John knew he was close. The way to St. Joe's etched forever in his brain. Although he was breaking the speed limits, the road to the church seemed torturously slow.  

"Stay focused, damn it," he berated himself as he turned on the winding path he knew led directly to the church. "Hold on, Angel," he silently prayed, "I'm coming!"

_________

Officer Ryan tried to get her Sargent on the ban. "Sargent Reid, this is Officer Ryan. Please respond." She was nervous about telling him she was disobeying his direct order. 

"Sargent Reid," came the authoritative voice over the ban. "Where the HELL are you Officer Ryan?" 

"We are heading towards St. Joseph the Worker Church and I am requesting backup." 

"I thought I told you to stay put!" Sargent Reid barked.

Michael grabbed the handheld from Mary. 

"Look Sargent, Angelique is in trouble. She went after Danny on her own. My brother is only about twenty to twenty-five minutes ahead of us in travel time. I will still have to wait for your backup to reach the church, as I am the only one who knows where Danny has lured Angelique to, in the woods. We don't have time to waste here. Meet us outside of the rectory!" 

"Understood," Sargent Reid said, "Over and out."

_______________

John pulled up to the Rectory. It was still shocking to see the church in ruin. His thoughts turned bitter. If only he had been more alert to what Danny was planning, he could have stopped it. Instead, his fears lead him astray. He feared for Angelique's life. He should have known she wasn't Danny's target. Danny used her to keep him out of his business. How many times can I fail the same woman? 

He parked next to her Beetle. One thing he knew for certain, he would not fail her now. John jumped out of the car and began the hike to the glade. When Danny said the place where they all met, John knew exactly where he meant. He could picture that day with such clarity. 

Considering the events that took place, it amazed John how calm he felt that day. The day they found Angelique, the day Danny shot her. It was something about the nearness of her. 

He knew it wasn't a normal reaction, but he felt completely at peace the moment he held her in his arms. It was the way he had always felt whenever he held her. She was his haven. With her, he felt at home. As John negotiated his way through the woods, he heard a shot ring out. Sudden terror gripped his heart. He began running blindly towards the sound.

Angelique flinched as she heard a bullet ricochet off of the tree behind her. She yelled out, "You know... you shot at me blind the first time we met. You were a boy then. I had hoped you would have matured." 

She heard the menacing sound of laughter somewhere, but she couldn't place where. 

"Well played," he said, and he took a step into the open. 

"It's pretty obvious that boys are no match for you," he said, looking over his two teen lackeys, both of which were now unconscious. 

Angelique tried not to shudder at the sight of him. He was even more wicked-looking now than he had been all those years ago. It wasn't so much his physical appearance, but the darkness of his soul. 

"Where's Rebecca?" 

"She's... somewhere safe. To tell you the truth, she would have been dead long ago except Bobby wouldn't hear of it. Turns out he's got a soft spot for the girl. It makes no difference to me whether or not I kill her. It's not her I'm after." 

"Well, I'm honored," Angelique said, watching warily as Danny approached. 

"Don't be." Danny was quick to correct her. "You're just a pawn in a game I began some time ago. But I must say, you've played your part beautifully. In fact, I am oddly in your debt," Danny admitted, stalking ever closer. 

He had a handgun held at his side. At least he was no longer pointing it at her. 

"What do you mean, I was a pawn?" 

"It was John I wanted. He's been my target all along. You see, he just didn't know how to keep his nose out of my business. Kept sticking it where it didn't belong, but now he's dead." 

Angelique stared at Danny, trying to assess the truth of his words. Perhaps it was another ploy. 

"I can see you don't believe me," Danny scoffed. They were now only a few feet apart. "While I sent you on this goose chase for Rebecca, I sent Bobby out to John's boat. He rigged it so it would blow as soon as John tries to start it. Who knew it would happen so soon."

"BOOM!" he yelled, waving his hands and the gun wildly, causing Angelique to jump at his words. 

"It was all over the news... Lawyer John McDougle -killed in a raging fire aboard his boat, The Sea Angel." 

