Chapter Sixteen

Vincent arrived at Gabriel's estate which seemed to be watched over by at least two dozen guards. Gabriel was alerted immediately that Vincent was spotted in the vicinity. He told the guards to do whatever was necessary to stop Vincent's assault, yet fully aware that his security guards were no match for Vincent's fierce prowess. One by one, Vincent ripped his way through Gabriel's armed guards, slashing them to shreds with his deadly claws. The bullets they fired at him didn't seem to faze him - all he wanted was the baby and he'd fight to the death if necessary, but he knew he would make it inside Gabriel's fortress. This time he was certain to be victorious.

Gabriel wanted things to move faster, so he lay the infant in his crib. He placed a thick pillow inches away from the baby's tiny face. "Let's see if this gets your Daddy here even quicker," Gabriel said with a wicked smile as he lowered the pillow down onto the helpless child.

In that moment, Vincent let out a roar, bursting into the nursery to rescue his tiny son. He saw Gabriel about to smother the baby, but before Vincent could grab the child and take him from the crib, he was shot in the neck with an arrow which contained a tranquilizer. He glared and snarled at Gabriel as he fell to the floor beside the crib. Gabriel tossed the pillow aside and commanded, "Take the beast below to the basement. Lock him in the metal cage. I will be there shortly."

It took eight burly guards to drag Vincent away as he was seven feet tall and made of pure, solid muscle. Gabriel looked quite pleased with the situation as he regarded the frightened nurse who was cowering in the corner. "Wrap the child in the blanket. It's time he had a little visit with his father," Gabriel spoke.

When Vincent awoke sometime later, he was chained inside a metal cage. He tugged on the heavy chains with all his strength, but they would not budge. All he wanted was his son. Had he failed? Had Gabriel hurt his and Catherine's precious newborn?

"I see you're awake now," said Gabriel as he was seated right outside Vincent's cage, holding the baby. With the blanket covering the child's tiny face, Vincent was afforded only a glimpse of his little son.

"Let me hold him. He needs me," Vincent pleaded. "He's dying!"

"The child refuses to eat. He's starving himself," Gabriel agreed. "It would appear that he needs you- his father."

Gabriel gestured over to the nurse, handing her the tiny bundle. He then told her to give the infant to Vincent. Fearfully, the young nurse did as she was told, opening the cage and placing the baby in Vincent's waiting embrace.

Vincent stared down at the sweet face of his son. "He is beautiful," he said in a whisper. "Just as Catherine said."

The infant opened his sleepy eyes, gazing up at his father. "She's right," Vincent said with pride. "He has my eyes."

Gabriel thrust a bottle of formula into the nurse's hand, commanding that she must give it to Vincent. "The child is hungry. Feed your son," Gabriel said to Vincent.

Vincent feed his baby boy the bottle of formula. The child drank every drop of the nourishing liquid for his father. Suddenly Vincent knew that his son would survive. It was as if the boy's will to live had become stronger than ever.

"Amazing," Gabriel said, watching Vincent bonding with the newborn.

Vincent pressed a warm kiss on the top of his child's tiny head, then he placed him aside upon the warm straw that was scattered within his cell. He stood to his full height, staring at his adversary with hatred. "You took Catherine from me. You hurt her. And then you stole my son," Vincent said in an angry growl. "I have never hated anyone as much as I despise you."

He used all his strength and tremendous power to rip and tug at the chains that held him. The chains came free and Vincent was triumphant. The cage had been left wide open by the nurse. There was now nothing standing between Vincent and his foe.

In the blink of an eye, Vincent rushed toward Gabriel, lifting him out of the chair while grabbing him by the throat. Gabriel who did not possess normal emotions, said to Vincent, "It will be an honor for one such as you to take my life. Are you going to rip my throat out now?"

Vincent bellowed loudly as he took Gabriel's life, destroying the man who had captured Catherine and had taken his infant son. "I am not a beast. It was you," Vincent said as he dropped Gabriel's lifeless body upon the ground.

After Gabriel and all of his men were dead, Vincent's rage dissipated. He returned to the cell and gathered the baby boy into his arms.

In his terrible rage, only one remained - the nurse. Vincent sensed that she had truly tried to save the infant's life and that she was innocent of any wrongdoing.

"I will take you back to Catherine," he said as he tenderly cradled the baby.

The nurse watched as Vincent lovingly cuddled the baby against his chest. Although there was death and destruction all around her, she was happy that the baby would be safe and happy with his parents. Gabriel had been cruel and insane. She was counting her lucky stars that she had a second chance at a better life now that Gabriel had been eliminated.

Author's Note - There will be one more chapter. Thank you for all the followers and the reviews.