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Clint exchanged a chilling look with the Egyptian. “It means we could be dealing withtwopsychopaths instead of just one.”
“He said he would call the New York police and have them contact the FBI,” Dane said. “If he’s lying about the other, then he’s lying about that, too.” He shook his head. “How will we know for sure?”
“Find him,” Clint said. “And keep an eye on him. I’ll make some calls, find out if he contacted the police.”
“Call who?”
“Detective Jordan. He should be able to tell us if the deputy made that call.”
Dane nodded and exhaled shakily. “Alright. I’ll… I’ll try to find him.” He moved toward the door, but Clint grabbed his shoulder, halting him.
“Becareful,”the cowboy warned, his voice filled with genuine concern. “If he’s lying—he’sdangerous.”
“He said they were alive.” Gabe glanced at Cole, fear evident in his eyes. “But he didn’t know howokaythey were. When I threatened him about harming them, he said that was up to me.” Gabe looked troubled. “When I asked what he meant, he told me totalk to Henry.”Gabe fixed his tense gaze on him. “That’s… you. What did he mean by it was up to me?”
When Cole told him the deal, Gabe would accept it immediately. Cole got it—he would have done the same. He had already attempted to trade himself for Abel and the kids. Deputy Rolands believed Gabe stood a better chance against the monster, but Cole understood the madman’s capabilities more than anyone else. If Gabe surrendered himself, Cole feared he might never see him again.
What choice did he have, though?
“Cole,tell me.”
“He…” Cole felt unwell in both body and spirit. He had never thought he could feel more sick and frightened than he did the night Gabe was shot. Yet somehow… this felt even worse. “He said he would trade Abel and the kids… for you.”
“What?” Gabe frowned. “He said that? He’ll turn them loose… if I take their place?”
Cole sniffed, his eyes watering. “Yes,” he whispered. “He gave us until tomorrow to decide.”
“I don’t need till tomorrow,” Gabe said firmly with no room for argument. “Can you contact him? We do thisnow.”
“Gabe…” Cole trembled. “You just got out of surgery…”
“I don’t give a fuck. We’re doing thisnow,goddammit!”
Cole wiped tears from his eyes. “What if he’s lying? What if he doesn’t let them go?”
“That’s a chance we’ll have to take,” Gabe insisted. “I’m not going to fucking sit back and do nothing when there’s a chance we can get them back.” He stared at Cole. “Tell me you wouldn’t do the same?Tell me.”
His chin quivering, Cole nodded. “Of course, I would.”
“Then don’t tell me not to.”
“I’m not,” Cole whispered brokenly. “I just… I know what he is...” Cole broke down. “I’ll never see you again… and what he does to you… he’ll make you suffer to makemesuffer.” He went to Gabe and buried his face in his chest, sobbing. “I can’t live without you… I can’t… I didn’t tell you about him because… because if I kept it to myself, then maybe… maybe it wouldn’t be real… maybe I could make him go away on my own…”
Gabe hugged his head and kissed his hair. “Do you remember what you told me when Ray broke into our apartment? When I went in after him without telling you?” Gabe hugged him tighter. “You said we’re a team, that we protect our familytogether.You said, no more of this solo shit. And you were right.” He lifted Cole’s face. “Wearea team. Not just you and me, butallof us.” Gabe kissed him. “We’re going to get Abel and the kids back. And you’re going to getmeback.”
Cole pressed his forehead to Gabe’s throat, trembling. “How do you know?” he whispered.
Sliding his fingers through Cole’s hair, Gabe murmured stiffly, “Because onlyGodhas the power to take me out—and that fuckerisn’tGod.”
CHAPTER 7: NIGHTMARES TO REMEMBER
Devlin stood upfrom the bench outside Gabe’s room when Cole emerged. Tears wet Cole’s face, and red rimmed his eyes as distress strained his face. Devlin was thankful not to be alone with his tormenting thoughts any longer, but Cole’s distraught countenance did little to calm his fear and anxiety.
“Cole…” Devlin tentatively reached out to him. “Are you… okay?” A stupid question.
Cole sniffed and wiped his eyes. His hands shook as he dug out his phone. “Gabe… he wants… he wants to make the trade now.”
A storm of conflicting emotions swept through Devlin. HeneededAbel and the kids home safe and sound, out of danger, but he also needed Gabe to be safe. “Right now…?”
