Chapter 48

"And? I had a concussion from the Corporation – only fair to give their slut the same treatment." Tahlia retorted, tossing her bag over her shoulder and looked around the place to make sure nothing was missing.

They couldn't leave any evidence behind. Vince would have this place searched thoroughly, so Tahlia spent the better part of the morning wiping down every inch of space they had occupied. She didn't put anything past Vinnie Mac these days, not when his son was in danger. As far as Taker's honesty, Tahlia received the message loud and clear, refusing to mention anything about his son. Not one word. If he brought Gunner up, that was on him and she would talk about it, but her opinions didn't matter, so why voice them?

"Ready to go?"

"So? You're better than that – better than them." Taker reminded her, tired of her immature attitude and took her bag, tossing it aside before grabbing Tahlia's shoulders, pulling her to stand directly in front of him. "You got your vengeance, your revenge, and I'm telling you enough is enough. You wanted me to tell you when you were at that line? You're at it, Tahlia." Her amber eyes were narrowed and he idly wondered if he should be worried about a forthcoming knee to his balls. "I get it, you're not happy with me because of what I said. Here's the deal: if you want me to lie to you, I will. I will lie to you and feed you whatever it is you want to hear, but then, when we've finished with the Ministry, we're done. You got me? If you can't deal with my honesty, then obviously I'm a fool for falling in love with someone like you." This was probably the most honest, and longest, thing he had ever said to her in one go. "I was upset, yes, but I didn't snap at you or tell you to fuck off. I merely said I wasn't okay with you presuming and I'm not. You assumed I was going to move him away from his home, tear him from his environment and what suits him." He took a deep breath. "I know I am… a bad person." Understatement, he was evil. "But I am not a bad father."

"I never said…" Tahlia trailed off, feeling her heart start thundering against her chest and the anger in her amber eyes turned to shock.

Pure shock. Did he just say he fell in love with her? Now wasn't the time to have a panic attack! He loved her? Taking a deep shaky breath, Tahlia swallowed hard and tried to make her brain work, to quickly go over everything he'd just spewed at her.

"I never said you were a bad father. I-I didn't…I wasn't assuming anything…I just wanted to know if that's what you would do with him. If you would move him away from Texas to Florida. I didn't assume you would at all. I'm sorry…sometimes I let my mouth run away with me, but I didn't mean anything negative towards your son or you. You've done what you need to do for him and given him his best chance at a normal happy childhood." She took another deep breath as fresh tears slid down her cheeks, wanting to reach out to touch him, but was afraid he would push her away. "And what do you mean when the Ministry is finished? You're disbanding the group?"

When did he decide this would happen and did the others know?

"I'm not disbanding it just yet, there's still plenty left for us to do, but… I have no intention of keeping the Ministry around forever." Taker informed her, running a finger along his bottom lip, contemplating her. "Apology accepted and close your mouth. Yes, I said I love you."

Isn't that what she had been waiting on? She had said it to him repeatedly since New York, but he had been waiting. To determine if he did actually love her and that she wasn't just saying something in a spur of the moment scene.

"Tahlia," He repeated, gentler this time. She seemed in shock still. "Tahlia…" Taker feathered kisses along her forehead, down the side of her face. "I love you." He was a little worried he might've actually broken her.

Her brain and heart were screaming at her to move, to say something, anything. Just last night, she had taken a long walk and decided to leave him be, only being with him when he permitted or wanted her. And now…now he'd thrown the L word out there, the very thing she believed in her whole heart and soul he didn't feel for her. Cupping his face in her hands, Tahlia searched his eyes for any sign, a glimmer, of deceit…and found nothing. Just truth and love for her. Tahlia sincerely hoped he wasn't just saying this to her in the spur of the moment, that he actually meant it. She hadn't said those three words to him since New York and hadn't planned on doing it again, refusing to give anymore of her heart to him. All that had changed though.

"I love you too…Mark." At his shocked expression, it was Tahlia's turn to smile. "That's your name, isn't it?" She'd done her homework on him – hell, who hadn't? "I'll call you Taker still around the guys. But I wanted you to know that I love you for you, not your character or your career or fame. I just love you, the man with a bigger heart than he'll ever admit – a GOOD man." With a slightly evil streak added.

