"Angel?" his mother's voice called to him in that soft affectionate drawl that made his heart thud. Angel opened his eyes and found himself underwater.
Trying to breathe, bubbles formed around him and his throat and nostrils hurt like hell. In the dark depth, he could make out Blaze and Antonio Rufus's unconscious bodies and he geared into action, going for Antonio Rufus first and then Blaze. Using his legs to paddle upward, he swam up the water, holding on to the two. It was quite an effort, but he made it.
When they reached the surface, Blaze became conscious and splattered out water from his mouth. Antonio Rufus remained unconscious. Breathing hard, the two Weres exchanged a look of relief.
"Why the hell are we doing this again?" Blaze asked with an effort, casting a hate-filled gaze at the unconscious human. Angel's chest shook with laughter and he went into a coughing fit.
"You know why, Blaze," Angel managed to croak. He then lifted Antonio Rufus away from the water shore to lay him down on a sandy patch.
Interlacing his fingers, he pressed them over his chest like he had seen his father done once before. He shook his head, trying to dispel the memory.
"Why do you often do that?" Blaze asked, studying him quietly.
"Do what?" Angel replied, still winded.
"Shake your head like you are wielding a fly?" Blazed replied.
"Not flies, memories…" he replied gruffly, raising his eyes to hold the other Weres’. They both shared a knowing look. Blaze nodded and looked in the direction of the frosty island.
“I dare say I am lucky in that regard. I have no such haunting memories – of the past that is…”
“You have no idea,” Angel rasped.
"Those Weres are pretty badass, huh?" Blaze muttered in admiration; his voice tinged with envy.
"Yeah," said Angel.
"We both have families there, Angel…" Blaze said, reverting his gaze to look intently into Angel’s eyes.
"You saw someone you remember?" Angel asked, returning his keen scrutiny.
"No. He remembered me…" Blaze replied. Angel noted the deep pain and sadness in the younger Were’s eyes.
"We will come back, Blaze, I promise you," Angel said. Blaze nodded
"I know. I just wish we didn't have to go back. But I understand."
"Why didn't you stay?" Angel asked.
"I have a score to settle too, big guy," Blaze replied. Angel nodded in understanding. Although Blaze never spoke of it, Angel had the inkling that Daniel constantly molested the young Were.
"If I get to him first, I will make sure you have the memento of his last breath. I promise you."
"If you get to him first, make sure he hurts like a bastard,” Blaze replied.
"I promise," Angel said. He then used one hand to raise Antonio Rufus' head and used the other to slam him hard in the middle of the chest. The bastard gasped and started to cough out water. When he opened his eyes and saw the two Weres, peering down at him, he paled as his eyes darted from Angel to Blaze and then to the water.
"We are the only ones left, boss," Blaze said, imitating Angel's usual intonation. Angel coughed to hide a laugh.
Antonio Rufus swallowed hard. Angel helped him to sit up and he sat there staring into space for a while. Angel took off his inner shirt tore it out and used it to tie his shattered knee. Blaze did the same and they used that for his left shoulder. When they were done Antonio Rufus said, "We have to get back to town, some of our guys are still there." His voice sounded hoarse.
Alright, boss,” Angel said, nodded, and got up to lift him off the ground. Antonio Rufus grunted from pain. “Sorry, boss,” Angel added, and started to walk along the shoreline. Blaze fell in step with him.
But when they got to the small town, all their vehicles were in flames and the rest of their men were lying on the shore dead. Police sirens blared loudly in the night.
And without waiting for instructions. Angel turned in a different direction and started to walk away from the scene. He was pretty proud of how organised and thorough Xavier and his team were. He exchanged a look with Blaze, noting the pleased glint in the other Were’s eyes.
"Let's find our way to the airport," Antonio Rufus said.
"You need a doctor, boss," Angel said.
"There's one onboard," he replied, sounding tired.
"Alright, boss," Angel replied.
Angel and Blaze walked miles to the airport and upon getting to the terminal building where their jet was parked, an older man dressed in a simple shirt and trousers ran down from the jet to meet them. When Angel saw the stethoscope around his neck he guessed he must be the doctor Antonio Rufus mentioned. He had never met this one before and figured he must be new.
"W – where are the others?" the silvered-headed man stuttered.
"Dead," Blaze replied, and Angel could detect the profound satisfaction in that one word. The other man paled. ‘Ha! he is new alright,’ Angel thought. ‘If it were to be that bastard Frankenstein doctor, he would have taken it in strides. The bastard, like his boss, was a complete psychopath.’
Angel was glad to hand over Antonio Rufus to the doctor. He wanted the bastard alive to keep his hounds of children in check. And dying of bullet wounds was not what he had planned for him.
He assisted the doctor as they operated on Antonio Rufus and they took off the bullets in his shoulder and leg. The doctor dressed the wound and sponge bathed him before asking Angel to get him a change of clothes, but before he could act, the flight attendant quickly left to bring black trousers with a matching coloured long-sleeve shirt.
Both the doctor and Angel helped Antonio Rufus to change and afterwards, Angel carried him and followed the doctor to the suite at the back of the cabin. Antonio Rufus opened his eyes as Angel lowered him to the mattress, and asked, "Why did you save me?"
"You asked me to, boss," Angel replied without hesitating. The other man looked at him with a keen gaze, then nodded and looked away, but not before Angel saw envy clouding his eyes and another emotion bothering on hate. The tension in the cabin was palpable.
“You can … leave now, thanks,” the doctor said. Angel nodded and walked out. He found Blaze standing by the door like a guard and went to join him. They both stood there waiting.