Page 17 of Cole

Devlin relayed the man’s words. “Gabe didn’t understand what he was saying. But he insisted on talking to you right now. When I got to his room, he was trying to rip out his IV.”

“What?” Dane frowned.

“He was in a panic, trying to get out of bed to come find Cole.”

Cole breathed unevenly. “What should I say to him?” He looked at Dane, genuinely scared. “What…”

“Tell him the truth,” Dane urged. “You must. He loves you, and nothing will change that. It won’t.” He placed his hand on Cole’s arm. “I’ll go with you.”

When Dane abruptly entered the room, Gabe was moments away from unplugging himself and vacating the hospital bed. Gabe straightened. “Where’s Cole—” His husband stepped through the door behind Dane, along with Devlin, a look of distress on his face that put Gabe on high alert. “Cole…?”

Instead of approaching him directly, Cole hesitated, his gaze wavering as he appeared unwilling to meet Gabe’s stare.

Gabe looked at all three men. “What thefuckis going on? Tell meright goddamn now!”

“That man who was in here,” Dane spoke up when Cole appearedunableto speak. “He was the one who attacked you.”

“Why did I get a call that you were all fucked up at the Asmodeus club?” he asked Cole. “What the hell was that about?”

“He was never at that club,” Dane intervened again. “It was a trick to get you down there.”

Gabe stared at Cole, who had yet to look directly at him. “Cole… what is going on? Who was that man? He mentioned Abel… and Maddy and Savannah. Are they okay?Tell me.”

Raising his hand to his face, Cole covered his eyes as his head hung forward and his shoulders slumped. “They’re not… okay.” His quiet words shuddered out of him on a broken whisper laced with fear and dread.

Gabe glanced anxiously at Devlin. “Where are they?”

Cole inhaled shakily and addressed Dane and Devlin. “I… I should talk to Gabe alone.”

“Are you sure?” Dane murmured with concern. “You don’t have to do this alone.”

Cole swallowed, his throat working. “I do.”

Casting Gabe a quick look, Dane whispered, “It’ll be okay. It will.”

Cole nodded, though he didn’t seem convinced by Dane’s words.

It’ll be okay.What did that mean?

Squeezing Cole’s arm, Dane nodded at Devlin and the two men quietly exited the room.

Cole walked closer, still struggling to meet Gabe’s gaze. “Gabe…” His voice shook, and his face was pale. He looked sickly and about to pass out.

“Cole…” Gabe trembled. “You’re scaring the shit out of me.” Anxiety tightened his chest. “Talk to me, babe…please.What is going on? Are Abel and the kids indanger?”

Cole tried to speak, but nothing came out; he appeared physically unable to utter a word. His behavior frightened Gabe the most. Cole had never had a problem expressing his thoughts and was never afraid to discuss an issue with Gabe. Why did he suddenly seem terrified to do so now?

“Who isHenry?”Gabe asked with a quiet tremor. “That man… he said,ask Henry.” Gabe swallowed with a strain. “Cole… who is Henry? And who thefuckis that man?”

CHAPTER 6: NO MORE SOLO SHIT

Who is Henry?

Even though Cole had shared his history with the others, telling Gabe still terrified him. Maybe he should have asked Dane and Devlin to stay for moral support.

I’m Henry, and that man… he’s my serial killer dad who has kidnapped Abel, Savannah, and Maddy, and is doing God knows what kind of nightmarish shit to them.

The words settled at the base of his throat like a lump of lead, trying to choke him. Try as he might, he couldn’t verbalize them. The very thought of it left a bitter taste in his mouth. Referring to the monster as hisdadforged a connection that Cole feared—a connection that eternally bound himby bloodto a murderer and a rapist.

---