 Angelique remembered the name. She had seen it when she climbed up the ladder to board his boat when she was last with John. She knew Danny had the correct name, but that still proved nothing. 

"They denied Bobby bail," she stated. 

"You still doubt me?" Danny grated, annoyed seeing it obviously written across her face. 

"They released Bobby into my custody. Well, no matter. They are all going to die. Michael, Rebecca, John ... well, he's already dead but no worries, soon you'll be joining him." 

"Why? Why them?" Angelique asked. 

"Oh, I don't know. Perhaps I have nothing better to do," he said, leveling his gaze and his gun at her. " John died because he knew too much. The bastard was working with the law and getting too close to shutting down my operation. I've lost millions in sales, both in drugs and weapons, because of him. Turns out he's more self-righteous than I gave him credit for."

"Michael... well, besides the bonus that he is John's brother, he is also the key witness for the case against someone who is very important to my distribution services. Didn't know I'd get the old man instead, but I've got time to remedy the situation."

"Rebecca, she may get to live after all. At least until Bobby tires of her or I tire of Bobby."

"You... however, were unexpected. I paid the proper people to pull your funding. Made the arrangements to take over your mortgage company. I meant for you just a to be a distraction. To keep John off my back, but as fate would have it, you had to have a run-in with Bobby and take in little Rebecca."

Danny shook his head at her in disappointment. "It's a shame, really. I had half thought of letting you live, but alas, you'll have to go." Danny cocked the gun and pulled the trigger. She heard it fire and heard the scream, but it wasn't her voice. 

Someone suddenly knocked her to the ground with immense force. Angelique opened her eyes to see John's face above her. 

"John?" she breathed his name. So overjoyed to know Danny had lied that he was still alive.  

"Angel?" John said as he pushed himself away from her and knelt before her. He stared, sickened with horror, at the blood on her shirt.

She was shot. "Angel?" he said again. She seemed in shock. 

She was in shock. John was bleeding. He took the bullet for her. His eyes fluttered for a second and then he crumpled to the ground. 

"John!" she screamed. Angelique gathered him to her, rocking him against her body. "No, no, no! You can't die! No!"

"Well, what a turn of events!" Danny said, sneering at the scene before him. "He didn't die on that boat after all. Only to die here, now in your arms." 

Angelique rocked and stroked John's face. She didn't hear Danny's cruel words. Her only thoughts were of the man in her arms. She was John's guardian. She was to watch over him and keep him safe from harm. Now she was the deliberate cause of his death. 

Angelique glared up at Danny. A new purpose filled her soul. She knew who and what she was. She was going to fulfill the purpose she came here to fulfill. Love her ruling force to keep balance must know Hate a feeling that now consumed her as she stood once again to face Danny Caldwell. 

Despite having the advantage of a weapon in his hand, Angelique showed no fear as she advanced rapidly upon him. Surprised, Danny cocked his gun again, letting off another shot. 

Angelique felt it penetrate her skin, but she still pushed forward. 

Danny looked at her, stunned. She didn't even look the least bit shaken by the shot. He knew he hit her. 

He pulled the trigger again. Again, the shot was true to its mark, but Angelique still advanced forward as if she were untouched. Danny stared on. Feeling the burn of her intense gaze, in utter amazement, and something more. Something akin to fear overtook him as he pulled the trigger for the last and final time, aiming straight at her heart. 

Again, she took the shot but now stood directly in front of him. His six-foot-plus frame towering over her five-foot three-inch body. Angelique smiled a most menacing smile at him as she said calmly... 

"Daniel, he who will be judged by God. What I have failed to protect in life. I shall avenge in death. Be prepared to meet your Maker and may He have mercy on your soul." 

Angelique took a step back, holding her arms out to the heavens. 

Danny turned his face away from the brilliant light that seemed to envelop her. He looked horrified as a pair of wings unfurled. He screamed and instinctively tried to fire again, only there was just the click of an empty gun. 

She lifted him from the ground as though he were but a piece of paper. 

"Please!" he begged. "Please, don't kill me! Oh, God. Please!"