Page 8 of Cole: Bloodlines
“Angel, no—”
Angel ended the call and gripped the railing, shakes coursing through him as tears burned his eyes. He knows something about Maddy. The fact that Dane couldn’t bring himself to say it threw Angel into full-blown panic.
He cleared his throat and wiped his eyes before going back inside. He grabbed his jacket from Maddy’s bedroom and slipped into it as he headed to the kitchen. “I’m going down to the hospital,” he told Max and Horatio, his voice carrying a noticeable rasp.
“What?” Max exchanged a concerned look with Horatio. “You’re supposed to stay here. What did Dane say? Is Cole back? And Gabe…?”
Angel nodded. “Cole is there. He’s okay. And Gabe is out of surgery. He’s fine.”
“Why are you going to the hospital?”
“Because…” Angel struggled to hold it together. “There’s something he isn’t telling me, and I need to know what it is.”
“Something about Maddy? The others?” Horatio asked, his concern heightening.
“I think so.” Angel swallowed, fighting tears.
“Angel…” Max touched his arm. “Whatdidhe say? Clearly, he said something to upset you.”
“No,” Angel rasped. “It’s what hedidn’tsay. What hecouldn’tsay.”
“What do you mean?” Horatio whispered.
Angel shook his head, his vision swimming. “I-I gotta go.”
“You shouldn’t go alone,” Max said. “Maybe I should come with you.”
“No,” Angel sniffed. “I’ll be okay. I’ll go straight to the hospital.”
Horatio looked doubtful and anxious. “Maybe it isn’t a good idea.”
“I have to know what’s going on,” Angel said. “Dane knowssomething.If he can’t tell me, then it’sbad.And I won’t be kept in the fucking dark about my brother.” Angel wiped fresh tears from his eyes and walked to the front door. Max followed him.
“Call me the second you get there, understand?”
Angel nodded as their eyes met and held for a moment, both fearing the worst.
“Drive carefully.” Max hugged him and kissed his head, holding him a moment longer than usual before letting go. Max cleared his throat. “Remember what I said; the second you get there.”
“I will.” Angel walked to his car while Max watched from the open front door. He didn’t go back inside until Angel drove away.
“Goddamnit…” Dane hissed tightly.
“What?” Devlin’s voice strained with fear—though it couldn’t stretch much tighter.
“Angel.” Dane squeezed his eyes shut and pressed the phone to his forehead, the stress coming to a head, about to explode. He took a deep breath, lowered the phone, and then called Max. “Is Angel there?” he asked quickly when the man answered.
“He just left,” Max said quietly. “I tried to get him to stay here, but he refused.”
“He’s stubborn like that,” Dane mumbled, wanting to hang up before Max started asking questions too. But it was too late.
“He was very upset,” Max said. “He said you knew something about Maddy that you weren’t telling him. Maddy is my son, Dane. Tell me what you know.” The desperation and despair in Max’s voice tore at Dane’s heart. But how much worse would it be if he knew Maddy and the others had been abducted by a serial killer? How the fuck was he supposed to tell him that? The words hadn’t come when Angel asked—and they weren’t coming now.
“Just… Just let me deal with Angel when he gets here, and then…” Then what? “I’ll call you back,” he finished weakly.
“Why can’t you tell me now?” Max pressed. “Do you know where they are? They areallmy kids; I have a right to know what is happening with them.”
Dane hung his head and rubbed his eyes. “Max…”God—how thefuckcould he tell him the truth?
