Billionaire's Regret
Chapter 12 :

Aaron slowly opened his eyes as the howling of the wind whistling through the broken windows. He shivers but also felt warm blood trickling down the side of his head. A moment his eyes were bleary but he managed to blinked several times clearing the misty fog. He reached up to wipe the blood from his face.

"Annie..." he quickly turned his body. He found her slumped against the door. She was unconscious. With sudden trembling fingers he searches for a pulse. Openly relief when he found a beating one.

"Annie... open your eyes." He carefully shakes her body. "I need to get out the car." As he reaches for the side of the door, he suddenly smelled gasoline.

"Bloody hell," he cursed under his breath. It took a couple of hefty pushes but he finally managed to get the door opened. He almost lost his balance on the uneven ground as he struggles out of the damaged car.

His eyes search the surrounding area. As far as he could tell, the angle of the car has them slightly concealed from the road on top. He stood still a moment searching for possible people looking down. A minute later he heard the SUV brake before reversing back. He quickly realized they only have a couple of minutes, maybe.

"I refuse to be a sitting duck," he snaps feeling the adrenaline rushing through his body.

"I need to get Annie to safety." He reaches the front of the door. After he managed to wrench it opened, he felt for another pulse. Matthew, his driver was thankfully waking from the bump against his head. The airbag has luckily deployed. "Matt?" "I am okay, sir."

Aaron helped his driver from the car. Both men realized he was extremely lucky that the interior of the car didn't trap his body. "Are you steady on your legs?"

"I am sir. How is the Missy?" he wipes the blood from his own forehead. His body aches all over but he wasn't seriously hurt.

Aaron stood listening again. He was worried. It's his duty to protect Annie. He pulled her into his life. "We should hurry, Matt. They are coming back."

"I noticed a cabin from the road. We could replace shelter there."

"Good idea. Just quickly help me getting the backdoor open."

Both men wrestled with the stuck door until it opened. Aaron quickly moved to catch a tumbling Annie.

"Matt, go ahead. We need that shelter."

"Yes sir." Matt quickly bends back into the car. He removed his weapon and the first aid-kit.

Aaron carefully maneuvers Annie from the car. The angle of the hillside made it impossible to carry her in his arms. Instead, he very carefully slings her over his shoulder.

They were just a couple of steps away from the damage car when the car exploded. Aaron felt himself losing his balance. He fell flat on his stomach with Annie on top of his backside. He quickly thanks the Gods for giving him the presence of mind to protect her head.

"Do you see anyone?" the strange accented voice asked from somewhere close to the topside. The rolling of some ground and sand echoes, making it clear the car left the road on a dangerous side of the curving hill.

"I can't make anything out." The second man said.

"Go down there. The 'Boss' won't like it if we failed."

"I don't want to go down the side of the hill." The second man grumbled.

"I am ordering you to go, Adam Blake."

"Idiot, don't use my name," he screamed.

"Do what I tell you."

"Bastard, Eric Klussen,"

"Adam Blake, you better hurry. We are in Switzerland. This explosion echoed far. These people are very reactive."

As proof of his statement another explosion shook the earth.

Aaron managed to conceal Annie and him behind a big boulder. He carefully takes note to remember the two names he heard. The second explosion seemed to be enough for them to back down. The SUV suddenly drove away.

"Annie..." he felt for another pulse. He was very worried. Her body seemed to lose heat. A final check to be certain they were alone, he carefully scrambled back onto his feet, bend down and pick her up into his arms. He starts to make his way towards the cabin. He was instantly relief when he saw Matt waiting in an open door.

"There isn't much, sir. The bed will have to do." Matt held the door open. The cabin was cold but snug.

Aaron carefully placed Annie down on the bed. He stood looking a moment at her too pale face. He was very worried. He was only aware of his surroundings again when Matt dropped a couple of wood pieces onto the floor. "This is all I could replace, sir."

"It will have to do. Matt, I don't know if they will return. We need help."

"I know, sir. I will go back to the nearest garage. I believe its a few kilometers back."

"Thanks Matt. Just hurry. I don't know how hurt Annie might be." Aaron looked at her pale face again. She was so motionless.

Aaron circles the small cabin his mind in turmoil. He keeps looking at the woman who he pulled out of revenge into his life. Apart from the problems he currently is having, he made it a point to avoid her. His reality was he feels ashamed about how he made her part of his life.

"Leo..." Annie suddenly mumbles before curling into the pain.

He suddenly stood still frowning. He did trust her when she said she has no man in her life. The question that needs an answer now, 'who was Leo'. It was clear she was worried.

"Who is he?" he asked softly.

"He is small." She whispers.

"Tell me about him." He keeps his voice even toned.

"He is mine. Hmm... I nearly lost him."

"How," Aaron has the serious need to know. He just feels this information could break something in him. He truly trusts her even though he placed her in a vulnerable situation. In truth he wasn't proud of himself. "Annie ... who is Leo,"

"Leo... Black... Ca," a sudden shudder went through her. She seem to slip into unconsciousness.