Ch 52
Samantha had just put Katie down to bed and was about to call Sara to check on Jessica when she heard a truck in the driveway. She ran to the window hoping to see it was Kane coming home.
"What the hell does he want?" Samantha said seeing Hunter getting out of his truck. She watched him for a moment seeing he was upset. She didn't wait for him to knock opening the door as he stepped onto the porch. "What do you want?"
"Sami, please I didn't come to argue," Hunter gave her a sad tearful look. "May I come in?"
"Sure, just be quiet the baby is sleeping," Samantha motioned for him to come in.
"How is she doing?" Hunter asked.
"She is fine. Do you want to take a peek at her?" Samantha always had a problem being cruel to her brother when he was misery. Hunter nodded yes following her to the nursery. Hunter slowly approached the crib looking down at the baby sleeping peacefully. He reached out gently touching her little arm.
"Taker was right," he muttered seeing that Katie had Kane's hair color.
"You talked to Mark?" Samantha's eyes filled with curiosity.
"Yeah, he paid me a visit. Samantha you need to get the paternity test redone at a different hospital or lab. You can not let Batista know just have Kane tested," Hunter turned staring into her eyes. "I'm sorry for all of this. I never meant for things to get this out of control."
"What are you talking about?" Samantha searched his eyes seeing endless turmoil.
"I'm the one that has been giving Batista information all through your pregnancy. Anything Trish passed on to me I told Batista."
"Why would you do that? How could you do that?" Samantha backed out of the room not wanting to wake Katie.
"I had to," Hunter went after her.
"Why?"
"I can't tell you. You will hate me forever more than you do now," Hunter swallowed hard not able to spill all he had done to her.
"Why don't you tell and let me decide."
"No, I can't do it. I have to go," Hunter tried to rush past her as she stopped him.
"Hunter, stop running from your lies. Just tell me no more games," Samantha calmly said prepared to hear the worst things she could ever imagine come out of Hunter's mouth. He looked into her eyes feeling like a monster for destroying her life.
"I have been helping Batista because he knows…." Hunter paused taking a deep breathe, "that I have tried everything to break you and Kane up. When you left Kane I made sure to push you towards Batista thinking that would keep you away from Kane. When that backfired I came up with a terrible scheme."
"What scheme?" Samantha felt her knees start to tremble.
"I… I… kidnapped Kane."
"You what?"
"It was my idea to lock Kane up in that apartment building. Batista and I ran him off the road then took him," Hunter watched as Samantha stared at him with painful hate filled eyes. She was about to say something when heavy footsteps filled the house and Kane appeared.
"You bastard," Kane exclaimed grabbing Hunter around the neck.
"Kane no! Let him go," Samantha got in front of her husband gently pushing him till he let Hunter go.
"He deserves to die," Kane angrily said.
"He will pay for what he has done," Samantha concentrated on calming her husband afraid to look Hunter.
"I'm already paying because of my lies and betrayal I have lost my family and I'm this close to losing my wife," Hunter took a deep breathe rubbing his throat. "I'm sorry Kane I didn't think you were good enough for my sister. I thought if I made it look like you ran off again she would move on with her life with Batista. I never thought it would all blow up in my face and Batista would rape her."
"Sorry doesn't fix what you have done," Kane roared. "Thanks to you Samantha has to be haunted for the rest of her life by Batista. He will always be a part of our lives because Katy is his daughter."
"No she isn't," Hunter raised his voice. "You need to get the damn test redone without Batista knowing and I will bet anything it will come back you are the father. Batista has connections. He had Samantha's hospital tests altered before so they showed no sign of any rape drug in her system."
"Hunter, how much have you hidden from us?" Samantha couldn't believe he had never told her that before.
"Too much. I have screwed up big time. I can't change what I have done all I can do now is help you two find out the truth about that little girl in there," Hunter nodded towards the nursery. "I'm sorry Samantha."