"Shut up." He growled, though with a smile, the tips of his ears burning red underneath his bandana. Before she could say something else, he kissed her. A good man… him. "You refer to me as Mark around the boys, woman, and I'll have to remind you that the devil ain't got shit on me." Because that was a whole load of tormenting he didn't need. Between the ribbing and them thinking he might now be 'one of the boys'… it wasn't happening.

"Fine, but when we're alone, just us like this, I'm calling you Mark. And you can't do anything about that." Tahlia shot back with a smile of her own and squealed, feeling Taker lift her by her backside and draped her arms around his neck, pressing her forehead to his.

Finally, they were on the same page and it felt amazing. She rained kisses all over his face, never wanting to be without him in her life. Even after the Ministry was over, whenever he disbanded the group, Tahlia would remain beside him as not just a loyal solider, but someone he loved and trusted completely. His woman – his girl.

"We really should get going if we're gonna meet up with the others on time, handsome."

"Yeah, you're right." They would be pushing it anyway and wouldn't have the luxury of dead morning traffic this time. They'd probably have to fight against crazy Floridians and tourists on the roads. "Tahlia, you feel comfortable on the Harley?" He asked, shouldering both their bags and beginning to trek down the driveway to where they had stashed his bike. Because if so… he'd show her just how he really preferred to ride.

"I trust you."

She held his hand the entire trek back to the motorcycle, helping him get it out of the shrubbery. Once they cleaned it off, Tahlia mounted the bike after Taker, wrapping her arms around his waist. At his shout asking if she was ready, she nodded and felt him speed off away from the beach house. So many revelations had gone down in that house…it would be unforgettable. Clutching his waist, Tahlia felt the speed and adrenaline pumped through her body, feeling exhilarated. Taker was indeed breaking speed limits to get to where they needed to be.

His fool ass was going to have to get his baby taken care of since he had scratched her. He had also decided… he wouldn't be taking this house. Taker didn't want anything tainted by bad memories, or McMahon and his slut. He'd have one built, in the Carolinas… he preferred there over Florida and there would also be forests for Gunner to run through and explore when he grew tired of the beach on their vacations. Breaking speed limits and weaving in and out of the two lanes, Taker ignored the multitude of honks and curses they were getting. Places to be, people to terrorize, with his dark mistress by his side.

"Are you sure you want to do this?"

Tahlia nodded, staring in the full-length mirror in a long silk black robe that nearly touched her feet. "We've come too far not to see this through. This will get Shane out of the way and Vince will be alone. He'll be vulnerable and hopefully stop messing with people's lives." This was all for a good cause in the end, even if it was mental and emotional torture.

Nodding, Paul walked out to go check on their captive.

Taker had already made the decision after this wedding was over with, the Ministry would be disbanded as long as the Corporation was no more. He refused to leave his boys, his family, to fend for themselves, but he also wanted them all to have single success. Everyone except Mideon. Leaning forward, Tahlia began doing her makeup and remained focused on the task at hand. Tonight, the games were over and the Ministry would ultimately win.

They had been mentally toying with Vince since coming back on the road. He hadn't enjoyed it from what Taker could tell. Sable had probably been rescued and treated, but he doubted she'd be making an appearance anytime soon. If she was smart, she'd just retire and never show her face in a wrestling ring ever again. Maybe she could just stick to porn… He had also made a copy of those tapes and sent them off. Marital bliss was never going to be Vince's ever again. Tonight, they were nearing the end of the road and the greatest mind game in the history of the company, in the business about to happen with Tahlia as the main player.

"Oh Shane…" Tahlia sing-songed his name as she walked into the bedroom, shaking her head at the shackles around his ankles and wrists. He was completely helpless and couldn't move. Taker made sure of it, testing out the shackles himself before the Ministry had abducted the McMahon heir. "What's the matter, baby? Not happy to see me? You better get used to it since I AM going to be your wife…" Plopping on the bed, Tahlia smoothed his hair back from his forehead and gripped his chin roughly, forcing fear-filled brown to meet molten gold. "Then again, we won't be married for long…not after your tragic accident."

