Page 20 of Cole: Bloodlines
“Hey, come on, now.” The Deputy wrapped his arm around him and hugged him lightly. “Things aren’t as bad as they seem. I bet before long, you’ll get a letter from Ezra, telling you where he moved. Then you two can write back and forth, maybe even talk on the phone. Maybe he can come to visit sometimes.”
Henry buried his face in the deputy’s shoulder and sobbed, clinging to the man. Roland held him and rubbed his back.
“Hey,” he murmured. “I know it feels like the end of the world right now, but I promise you, it isn’t. Things will get better.”
Henry shook his head, crying harder.
“I’m sure Ezra is thinking about,” he said softly. “I know he is. He loved you too much not to be thinking about you, don’t you believe that?”
Henry trembled, choking back his sobs as his chest heaved. He straightened on the steps beside the deputy. The man handed him a handkerchief, and Henry wiped his eyes and blew his nose.
“I know you’re having a real tough time with this, and having just lost your mom, but your dad is here for you.” Roland cupped the back of Henry’s head and smiled warmly. “I know you guys aren’t real close, but he does love you and wants you to be happy.”
No, he doesn’t—he’s a monster! And he’s trying to make me a monster, too!
Henry kept the terrifying words to himself, worried the deputy wouldn’t believe him—and frightened his dad would kill the deputy if he did.
“What’s this?” Roland touched Henry’s wrist and the braided bracelet.
Henry sniffed. “Ezra… made it for me,” he whispered, his throat raw. “I-I made one for him, too, just like it, for his birthday.”
“That’s sweet,” Roland smiled. “I’m sure it means the world to him.”
Henry bit his lower lip, his chin trembling. “He said… He said he would never take it off.”
The deputy gently patted his back. “I’m sure he will wear it for as long as he possibly can.”
•••
Cole trembled, his eyes fixed on the braided leather held between his shaking fingers. “If he has Ezra’s bracelet…” His brow furrowed as his mind fought against the terrifying thoughts trying to invade his mind.
Dane sat beside him, his arm wrapping his shoulders. “What do you think it means?”
Hanging his head, Cole shuddered hard. “Ezra… he wouldn’t have taken it off, unless someone…” Everything inside him went numb. “... took it from him.”
Cole leaned against Dane, tears streaming down his face.
“I thought he was my friend,” Cole whispered brokenly. “I thought he… cared.” His throat worked as the horror seeped into him in stages. “Was he…helpingmy dad?” Cole lifted his head, the horror deepening. “Is he…” Cole staggered to his feet, his hands shoving through his hair as he clutched the bracelet. “Ishethe one who attacked Gabe—and tried tokill him?”Colelooked at Dane in a desperate panic. “He has Gabe. Is he… is he really taking him to my dad? Or is he going to…”
Dane shot to his feet, grabbed Cole as his legs weakened, and guided him back to the bench.
“They’re going to take him away from me, too,” Cole gasped as pure panic seized him. “They took Ezra—now they’re gonna takeGabe.”
CHAPTER 8: SSDD
The deputy looked in the rearview mirror for the third time.
“Something wrong?” Gabe asked.
“We’ve got a tail.”
Gabe twisted around and looked out the rear window; all he saw was a kaleidoscope of headlights. He faced forward. “Are you sure?”
“I would be surprised if weweren’tbeing followed,” he said. “But this could be bad.”
“What do you mean?”
“Daniel won’t be happy about this. You might want to call them off. You don’t want toupsetDaniel.”
