Page 42 of Cole: Bloodlines
“But you didn’t kill me,” Cole whispered.
“I was biding my time. Guess I waited too long.”
“Did you really find me over a year ago?”
Roland nodded.
“Why didn’t you kill me then?”
“Because I realized I’m not the one who needs to kill you.”
Cole looked forward at the dark street. “What does it matter who kills me?”
The deputy laughed low. “That’s an ongoing issue between our dad and me.”
Cole fell silent, trying not to look at the bracelet on the deputy’s wrist. His eyes stung as horrific images of Ezra plagued his mind. Sweet, kind, amazing Ezra.We should’ve run away together.
“You want to hear something sweet?”
Cole didn’t answer or look at the man.
“Every day, Ezra would plead with us –Do what you want to me, but please don’t hurt Henry.”He chuckled. “Isn’t that sweet? You had yourself a keeper.” He winked at Cole. “That’s why I kept him. Dad thought I wanted to kill him, but he wouldn’t let me. I didn’t, actually. I enjoyed making him suffer. I was going to tell you about him when I killed you, so you would die knowing he was still alive and suffering—all because of you.”
Shut the fuck up!Cole looked out the passenger window, tears rising. “Why didn’t our dad want you to kill him? Why was he keeping him alive?”
Roland snorted. “Don’t think it was because you loved Ezra. Well, I guess, in a way, it was. He kept him for leverage. If you became too difficult, he knew that once you learned Ezra was still alive, you would do anything to keep him that way. But you pulled a fast one and got away before he could use him against you.”
Cole didn’t want to hear anymore, but the man wouldn’t stop.
“When I found our dad in the woods, throat slit, I almost left him there to die.” He chuffed. “The bastard never gave me credit, though I was the one who did everything he asked of me. You were the problem child, yet you were hisgoldenson, thenot-fucked-upson. Still, I saved the fucker’s life—then turned him in.” His face twitched. “I wanted him out of the way until I found you and got rid of you. But by the time I found you, I was sure he hated you for trying to kill him. I figured it might behealingfor our relationship if we killed you together—after we made you suffer.”
“So, you hate me out of petty jealousy,” Cole mumbled. “Well, I never wanted him for my dad. Not then, and sure as fuck not now. You canhavehim.”
“You see,” the deputy wagged his finger. “That’s even worse.” He shot Cole a brittle look. “Because that makes you an ungrateful little shit. And ungrateful little shits… get punished.”
Dropping his voice, Cole murmured, “I’m already being punished.”
“You think so?” Roland mused. “All that’s come beforenow…was just playtime.” A sinister look darkened his eyes. “Things are about to getserious.”
PART FOUR: GLIMMER IN THE DARK
“The battle line between good and evil
Runs through the heart of every man.”
— Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
CHAPTER 17: BEFORE & AFTER
“What do you want?”Maddy took a cautious step back from the man. He hadn’t drawn his weapon yet, but kept his jacket pulled back. Maddy reached for his wallet. “I… I don’t have very much money, but—”
“Relax, kid,” the stranger drawled. “I don’t want your money.”
Maddy would’ve preferred if he did. The look in his eyes sent chills racing down the boy’s spine. “Then… Then what do you want? I told you… my parents are expecting me any minute.”
Max and Horatio wouldn’t expect him for another couple of hours or so, but if the man thought they would start missing him right away, maybe he wouldn’t be so quick to…
What?