To think, he had loved this woman. Shane had welcomed her into his bed, his arms, his heart and she was a lunatic! It had all been one giant game to her. Shane could only shake his head, sputtering out denials at what she was saying.

"Tragic accident?" He finally managed to squeak, wondering how he hadn't been able to see the evil in those once beautiful amber eyes of hers.

She was a brilliant actor. If she decided to quit wrestling, Tahlia could have probably taken over Hollywood.

"Of course, my dark prince. You didn't actually think I'd stay married to you, did you? Why would I do that? I simply want to make you and your family suffer." She whispered in his ear, laughing wickedly and rested her hand over his beating heart. "We're going to be married, you will have an accident that will kill you…nobody needs to know it's NOT an accident…and then I will reap the benefits of your death. A poor brokenhearted widow mourning the death of her beloved husband." Tahlia mock-sniffled, sitting up a little to stare down into his eyes. "You're going to pay, you and your family, for everything you did to me. You should really be careful who you trust and bring into your bed, Shane. Because now, you're going to hand everything you hold dear over to me and if you don't, I'll simply TAKE it."

Shane actually began laughing. It was soft laughter, without a hint of amusement. It was bitter and sad. "I would have given it all to you anyway, Tahlia." He said with a poignant smile. "I would have given you everything and anything." Because… he had loved her.

Oh wow, the little bastard did actually, genuinely love her… Taker might have to kill him on principal.

"I know you would've. Because you loved me…and you still do." Her mouth hovered over his, their eyes remaining locked. "But here's the thing you have to understand, Shane. Or you won't allow yourself to understand. I NEVER loved you. I used you like a toy…the same way your Daddy used me. I played with you, fed your ego and made you BELIEVE I actually gave one rat's ass about you. My mind, body, heart and soul belong to one man and that's my master, the one I truly love. I could never love the likes of you or entertain the thought of being with you, not really. You were playing a deadly game and didn't even realize it. Because the one man I love is the one who gave me a shot at redemption after what your father stole from me." Holding up the WWF Women's championship, Tahlia began to cackle maniacally, kissing her title. "And the best part is you actually HELPED me win this back and let me get my revenge…without realizing you were being used the ENTIRE time. How foolish do you feel right now?"

"I don't." Shane whispered, though he did feel a bit fearful. That cackle… it had set his hairs on end and he wished desperately to put distance between them. "I wanted you to have a fair shot, Tahlia."

That'd been why he had taken Chyna out that night, to give her that chance. Man, if he had known then what he knew now… talk about sparing himself a load of heartache and potential death. But foolish? Not so much. Mostly because he got the impression that, one way or another, this would have happened regardless of what he had done.

"Then you're an idiot – a stupid trusting fool. Did you honestly believe the Undertaker, a calculating man like him, would've let me go that easily? He chose me along with the others for a REASON, Shane." Tahlia tapped her temple, snorting and rolled out of the bed, shaking her head. "It was all a scheme. I was tasked to infiltrate your Daddy's Corporation and you were the target. That's all it was. You were a JOB to me, nothing more. And just so you know, those times we did have sex, there's a reason I didn't cum. Because you, my dark prince, could not get the job done. And you knew that…you KNEW what we had in the bedroom lacked something and yet you still made yourself believe I actually loved you and wanted to be with you. So as far as I'm concerned, you're getting exactly what you deserve. You're pathetic, just like your old man and once I'm done with you and take EVERYTHING from you, your mother and sister might be next! Who knows, maybe my Dark Lord will use your sister the same way I'm using you."

"You bitch!" Shane growled, the fire inside of him lit at the mention of his mother and sister. "Stay away from them! You have me, don't go near them!"

"That's not your decision to make. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go get ready for our wedding tonight." Tahlia blew him a kiss, grinning. "See you soon." She walked out of the room and closed the door, pressing her back to it, knowing after tonight this would all be over.