Page 9 of Cole: Bloodlines
“Dane, you’re scaring the shit out of me,” Max whispered unsteadily. “Whereare my kids?”
Tears rolled down Dane’s face as he stared at the floor. Devlin stood close, his hand resting on Dane’s back. He appreciated the comfort more than he could express, but it didn’t make the words come any easier.
“They were… taken.”
Horatio's blood ran cold as he watched Max's face transform during Dane's call. His husband's features contorted—first with confusion, then disbelief, and finally with raw horror that etched deep lines around his mouth. Max's knuckles whitened around the phone, and a vein throbbed fiercely at his temple as he listened, his breathing becoming shallow and uneven.
When Max finally lowered the phone, he looked like a man who had been gutted. The cell slipped from his trembling fingers, clattering onto the counter. He collapsed onto a stool, his body folding inward as if protecting a mortal wound. His eyes—God, his eyes—stared through Horatio, hollow and devastated, pupils blown wide with terror.
“Max...” Horatio's voice cracked as bile rose in his throat. “What is it?” The question hung between them like a blade about to fall.
Max's body jerked as he twisted on the stool, his elbows cracking against the counter. His face vanished into his hands before his fingers clawed into his hair, ripping at the roots. Each breath cut through him like broken glass, tears not falling but pouring down his face, splashing onto the granite in dark, expanding circles.
Horatio's heart pounded violently against his ribcage, the thundering in his ears drowning out everything except Max'ssuffering. His lungs clenched, desperate for air that wouldn't come. “Max...?” The name slipped out as a strained whisper.
Maddy. Abel. Savannah.Was someone…dead?The word detonated in his mind.
The floor seemed to tilt beneath him as Horatio lurched onto the stool beside Max, his fingers gripping his husband's arm like a drowning man. “Max... tell me.” His voice fractured completely, tears flooding his vision as the room dissolved into a watery blur.
Please, God, not that… don’t take our children from us... anything but that… please, God, anything but that.
Horatio gently but urgently lowered Max’s trembling hands and cupped his tear-streaked face, forcing him to meet his gaze. Max’s eyes were clenched shut, tears streaming through his lashes like a relentless flood. “Max…” Horatio pressed his forehead against Max’s, desperation in his voice. “Baby, what’s wrong? Is someone hurt? Please, talk to me.”
Max shook violently, clutching Horatio with a desperation that bordered on panic. “They were taken...” he whispered, his voice cracking and breaking with anguish.
“Taken?” Horatio’s stomach twisted into knots as he pulled Max even closer, feeling his own fear rise like a tidal wave. “By… who?” Seeing Max so vulnerable, so shattered, terrified him. Max was always the unyielding pillar, the unwavering fortress in every storm. But now, that fortress was collapsing, each piece falling away with terrifying speed.
Max clung to him with a fierce grip, burying his face in Horatio’s neck, his breath ragged and uneven. “A… serial killer…” Max’s voice was barely audible, yet the words struck like a dagger, piercing Horatio’s heart and freezing his blood. “A serial killer… has our kids…”
Angel blinked rapidly, trying to wipe away the tears that blurred his vision as the city lights and traffic whirled in a dizzying kaleidoscope of colors. He swept his arm across his eyes and fought back sobs that clogged his throat.
Something bad happened—something fucking bad!
Was Maddy hurt… orworse?
Angel fought to resist the terror and panic that came with those thoughts, but his nerves were frayed, and he was dangling precariously at the end of his rope. Maddy had made it back from the island — he was supposed to besafenow,goddammit!When was enoughfucking enough?
The car took the same familiar route to the hospital, almost on autopilot as Angel’s mind exploded with terrifying images of his little brother.
And Abel and Savannah…
Had something horrible happened toall of them?
Abel was practically his brother as well. And Savannah… the love of Maddy’s life…everyoneadored Savannah; one of the sweetest, kindest girls Angel had ever met. Hadn’t theyallsuffered enough? Why did thisshitkeep happening to their family?
Bitterness and anger surged inside Angel, and he had to resist the urge to stomp on the gas pedal and put himself in danger while rushing to the hospital. After a few close calls with other drivers—and some salty insults flung his way—Angel sped into the hospital parking lot near the emergency room entrance.
His heart pounded in his chest, making him breathe quickly and sharply. Angel hurriedly exited his car and sprinted toward the entrance doors. He ran past a man standing outside, barely noticing him. But the man saw Angel.
“Hey, kid.”
Angel was at the entrance before he realized the man was speaking to him. He paused, anxious to get inside and find Dane. “What?” He blinked and rubbed his eyes as the man’s face came into focus, and he recognized him as the deputy who had come to Max’s house.
“You were at Mr. Raines’ house, weren’t you?”
“Yeah,” Angel mumbled and sniffed, dragging his arm over his damp eyes.
“Is something wrong? You look upset.”
