“Sam, can you give me an approximate location to Connor’s camp? We’re about to leave to go bring Diana back.” Aiden asked, trying to breathe through his mouth.
“You go up to the falls, near your old camp, then you head northwest about two miles. There is a dense growth of rhododendrons about five hundred yards from the camp. I’m really sorry I couldn’t stop them.” Sam said and began to cry; his sobs wracked his whole body and he shook with grief. Aiden laid a hand on his shoulder and squeezed hard.
“Sam, you were ambushed by cowards, you concentrate on healing and getting better, we’ll take care of this infestation.” Aiden said and patted Hunter on the back, and then he left the tent. He hoped Sam wouldn’t end up like Christian, with an infected gut wound, that was a death sentence, and it was an excruciating death. He’d heard what Diana had done for Christian, ending his life quickly so he wouldn’t have to suffer. He knew it took a certain kind of ruthless courage and kindness to perform that task.
He found Gabe and Sarah, he saw that she’d given Marla one of the plates that she had made and also a small rabbit skin. Both women were talking animatedly when he joined them.
“I got the location, Leo, Gabe, Sarah and I will head out in a few, I think Hunter should stay here, if we fail, he will be your next best chance along with Bruce, Tom and Hudson, you’ll want to keep William out of it, you’ll need to keep your medic safe. I’d like to form some kind of strategy before heading in.”
Leo nodded and they all left the group for some place quiet and everyone sat down on the ground. Aiden cleared a spot on the ground.
“Sam says that the camp is up past the falls, northwest about two miles. Our advantage is that there is a large rhododendron hedge near their camp, but far enough away, that we can wait there until dark. Once the light starts going, I’m going to get in as close as I can, you guys follow in, but go slow. They will more than likely have someone standing watch. They’re going to be expecting something.”
“Are you sure you want to go in alone? I can go with you.” Leo offered.
Aiden didn’t know about Leo’s abilities and that in and of itself could get them both killed. Aiden had killed before in hand to hand, and he knew the risks. Depending on the situation, he was going to try and kill Connor from a distance. He couldn’t make firm plans, because he’d have to stay flexible and deal with whatever came. If the others could keep most of the remaining men occupied, he could take out at least one, Connor. He’d try for the others, but they were all going to be put down. He just needed to make sure that he wasn’t hit by friendly fire.
“I’m sure, the more people moving around, the more chances of us being detected before we get close enough to help Diana.” Aiden assured Leo.
He looked at Sarah, her face calm and trusting, he smiled at her and she returned his smile, nodding. She was in and she was ready. He looked at Leo and Gabe, who was pale, but looked okay to proceed. They talked for another half hour, about contingencies and other strategies.
It would take about an hour or two to make it to the camp, the closer they got to the camp, the slower they would have to proceed. When it was nearer to dusk, they could draw in closer. Aiden would think about getting in closer if he thought it was safe to do so. Even with all the planning, things sometimes went wrong, there was just no predicting, and especially dealing with someone like Connor, who was the very definition of unpredictable.
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Diana’s head hurt badly, she felt like vomiting and a small voice whispered, concussion. She felt her body rocking which made her head feel worse and made her stomach roil. She tried to open her eyes, but they were so heavy and all she could hear was the pounding of her heart in her head and ears. She was trying to remember what happened, but her head was hurting so badly, she couldn’t think.
Once more the nausea swept through her and she finally opened her eyes, only to find Connor above her, and she was confused, she couldn’t think why he was there. His blue eyes were penetrating hers and then she realized what he was doing and she spewed vomit in his face, causing him to scream and catapulted himself off of her.
She turned over onto her side, she felt her naked hip grind into the ground and into the small stones and dirt beneath her. She continued to vomit, her head warring with her stomach. She felt like her skull was going to shatter into millions of pieces, and the darkness threatened to converge on her once more. She gritted her teeth, willing herself to stay conscious, she wasn’t up for rape and wanted to fight the bastard. Her body spasmed with the heaving until she had ropes of saliva hanging from her mouth, and snot running from her nose.
Her eyes narrowed in hate, and she could hear Connor’s screaming and cursing over the pounding in her head. She rose on shaky arms, and looked for her shorts and underwear. They were by her feet and she struggled to reach them with a shaky hand. Her mouth was pulled back in a rictus of rage and ferocity, her eyes lasering in on Joey, Luke and Matt, and she snarled, her voice low and guttural, “You fucking assholes come near me and so help me god, I will fucking rip your
