Page 40 of Cole: Bloodlines
“My… dad killed him?”
“Didn’t say that, either.”
What did you do to him?Cole couldn’t say the words. He didn’t want to know the nightmare Ezra went through during his last days.
“He didn’t die right away,” Roland said, as if reading Cole’s thoughts and taking sick pleasure in giving him the details. “We kept him around for a while.”
“The cell… underground…” Cole whispered sickly. “Is that where you kept him?”
“Yes. I didn’t lie about that.”
Recalling their previous conversation about Ezra, Cole trembled. “You kept him locked down there… fortwoyears?”
“Yes.”
Cole hung his head and pressed his hand to his eyes.
“Don’t worry,” Roland murmured. “He wasn’t lonely. The two of us… We got to know each other quite…intimately.”
Cole looked up, horror etching his face. “You…” he couldn’t say the word and breathe life into it. But Roland did it for him.
“Raped him?” He smiled. “Yes. I know you and Ezra hadn’t gotten around to doing the deed yet, but I tell ya… he was a great fuck. A real fighter, which made it even better. For most of those two years, I fucked him every day. Sometimes, a few times a day.”
Cole lowered his head and laced his fingers behind his neck. “Why?” he choked. “Why Ezra?”
The deputy walked closer. “Because you loved him. He wasyours,so I took him. The way you took from me.”
“What?” Cole raised his head, tears in his eyes. “What thefuckdid I take from you?” he cried. “What’re youtalking about?”
“Everything!” Roland snapped back, startling Cole. “You took mylife.You took mydad.It was just the two of us, the way it was supposed to be… until your fucking mother.”
“What… I don’t…” Cole swallowed. “Who are you?”
A sour smile crept across the man’s face. “I’m yourbrother, Henry. Andyou…” He glared at Cole. “… were never supposed to be born.”
It was nearly 2:00 a.m., and still no news from Dane or Angel. Noah and Noel had finally given in to exhaustion and were put to bed in Maddy’s room. Franny woke up, asking aboutMaddy, but there was nothing to tell her that wouldn’t make her worry. Just after the twins passed out, Franny fell back to sleep.
Max envied them; he wished he could sleep as well. But there would be no rest until their son came home.If he comes home.The horror of the circumstances was more than his mind could process. He and Horatio sat at the kitchen counter, hands clasped, saying nothing as they waited for news they were terrified to receive.
But one could only wait so long before thewaitingbecame torture.
“Call Dane,” Horatio whispered, almost a plea. “I’m worried about Angel, too. Once he finds out that Maddy...” The words caught in his throat, and he lowered his eyes, gripping Max’s hand desperately.
“I’ll call.” Max picked up his cell and dialed with one hand while holding Horatio with the other. Dane answered on the second ring. “It’s me. What’s going on? Have you heard anything? Is Angel okay?"
There was a brief pause before Dane asked, “Isn’t Cole there?” The tone in his voice unsettled Max.
“No.” Max looked at Horatio, his taut nerves pulling tighter. “Why? I thought he was with you.”
“Angel?” Horatio asked softly, fear evident in his eyes.
Max shook his head. “Cole.”
“He left the hospital almost an hour ago,” Dane said. “He was headed to your place.”
“He isn’t here,” Max whispered.
“Shit.”