"I don't want to hear you're sorry. I can't believe you have done this to me and my husband. I don't even know what to say right now," Samantha turned away not able to look at Hunter anymore.
"I want you out of my house now!" Kane roared pointing to the door as Hunter quickly went for it not wanting to feel the wrath of Kane.
Silence filled the house as Hunter left. Kane rested his hands on the counter for a moment trying to absorb what he had heard. When Samantha's weeping filled the quiet room he went to her hugging her close. She instantly wrapped her arms around him burying her face against his chest. After a few minutes, Samantha looked up into her husband's eyes.
"Where have you been?"
"I've been driving around endlessly trying to deal with those test results," Kane felt foolish for storming out on her. "I'm sorry Sami. I just had one of those moments where I lost it. I couldn't stop myself no matter how hard I tried."
"Kane, it hurt like hell when you walked out and I brought Katie home without you but I'm happy you're home now. Please don't leave again. I need you here," Samantha caressed his cheek.
"Sami, I won't leave. I have worked out some of the demons and I'm sure you will help me with the rest," he kissed her forehead as she nodded yes. "Where is Katie?"
"She is in her room sleeping. She should be waking up soon for a feeding," Samantha checked her watch.
"Good I'll get to see her. Do you think Hunter is right about Batista manipulating the test?"
"I have a feeling he is," Samantha was still trying to work through everything Hunter had confessed to. "Which means tomorrow we will get the test done again at antoher hospital."
"It's your call Sami. I just hope it isn't a waste of time," Kane let out a painful long sigh.
"It won't be. I know she is yours even if you keep having doubts," Samantha softly said turning away from him. She hung her head not believing she had said something so cold.
"Damn it Sami," Kane swung her around. "I want Katie to be mine. I did believe she was mine but that test says she isn't."
"That test is bullshit! What do you feel in here?" she rested her hand on his heart looking up into his eyes.
"That she is our daughter," Kane covered her hand.
"Good then tomorrow we will get that test redone to prove to everyone else that Katie is yours."
"Ok sweetheart," he leaned down kissing her lightly as Katie started to cry. "I think our daughter wants us."
"We shouldn't keep her waiting," Samantha took his hand leading him towards the nursery. She was happy he was back home to share in the happiness of having their daughter there.
Trish arrived home surprised to see her husband's truck parked on the front yard instead of in the driveway. She slowly approached it seeing the keys were still dangling from the ignition.
"I hope he isn't drunk again," she said annoyed approaching the dark house expecting to find him passed out on the couch. She opened the door hearing silence. She turned on the living room light finding it empty. "He must be upstairs." She made her way upstairs listening for any sign of her husband. She pushed open their bedroom door finding the room was just as she had left it in the morning.
"Hunter, are you home?" she called out wondering if he was out with friends. She searched the other three bedrooms and the upstairs bathrooms finding no sign of him.
She felt her heart racing with fear as she ran downstairs to the basement where his work out room and home office were. She felt a little at ease when she saw the office light on.
"Hey babe, why didn't you…" Trish tugged open the door stopping dead in her tracks at the sight of her husband slumped backwards in his favorite chair. "Hunter!" she ran to his side looking into his half opened glassy dazed eyes. "Hunter! Hunter!" she gently hit him trying to get some reaction out of him. He stayed in the same position not responding. She noticed the piece of paper on his desk picking it up.
"I'm sorry this is the only way to escape the guilt and pain. I will always love you Trish with all my heart," Trish read it out loud feeling her knees getting weak. Trish reached for the phone with shaky hands calling 911. As the operator came on, Trish's eyes spotted the pill bottle and empty vodka bottles on the floor.
"Hello is there anyone there?" the operator asked.
"I need an ambulance…" Trish was overwhelmed with tears, "my husband has overdosed on pain medication and booze. Please hurry he is dying!" Trish felt Hunter's chest rising slower under her touch as his eyes completely closed. "Hunter don't you dare die on me!"
