Author's Note: Thank Y'all for the reviews. Sorry the responses are so short and sorry it took so long. Hopefully this makes up for it. Enjoy!
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Hal hung up the phone and grimaced. Ranger was not happy with him at all and Hector… well Hector was probably going to kill him the next time they stood face to face. But he didn't have a choice at the moment. He couldn't tell them where he was because if he did, they would save Steph first and while he loved her just as much as they did, he loved his son more. And honesty if Ranger just put a little bit of thought into it he would be able to guess where Steph was being held. He gave Ranger a few clues so Hal was sure he would figure it out eventually. Just hopefully after he save Cayson first.
Hal shook his head and looked around. He needed a weapon. And if he knew the owner like he think he did, there would be weapons stashed all over the place. Hal first eyed the refrigerator but quickly turned towards the Batman cookie jar on the counter. He stalked towards it with a purpose and lifted the lid. He grinned. Yep, he knew the owner quite well. It was just too bad he was a little too late. The owner that is, not Hal.
Hal grabbed the gun and checked. This one was loaded just as he knew it would be. He made his way toward the cellar door and down the cellar stairs. He could hear Maya talking and he resisted the urge to roll his eyes at the shit Maya was spewing. He couldn't wait to shoot the bitch. When they finally came into view, Hal cursed.
Maya had Steph on her feet and in front of her, using Steph as a shield. She didn't have a weapon in her hand, but she also wasn't giving Hal a clean shot and he couldn't bear the thought of hurting Steph so he wouldn't try to get a shot off until he had a clean shot. Too fucking bad Ram wasn't here. Ram could shoot any-fucking-thing. No matter what and how little the target.
Hal took a deep breath and dropped the gun until it rested against his thigh. "Maya, what's the plan?" He asked, keeping calm.
Maya laughed, her evil witchy laugh that gave him chills. And not the sexy kind. "I'm not stupid, Hal."
Hal snorted out loud and then winced when Steph whimpered. Whatever Maya did to her just then caused Steph pain and that pissed him off even more.
He played dumb, keeping his cool. "I don't know what you're talking about."
She yanked Steph's head back and snarled. "I know you found the phone, Hal. I could hear you talking. Your voice carries."
Hal kept his face blank and shrugged. "Don't have a clue what you're talking about, Maya. I wouldn't risk my son's life. Even for Steph." He replied casually.
She yanked again, harder this time and Steph's eyes rolled back in her head and Hal watched as he slumped down against Maya. Maya wasn't able to hold her up and she just dropped her. Hal sucked in a breath as Steph's head hit the ground hard. Hal growled and raised his gun towards Maya's head.
Fear clouded Maya's eyes and she backed up. Hal grinned. "How do you want it, Maya?" He taunted. "Do you want it quick and painless or do you want it to hurt?"
Maya shook her head and took another step back. "Please…"
Hal laughed. "Don't bother begging. It won't work. You kidnapped my son, killed my ex-wife, and you wanted me to kill Steph and deliver her personally to RangeMan all because Ranger loves her and not you. Well newsflash Maya, you're a fucking lunatic bitch with ice in your veins. No one is ever going to love you because you're too much of a raging cunt."
Hal tightened his grip on the 9mm and took another step forward. Maya took another step back and tripped over Steph's still form. She managed to stay on her feet but Hal kept right on advancing towards her.
"In all the years of my service in the military, I've hated killing. I've hated taking others' lives. I've hated watching them take their last breath as I've waited for them to die. But you know what, Maya? I'm going to enjoy taking yours. I'm going to enjoy watching you take that last breath." Hal grinned as his finger tightened around the trigger just as suddenly Maya went down. The bullet hit the wall behind her and shattered several wine bottles.
Hal looked down to see Steph gripping Maya's ankle. Maya went to reach out to do what Hal wasn't sure. "Touch her and I'll make the first shot hurt the most." Hal warned.
Maya immediately withdrew her hand. Hal kept the gun aimed at Maya as he crouched down next to Steph.
"Steph? You okay?" Hal knew that was a stupid question, but he just wanted her to talk to him.
Steph groaned. "Get these cuffs off me, please." She responded.
Hal focused his attention on Maya. "You heard her. Take them off." He ordered.
Maya wanted to defy him, he saw it in her eyes but she slowly took the key out of her pocket and unlocked the cuffs. Steph immediately sighed in relief as she rubbed her raw wrists.
The split second he took his eyes off Maya, he regretted because she quickly charged at him. He managed to keep a hold of his gun as Maya screamed like a banshee and grabbed the gun. They struggled for the weapon as Hal tried to keep it aimed away from him and away from where Steph was lying on the ground next to them. He hoped like hell she stayed away from them. She was just too weak to help and Hal didn't want her to get hurt. Well any more than she already was.
The fucking bitch was strong. So strong, Hal couldn't help but wonder if she was on something. Like fucking kryptonite. Hal twisted himself just as Maya managed to get a small grip on the gun and pull the trigger. Hal's body jerked with the force of the shot and he fell back, unable to keep a hold of the gun. Maya cackled with laughter as he heard Steph scream in agony.
He heard another scream just as his world went black.
Steph was pissed. No, she was beyond pissed. All she could see was red. And not just from the blood. She was positive Hal was dead and her heart hurt from the realization. She didn't have much strength left as she charged toward Maya. The impact sent the gun flying but Steph didn't care. She didn't need the damn gun. She pummeled the bitch with her fists, hitting flesh but she wasn't sure what flesh she was hitting nor did she care.
Tears fell unchecked down her cheeks as Maya went limp under her. But she didn't stop. She didn't stop until two strong arms wrapped around her and pulled her against a hard chest.
"You got her, baby. It's okay." Sweet words and a familiar smell calmed her instantly and she sagged against Hector.
Steph turned in his arms and wrapped her arms around the man she loved. "Hal?" She choked out as a sob torn out of her.
Hector picked her up and held her close. "He's fine, Florecita. He's alive."
Steph jerked her head back and tried to see Hal. Hector turned so she could see that Ranger and Bobby were tending to Hal. Hal looked up just at the right time and their eyes met. Hal winked and Steph smiled. Steph turned her head in the other direction and watched as Ram and Cal lifted a very bloodly Maya to her feet and cuffed her.
Steph gasped. "Cayson!? Is he okay?" She asked Hector, meeting his eyes.
Hector smiled as he caressed her cheek. "Cayson is fine. He's in the car with Ella and Woody."
Steph sighed in relief and slumped in Hector's arms. Hal was okay. Cayson was okay and this was all over. Steph closed her eyes and let the darkness take her under.
