CHAPTER 4 CONVERSATION WITH A MADMAN

"It's been a long time. Too long."

Cole walked forward and sank into the booth seat before raising his eyes to the man across from him. He looks the same. The jolt made him flinch and the horrors of his past flooded over him. Cole's chest pinched and he couldn't breathe.

"You look like you've seen a ghost," the monster murmured with a note of satisfaction; this was the response he was hoping for. He wanted Cole to still be terrified of him.

Drawing deep breaths, Cole began to breathe again. Upon closer inspection, he noted the minor signs of age in the man; a tint of gray in his formerly dark strands, added lines in his face and around his eyes. But mostly… he looked the same as if he'd been frozen in time.

"You've certainly changed," the man said. "I wouldn't have guessed you'd grow so… big. You were a tad wimpy as a boy." He smiled, but the smile didn't reach his dead eyes. "I'm impressed, even… proud. You're quite the strapping young man."

Proud.Cole trembled inside with a mix of rage and terror. Once he'd learned what his dad was—the last thing he wanted from the man was his approval. Because his approval meant that Henry was doing things that pleased him. And the things that pleased him were horror-movie fodder.

His throat working, Cole whispered, "Why… did you want to meet with me?"

"To see how my boy was faring," the monster replied. "And so, you could see with your own eyes that, despite your best efforts… your dear old dad is still alive and kicking." His smile twisted. "I'm sure that brings you much relief, hm? Surely, you've suffered guilt all these years for trying to kill your old man."

Cole squeezed his fists against his thighs beneath the table, fighting the shakes. He stared down at the tabletop, eyes swimming with hot tears. The monster hadn't asked him here to negotiate. His intent had been much more malicious. He wanted to witness the terror that continued to live inside Cole. He wanted to know he was in control and that Cole would do whatever he asked to keep Abel and the kids alive. The monster needed the assurance that he held all the cards and maintained all leverage.

Cole could do nothing to dissuade him… because it was all true.

"I didn't…" Cole started with a hitch to his voice. His eyes remained downcast. "I didn't… try to kill you." He swallowed hard, a quiver in his throat. "I was just… trying to get away."

The man leaned forward and steepled his fingers, pressing his lips to his fingertips. "Why were you trying to get away?"

Cole raised his eyes and stared at the man, tremors quivering through his stomach. "Because you wanted to turn me into a monster… like you."

"A monster, like me." Daniel Pruett sighed and closed his eyes while nodding his head. He pulled in a deep breath and slowly opened his eyes. "Did you think if you ran away and changed your name, you would just stop being who you are… what you are?" He leaned forward a fraction more, an eerie stare boring into the Cole. "Nothing can change that. You will always be the son of a monster. My blood runs through your veins… and there isn't a damn thing you can do to escape that reality." The monster narrowed his eyes, the corner of his mouth turning up with the hint of a maniacal smile. "The instant I spooged my seed into your mama… your fate was sealed." His smile stretched, pushing insanity into his stare. "You are your father's son."

Cole clenched his fists against his thighs as the shakes reverberated outward. He clamped his jaw to keep his teeth from chattering. You are your father's son. His greatest fear… and most guarded secret.

"Does your hubby know what you are?" Daniel mused. "Your new family? Are they aware of what they've taken into their midst?" He stared at his silent, fearful son, his smile growing. "No," he murmured, "they don't. You didn't tell them."

Swallowing through a closed throat, Cole whispered, "There's nothing to tell them. I'm not you."

"Then why are you afraid of them finding out?" Daniel smirked and answered his own question. "Because you're terrified they'll see you for what you truly are… and cast you out."

"My family…" Cole's voice trembled with emotion. "… would never forsake me."

Daniel gazed into his eyes and chuckled softly. "You don't really believe that. And you shouldn't. Sane people don't readily welcome a monster with open arms."

"I'm not… a monster," Cole ground out thickly, teeth clenched, eyes watering.

The psychopath looked deeper into his eyes and squinted with satisfaction and a flicker of… hope? "You're not so sure about that… are you?"

Devlin reconvened with Dane in the waiting room. Neither had any luck locating Cole.

"I didn't see his car out there," Dane said. "But it's a big parking lot, I could have missed it."

"I don't think so," Devlin mumbled as anxiety ate a hole in his stomach. "He isn't here."

"Do you have any idea what he wanted to tell us?"

"Something awful," Devlin whispered hollowly. "Something that would have given us a clue where our loved ones are." Pressure squeezed his chest as Abel's sweet face rose in his mind… along with Savannah and Maddy. They weren't lost—someone had taken them. And by Cole's reaction earlier… someone very bad. But what kind of "bad"? Were they just holding Abel and the kids captive until they got what they wanted? Would they torture them? Rape them?

Devlin took control of his rampant thoughts before he vomited right there on the floor.

Please, God… protect them. They've been through enough, for fuck's sake! We all have! Why are you letting this happen?!

