Angel

Chapter 66

Raven

"Sean!" I roared as we entered the room. I had Mattie's fragile form cradled in my arms as the others followed. Luke had led Gabe off to shower and calm down. His shame was written all over his face, but each of us knew what he did had saved all of us.

Sean came running into the room, his eyes going wide as he looked at her bloody shift. "What the fuck?"

"Gabe had to do a demonstration as part of the auction," Marc said. "He gave her some pain meds in her water and then doused her back with them as well. Fucking Carlos insisted he use a bullwhip in the end."

"Vivian was there. She was the goddamn hostess of the event," Brandon growled. "Gabe was the only one who could do it. We were outnumbered."

A soft cry came from the doorway and we swiveled our heads to see Victor standing near a young girl who was shivering. "Is she hurt?" Sean asked quickly.

"Not that I can tell, but I don't speak Spanish," he said.

"¿Estás herido?," Nate asked. The girl shook her head no. "Ve con él y consigue comida y ropa, ¿de acuerdo? No te haremos daño." (Go with him and get food and clothes, okay? We won't hurt you.) She looked up at Victor and then nodded. "Take her to get some clothes and food. Maybe Tori can help."

"Okay," Victor said and he left with Kota to help Tori.

"He won bid," I said. "We couldn't just leave her."

"Of course not," Sean said. "Now, put Mattie on the sofa, and let me check her back." We all drew in a sharp breath when we saw her back.

"Mierda," I heard Emilio curse. "I'll fucking kill him."

"Gabe didn't want to do this any more than the rest of us," Marc said. "He's the only one of us with this type of experience. I know it looks bad, but..."

"He's right. The wounds are all surface and will heal quickly except the two lashes from the bullwhip. I can stitch this one fairly easily, this one will take a bit longer to heal and may scar. I may not subscribe to his type of play, but Gabe knows what he's doing," Sean said. "He most likely saved her life."

"We're on borrowed time folks," Corey pointed out. "The auction was only for a twenty-four hour period and Carlos sent a guard with them. We've got his cellphone and have disabled the location, but sooner or later, he's going to figure it out."

"What happened to the guard?" Owen asked.

"I slit his fucking throat and we dumped his body on the side of the road," Gabe said as he entered the room, his eyes tearing up when he saw her back. "Please tell me she's going to be okay."

I walked to him and pulled him into a hug, "She's alive because of you. I thank you, my friend." His body relaxed and he sobbed quietly.

"Gabriel," her soft voice muttered. He quickly knelt beside her.

He ran his fingers through her hair, "Hey ma douce, wake up. There are lots of people just dying to see those beautiful green eyes." Her eyes fluttered for a moment, then she winced. "Easy does it, let Sean and I help."

"Sean?" she questioned until her eyes settled on him as well, then she began to scan the room and her sobs started. "You...you're all really here," she cried.

Sean and Gabe stepped back as we surrounded her, gently touching her hair and face. All of us were crying and covering her with kisses when Marc cleared his throat, "Angel, I think you need to know some things." She looked at him in confusion, then he held out his hand and Emilio came closer. Her eyes widened and she smiled. "I'd like you to meet my big brother," Marc said with a grin.

Her mouth opened and closed, but no sound came out, then her eyes rolled back and she fell backward.

"Why do you keep making krolik pass out?" I snapped. "First at the house, now this."

He sputtered, "Well, how the hell am I responsible for that?"

"Wait, so she passed out like this before?" Emilio asked.

"Da, when she realized Marc was her Nova. Krolik dropped like a stone in the kitchen," I chuckled. Sean handed me a washcloth and I pressed it to her forehead.

"Gee, I never made her pass out," Emilio said with an odd look. "Show-off."

"Jerk," Marc muttered.

"They really are brothers," Mattie muttered, "They both whine."

"Hey!" they said in unison and we all broke out laughing.

****

"Mama and baby are both doing well," Sean said as he came into the dining room. "Emilio is sitting with her now."

"So what now?" Kota asked. "We know Carlos isn't going to stop, so what's the next move?"

"We take care of it in our way," Alberto said. "You don't need to dirty your hands."

I laughed, "We are way past that, old man. I want revenge and I will take it in my own way."

He tapped his chin and grinned, "Well then, I say we go after his soldiers. Cut him off at the knees and he has no one to hide him. Same for the woman. Mattie's parents are in my prison right now for their part in all of this. Perhaps they can give us more information?"

"Is that best for her right now?" Luke asked. "And what about Violet?"

"She's untouchable for now," Marc replied. "I say we need to ask Emilio and Mattie what they want, then we start planning. As for me, I'm not going anywhere. Milo and I already discussed it. If she'll have all of us, then we are staying."

A grin broke across my face and I slammed the table, "Hell yeah!"

Author's Notes:  They're all in one place...

PS:  In the next book focusing on Tori and the Blackbourne's you will see some overlap in the storyline, but LOTS of things you aren't seeing here with her and the guys specifically.  I've already started the story, but won't publish it until this one is done.

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