Page 39 of Cole: Bloodlines
Byrne stood in the dark, grimy corridor a few feet from his dad. “Henry isn’t going to turn. You tried to turn him for almost two years, and what happened? He slit your throat and ran off.”
“He was a kid,” Daniel said. “I pushed him too fast. That was my mistake.”
“I was a kid, too. It didn’t bother me.”
“You were a different kind of kid. Henry was more… sensitive. I should have eased him into it. But he’s an adult now. He can handle it.”
Byrne shook his head. “You’re delusional. I told you the truth about Henry years ago, but you refused to believe it.”
Daniel’s face twitched, eyes narrowing. “Because it was a lie.”
“You sure?” Byrne murmured with a slight mocking tone. “Because I’m not.”
Daniel huffed. “You’ve always hated Henry; of course, you want it to be true. But you’re wrong, and I will prove it.” He flicked his hand. “Go. Bring him to me.”
Byrne didn’t budge. “And if he can’t be turned?”
“I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it,” Daniel said. “But there won’t be anybridge.Henry just needs the proper motivation to unleash his true nature, and once he does… There will be no going back.”
Staring at his old man, Byrne shook his head slowly but didn’t bother trying to reason with the bastard. His mind was made up. But he would see the truth soon enough; Henry was not a killer… but he would kill to save his friends. Byrne believed that, and he would be ready, even if his dad wasn’t.
Cole took his own car from the hospital and navigated the maze of backstreets through the city’s slums. Guilt and doubt twisted in his stomach; he wanted to tell Dane and Devlin where he was headed, but knew they would try to stop him. Still, he had to go. The Mangler needed something from him, and if Cole could convince him he would get it, maybe he’d free Gabe and the kids. It was a long shot—probably a foolish move—but they were out of options.
If he didn’t bring Maddy and Savannah home… Abel and Angel would not come back to them. And without Gabe, their family would crumble.Colewould crumble. He would sacrifice himself in whatever manner necessary to save his loved ones. It would be hard for them to move on without him, but they would have each other to lean on. Gabe would find someone else in time. Maybe that someone would be Tomas. Having someone to look after and protect would help him move forward.
The dark backstreets blurred in the headlights, and Cole brushed his arm across his eyes. He couldn’t allow himself to think about what lay ahead. This nightmare revolved around him, and only he could make it stop. He was sure he wouldn’t make it out alive. And he was trying to make peace with that reality. But to save Gabe and the kids, he would give his life a thousand times over.
Cole turned off the street and pulled into an old parking lot of a long-dead “Mom & Pop” diner. Weeds and grass pushed up through the cracked pavement, and the boarded-up building was being overtaken by bramble brush and stick weeds.
Parking near the old diner, Cole got out of the car and locked the door. It wouldn’t stop vandals, but the fate of his vehicle was the least of his worries. He sat on the hood and waited, the smellof stale garbage and a briny scent of abandonment thick in the chilly air.
He didn't wait long before a car drove into the lot, driven by Deputy Roland. Cole remained in his spot, watching the driver intently. Roland parked the vehicle and stepped out. The expression Cole gave him was not that of an old friend.
Roland smiled small. “So, you figured it out.”
“That you were never my friend?” Cole murmured. “Yeah.”
“What tipped you off?”
Cole’s eyes darted to the man’s wrist.
“Should’ve known.” Roland pulled up his jacket sleeve and fingered the bracelet. “Guess I should have hidden it better.”
Cole looked away, running his hand through his hair, a sick weight settling in his gut. “When did you take it from him?”
“Right after the old man grabbed him.”
“Why?” Cole whispered.
“Why what?”
“Why did you take it?”
“Because it was special,” the deputy said. “To him, and you.”
Cole sniffed and cleared his throat, his voice unsteady as he asked, “Is that when you killed him?”
“I never said I killed him.”