"Devlin?" Dane touched his shoulder.

Devlin swallowed hard and blinked against the forming tears. "I'm… okay," he rasped. He was not okay. Not by a fucking long shot. Meeting Dane's stare… he could say the same for his friend. "I don't know what to do but wait for him to come back." Devlin didn't like that option at all, but what else could they do? He had no fucking idea where the man had gone, or why?

"I called his phone," Dane said. "On the chance he would answer." He shook his head.

"Yeah, me, too," Devlin sighed. "He had his phone with him. He was going to call you himself, but then…" He swallowed. "… he had a panic attack. He went to the restroom, and I called you instead."

"Why wouldn't he answer?" Dane exhaled, frustrated and anxious. "This is so fucking out of character for Cole. He doesn't do shit like this—ever."

"If he's acting out of character," Devlin whispered, "then there's a good reason for it. Cole wouldn't leave us in the dark without good reason, not when our loved ones are missing. Something terrible is happening to Cole."

"Why wouldn't he just tell us what it is?"

"I don't know," Devlin mumbled. "But you didn't see him. He fucking broke right before my eyes. It scared the shit out of me, Dane. Cole is one of the strongest men I know."

"Me, too," Dane whispered. "We have to find him. Whatever is happening, he needs our help… even if, for whatever reason, he thinks he can't ask for it."

"What do you want from me?" Cole lowered his eyes, too afraid to look the monster in the face… frightened by the similarities in their features… terrified he would begin to see himself in the man's eyes.

"I want to get to know you again," Daniel said. "Or perhaps… get to know you for the first time. Our relationship was somewhat strained in your youth, even before your mother passed away." His face twitched at the mention of Cole's mom and something dark flashed through his eyes and vanished.

Cole shook his head. "I have nothing to share with you," he whispered. "Please… let my friends go and… and you can do whatever you want to me."

"You said you would do anything I want," the psychopath murmured. "I want to catch up with my son and have him tell me all about his new life… and his new family. If you refuse, well then…" Daniel straightened and leaned against the high back of the booth seat, sighing deeply. "… I guess I'll see if I can get my new guests to tell me about you. I'm sure I can devise creative ways to get them to talk." A sinister smile skipped across his lips. "I'm especially eager to converse with the pretty blond girl. It's been a long time since I've gotten up close and personal with a specimen as pure and innocent as that one." Daniel started to rise.

"Wait," Cole choked. "I'll… I'll talk to you."

Daniel sank back down and smiled, pleased. "I thought you might."

As sick as it made Cole to sit here and speak to the monster—as long as the man was here… that meant he wasn't with Abel and the kids, and they were safe from his sadism.

He couldn't let himself think about Gabe right now… and whether he would make it through surgery. It was more than he could handle at this time. Devlin and Dane were at the hospital. They would take care of Gabe. Abel, Savannah, and Maddy needed Cole to keep the monster distracted—and away from them. Given enough time… maybe they would find a way to escape. Maddy had trained with Cory, and Abel was smart, as was Savannah. They wouldn't simply sit there and not try to come up with an escape plan. It wasn't in them to give up—if so, none of them would have made it this far in life.

Cole forced himself to meet the monster's stare. "What do you want to know?"

"Dad…?" Luke looked up from the end of the sofa where he was messing on his phone.

The cowboy stirred from a light slumber. He cleared his throat and straightened. "Yeah?" Clint looked around. "Where's Axel?"

"He took Hope next door."

"Oh." The cowboy sat forward and rubbed his eyes. "Must've dozed off."

"Dad…?"

The concern in the boy's voice grabbed Clint's attention. "What is it?"

"I think…" He fidgeted, worry on his face. "I think… something's wrong."

Clint frowned. "Wrong? What do you mean?" His thoughts went straight to Axel and their baby daughter. "With Axel or Hope?" His gut knotted.

"No." Luke looked at his phone. "I… I got a text from Noah." He faltered and seemed anxious.

"A text about what, son?"

The boy hesitated. "Him and Noel are over at Max's. Maddy didn't come home and now… now Abel and Savannah are missing, too."

"Missing?" Clint tensed. "What do you mean missing?"

"He said they went to pick up Maddy, but they never came back and they're not answering their phones."

What the fuck? Clint rubbed his mouth, the knot in his gut tightening.

"And… and Cole and Gabe aren't answering their phones either."

"What?" Clint stood slowly, his hands flexing.

"Noah said Gabe was at Max's earlier tonight, then he got a text from someone at a club downtown who said Cole was there and all messed up. Gabe went to get him, but never came back." He swallowed and pursed his lips. "But then, Cole showed up at Max's and he was okay. He went to look for Gabe and never came back, either." His eyes watered. "Noah and Noel are really scared. So is Max and Horatio and Angel."

Clint took out his phone and walked into the kitchen and made a call. The line rang continuously. The cowboy's face strained. "Goddammit, Gabriel," he whispered tightly, "answer your fucking phone."