I would know if he were dead," she insisted stubbornly.

"I was there, I heard the shots." Angel wiped at her eyes, feeling her tears mix with the dirt that streaked her face.

"Did you see him shot? Did you see him die?"

"No, but Shanna, he was defenseless against two men with guns. They'd already killed Brandon. Hunter couldn't have survived it," she whispered, her head dropping into her hands.

"I don't believe it. He's alive. I know it." Shanna shook her head at the pretty red head. "He'll come for us...I'm sorry, I don't know your name."

Angel lifted her eyes, not knowing what to make of Hunter's sister. Had her time here with Floyd and Sebastian driven her insane? "My name is Angelina Carter."

"Angelina, it's a very pretty name," Shanna said, her eyes going to the diamond on the girl's left hand. "My brother must love you something fierce. He said after Cindy that he'd never get married again."

"I loved him," Angel said simply, her fingers going to the diamond ring.

"No," Shanna said, smiling. "You love him. He's not dead, Angelina. If I know my brother, he will show up here with the cavalry at the last moment and save the day. He always was one for huge productions." She laughed. "You should have seen the party he threw me for my sixteenth birthday. He bought party hats and a cake with Winnie the Pooh on it. I swore he was going to get out the Pin the Tail on the Donkey game. His face, when he opened the door and the boys swarmed in was absolutely priceless."

Shanna turned her head suddenly, her eyes looking toward the door. She brought her knees up, wrapping her arms around them as the lock clicked and the doorknob turned. Clyde walked in, running his hand down the length of Shanna's hair before looking at Angel. "You two been getting to know each other? I hope you told her what we did to her brother." He sat down the pile of clothes he carried. "Boss wants you bathed and dressed. Told me if you refused to do either, I could do it for you."

Angel felt a shudder of revulsion shiver down her spine and she stood, her head spinning for a moment, before she picked up the pile of clothes. "I'll do it. Now get out," she snarled, her green eyes hard with hatred. "I can't stand to see your hideous face."

She didn't move as he took a step forward, his hand coming up as if he would strike her. Her eyes never faltered as she glared at him, almost daring him to hit her, wanting it for the pain would be nothing compared to the one that now tortured her. She could barely breathe for the agony that clogged her chest at the loss of her love.

"I'll be back," Clyde growled, backing down but only because he knew what the boss would do to him if he hurt either of these two. Floyd had gotten to have some fun with the little brunette. He'd told Clyde about the boss letting him frig the little bitch. He could only hope the boss would let him have a little fun too, before she was shipped off to Sebastian's friend in the far east.

He turned, slamming the door behind him and locking it loudly, before storming off down the hall.

"It's not smart, pissing them off like that."

"I don't care," Angel said, dropping the clothes on the bed and sitting down to remove her boots. She'd shower and change, but only because her clothes were full of dirt and it was beginning to scour at her skin. She would see Sebastian, she would listen to him, but only because she was looking for a way to kill him. She would too, kill the lunatic who had hunted them down, who had been responsible for Hunter's death. Only then, when he was dead, would she be able to go on.

Angel pulled off her boot, uncaring about the huge amount of cave dirt that fell onto the pretty Persian rug. She dropped it to the floor, reaching for the laces on the other boot. Every move brought pain, reminding her of another cut or bruises or pulled muscle, abused due to the cave-in. She couldn't help the moan that came from her lips as she stood, turning to grab the clothes she'd been given.

"How did you get like that?" Shanna asked quietly, coming to stand next to her and take the clothing from her dirty hands.

"H...Aaron and I were in a cave in. We'd just barely managed to make it out alive when Sebastian found us."

"Sit, there's a big tub in the bathroom. I'll fill it and you can soak away some of that pain." Shanna headed to the bathroom, hearing Angel's sob as she thought of her last bath and the care that Hunter had taken with her.

"No!" she said suddenly. "I mean, I'd rather a shower. I'm too filthy for a bath. I'd end up sitting in mud." She followed Shanna into the bathroom, pulling the clothing from her hands and setting them on the counter. "But thank you. I'm sorry that we had to...to meet under these circumstances."

She waited until Shanna left before turning on the shower and ridding herself of her filthy clothing. The water was wonderful on her skin, stinging her scraps and cuts but soothing the bruised ache that was in her muscles. She felt stronger afterward, as she dried herself on one of the big, thick towels, wrapping her hair in another one before pulling on the clothes that Sebastian had sent her.

These were different from the clothing he'd given her before, no jeans and tee shirts now. Instead she wore finally tailored wool pants in a soft emerald green. They clung to the curve of her hip and the round line of her butt, clinging in all the right places. With it was a cream-colored angora sweater that felt almost sinfully soft against her skin. It fit her like the pants, as if made for her alone.

Squeezing some of the excess water from her hair, she grabbed the brush off the counter and battled her way through the tangled mess, brushing it ruthlessly until it lay tamed against her back. Leaving her dirty clothing on the floor of the bathroom, she walked back into the bedroom to wait for Sebastian's call.

It didn't take long, Clyde coming for her, his eyes roaming over her soft curves so tantalizingly outlined by the clothing. He kept his hands to himself though, urging her from the room with curses and threats, a little unnerved by the steely look of hatred in her green eyes. There was no fear in her, for the only thing left to her that held any value was her child.

He brought her to the door of the familiar library and she stared at it in derision, her lip curled in a sneer. She'd never thought to be back here, to be held prisoner again. Not now, now when her entire life had just collapsed.

Her hands clasped together and her fingers went to the ring that still rested on her finger.

"Come in." Clyde opened the doors at that familiar command and nodded for her to go through before him, not touching her.

She went, her bare feet making nary a sound on the soft carpet, a blazing fire flickering in the big fireplace. Sebastian was seated, as usual, behind his desk, rising the moment he saw her, his hand outstretched as if they were old friends, meeting after a long separation.

She refused to react, instead, her eyes stayed hard, staring at him with hatred. "What more do you want of me?" she asked him. "You've taken my life, my job, my apartment and the man that I loved from me, what more could you possibly want? Did you bring me here to gloat?"

"Oh, no, my dear. No, never that." He hurried over, grasping her hand even when she tried to pull away and bringing her to one of those same leather chairs, sitting her in it. "Can I get you something? Juice, water?"