Chapter Eighty Four: This Is The End...

But did you think that
You could walk away so clean?

She Wants Revenge - This Is The End

The security lights outside of the gym were out again, it was a common problem that occurred almost weekly due to the old wiring in the building. It was something that Antonio intended to get fixed in the next couple of months now that the gym was turning a profit. His phone pinged once as he used his key in the electronic panel to lower the metal shutter down over the heavy duty door. Casey had helped him install it a couple of months ago when there had been a rash of burglaries in the area. He hadn't wanted any thing stopping the kids around here from feeling like they had a safe place to come when the chips were down so Roman, Halstead and himself had paid for the extra security out of their own pockets. It had served them well by the look of the dints in the metal sheeting but it meant that they could open the place day in and day out and that was invaluable in his community.

His phone pinged again and then a third time. Antonio frowned, pausing for a moment to slip the device out of his back pocket before glancing at the screen. A text from Maggie, a bunch of missed calls from his colleagues and several from Maggie's brother Gabe. Christ that couldn't be good.

That was the problem with the gym, cell coverage could be spotty if you were in the locker room and that's where his phone had been where he'd been working with some of the younger kids during their sparing sessions. He fixed the padlock onto the electronic panel before slipping the keys into the pocket of his grey hoodie before he flicked through the messages until he reached the text from Maggie.

I'm here for you, it read. No matter what happens I love you.

It made his heart clench to read those words, there was an ache in his throat that he just couldn't seem to swallow past. He had been unfair to her this week, he knew that. This thing with Cooper had been tearing him up inside, the other man's blood was on his hands and he felt no matter what he did he just couldn't seem to get them clean. He'd taken that out on Maggie, withdrawing from her so he could lick his wounds and suit up for battle. He'd been so wrapped up in himself he'd missed her return to work. Usually the two of them would have talked out any misgivings she may have, he would have put her mind at ease and soothed away the nightmares she had from being trapped in that warehouse. She had needed him and he hadn't been there, he regretted that immensely now that the fog was clearing in his mind. She deserved better than that.

Antonio caught movement out the corner of his eye. He twisted his head as what felt like a lightning bolt slammed right through his body, exploding through his veins as every single muscle in his body contracted. He knew this feeling, it hadn't been too long ago that he'd been forced to certify for the latest Taser model. Part of that certification had involved getting Tasered with fifty five thousand volts before collapsing onto the mat, it had hurt like a bitch for hours afterwards. This time the sensation was worse, the Taser had been jacked up to full and the cramping had set his nerve endings ablaze as he struggled for control.

Even when the pain stopped there was jack shit he could do. The Taser had done it's job and completely immobilised him. He didn't remember collapsing to the ground only that fury whipping up inside him as he strained against his antagonized muscles willing them with every fiber of his being to move.

A black hood was put over his head, blocking out all sources of light as it stifled his face. His breathing was harsh and ragged as the material smothered his airways. His arms were yanked behind his back as a cool metal cinched at his wrists, pinning them together at the base of his spine. Even when the feeling did return back to his body, his abductor hadn't even given him the slightest bit of leeway to work with.

Antonio's mind was working a mile a minute, processing all of the details around him. Everything from the roar of the van's engine humming in the background to the feel of his abductor's hands as he was wrenched to his unsteady feet. The abductor was muscular, his arms were strong as he managed to drag Antonio's dead weight to the back of the van with low grunts. He assumed from the body strength and the gruffness of the tone that his abductor was male.

It was a few minutes after the van started to move that his muscles began to tingle. He was lying on his stomach, cheek pressed to the cool metal through the material of the hood when his flesh began to vibrate in the aftermath from the charge that had hit him. He could hear low, even breathing from somewhere nearby, it was too close to be his captor. There had to be someone in the back with him. His moved his legs experimentally, his right knee colliding with something soft.

A pained whimper cut through the air, piercing his ears and sending a shiver right up Antonio's spine. He knew that sound, he knew that the person lying next to him was also there against their was only then that his panic began to set in, the icy tendrils of dread coursing through his veins.

Jesus no...

The bastard had Maggie.

Hey guys, I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Anime: The drama has started! The guy was clever enough to ditch the phone as you'll find out in the next chapter. I shudder to think what will happen to the two of them. As for Antonio's feelings you will have to wait and see. I did have a fantastic birthday thank you very much.

Western: To put you out of your misery it was Kayla who was shot and Maggie who was taken.

Nat: I'm glad it was a surprise for you. I think the problem that I was having with the other story was that I needed to get some distance from this one because the chars from this one were still clanking around my head.

Lauren: I'm glad that it was breath taking and that you enjoyed it, and it is great to hear you were attached to her so much. I am interested to know what you think of this story arc and can't wait for you to read it.