CHAPTER 5 TERROR TIME
Dane and Devlin waited in the corridor while Cole helped Gabe out of his hospital gown and into the scrubs.
Devlin sat on the end of the bench outside the room, hands clasped, eyes on the tiled floor.
The man had been a rock, looking after everyone else—even Dane—while his family’s lives hung in the balance.
“Hey.” Dane sat beside him and wrapped his arm around the doctor. Devlin’s head sank into his hands as tremors shuddered through him. “You don’t have to be strong for us,” Dane murmured. “We’re here for you to lean on, too. I know how scared you are. You don’t have to try to hide it for our sakes.”
Devlin lifted his head, his eyes moist. “It's easier for me,” he whispered, “to focus on others. When I do, I don’t think as much. If I do…” His throat tightened, and he shook his head. “… I’ll lose my mind.” His lips pressed together as his chin quivered. “If I lose my family…”
“You’re not,” Dane insisted. “We’re not losing anyone.
Abel, Savannah, Maddy… they’re all strong.
They’ve all been through shit that made them strong.
And I know the term serial killer is a terrifying label, but he’s still just a man.
A human being who can bleed. When he’s finally caught, our special friends will prove that he’s just another human monster that can be erased. And they will erase him.”
Nodding slowly, Devlin sniffed and wiped his eyes. “Do you… Do you think he will actually return Abel and the kids, like he said?”
“I don’t know,” Dane whispered. “But Gabe won’t turn himself over until he knows they’re free.”
Devlin hung his head low, running his fingers through his hair at the back of his neck.
“What will he do to Gabe?” His voice trembled as he clutched the hair at the nape of his neck.
“I love him, Dane. He and Cole both. Without them, I… I don’t know if Abel and I would’ve made it.
” His body tensed as tears threatened to break through his voice.
“They are everything to me… and to Abel.”
“To the rest of us, too.” Dane drew him closer and kissed his head. “Cole and Gabe are my brothers... our guardians... losing either of them would break the foundation of our family.” He hugged him tighter. “But we’re not going to lose Gabe, or Cole, or anyone.”
Inside his head, Dane fought his own battles as he tried to find comfort in his own words.
Every minute that Abel and the kids remained in the “custody” of the Mangler, the hope of getting them back safe and sound seemed to grow thinner, like a rope fraying down to its last thread.
What if they didn’t reach them before that final thread snapped?
If Angel loses Maddy to this madman…
Dane forced the thought out of his mind. He couldn’t go there, aware of the devastating impact of such an unbearable loss. He had caught a glimpse of the “effect” on Angel when Maddy allowed himself to be taken to the island. Angel continued to endure “aftershocks” from that experience.
Stop thinking about it—Maddy is coming home! Abel and Savannah are coming home!
But what would he tell Angel when he arrived? He would demand to know the truth and not back down until Dane gave it to him.
Jesus, how can I tell him?
Tightening his arm around Devlin, Dane prayed with all his might that God would come through for them one more time— and that this not be the moment He chose to stand back and observe .
Dane turned his head and looked at the door to Gabe’s room; things were escalating, and there was no way to stop it. If the Mangler didn’t release Abel and the kids, then he would have four of their loved ones, once he took Gabe.
As you told Devlin, Gabe won’t surrender until he’s sure they’re safe. But what if he had no choice? Dane stood up from the bench and took out his phone. He walked a short distance down the hall and made a call. After a couple of rings, Clint answered.
“Gabe is leaving,” Dane said. “To make the trade. He insists on going now.” He paused. “The deputy offered to drive him. I don’t like it. I don’t trust him. Something is off about that guy.”
Dane listened for a long moment without speaking, then nodded, his anxiety twisting his guts. “Okay,” he whispered. “I’ll tell Gabe.”
The Mill Creek Mangler took your brother…
Angel gripped the rail inside the elevator as his legs weakened, the upward motion of the elevator causing a rush of lightheadedness.
A serial killer has Maddy.
Angel clutched the rail so hard his knuckles whitened and his forearms ached. His chest tightened, squeezing off his air, forcing him to draw quick, panicked breaths. He bent forward, still clinging to the rail, struggling to pull air into his clenched lungs.
Fuck… fuck… fuck… I can’t breathe…
About to buckle to his knees, Angel suddenly gasped deeply and sharply when the elevator doors swooshed open.
With a choked cry, he released the rail and staggered out of the elevator into the corridor.
When he’d come through the entrance doors on the ground floor, he managed to ask at the nurse’s station for the number of Gabe’s room.
Angel careened down the corridor, his sneakers squealing against the linoleum as he ricocheted off walls, checking room numbers.
When he skidded around the corner, his heart slammed against his ribs at the sight of Dane and Devlin hunched on the bench outside Gabe's room.
Dane's head snapped up only when Angel's voice shattered the hospital's quiet.
“ Dane!”
His husband bolted upright, color draining from his face. “Angel...?” Dane lurched forward then froze, terror flashing in his eyes.
Something primal erupted inside Angel, drowning any whisper of rationality that might have understood Dane's silence about Maddy.
Angel lunged at his husband, shoving him against the wall.
His fingers twisted into Dane's shirt, knuckles white. “Why didn’t you tell me?!” The scream tore his throat raw.
Spittle flew from his lips as he pressed his face inches from Dane's. “ Why didn’t you fucking tell me a goddamn serial killer had Maddy?!”
Devlin rose slowly from the bench, watching Angel with cautious eyes. He and Dane exchanged a startled look.
“Who—” Dane's voice strangled in his throat as he clutched Angel's trembling shoulders. “Who told you that?” Blood drained from his face, leaving him ashen.
Angel's control shattered completely.
“Why didn’t YOU tell me?!” His fists pummeled Dane's chest, each blow punctuated by a sob that ripped from somewhere primal and wounded. “I had a fucking right to know!”
“I know,” Dane's voice broke as he captured Angel's flailing wrists, tears streaming down his weathered face.
“I'm sorry, baby, God, I'm so sorry. I-I couldn't—I didn't know how to—” He yanked Angel against his chest, and the younger man collapsed into him, howling with grief so raw it echoed down the corridor.
Dane crushed him in an embrace, his own body shaking with silent sobs as he buried his face in Angel's hair.
“We're going to get him back, baby, we are—I fucking swear on my life. We're going to get them all back.”
Even though Angel knew those were just words of comfort and that Dane couldn’t guarantee such a promise, the determination in his husband’s voice soothed a fraction of his fear.
Dane would do everything within his power to keep his promise—because there was nothing he wouldn’t do for Angel, or for anyone that he loved.
“Who told you?” Dane asked with a tremor when he finally drew back.
Angel sniffed and dragged his arm across his eyes. “That… That deputy… he was out front when I got here.” Angel cleared his throat, but the rawness remained. More tears filled his eyes. “He thought… He thought you already told me.”
Dane exchanged another look with Devlin. “Did he?”
“That’s what he said.” Angel wiped his eyes again. “Why?”
“Never mind for now,” Dane mumbled and cupped his face, wiping away the tears that rolled down his cheeks. He kissed him softly. “The… man… who took Maddy and Abel and Savannah, he said…” Dane licked his lips anxiously. “He said he would release them if…”
“If what?” Angel pressed.
“If Gabe took their place.”
Angel frowned, taking a shaky step back. “What?” he shook his head, unable to process his husband’s words. “He wants us to trade one of our friends in exchange for the others?”
“Yeah,” Dane whispered.
“Why?”
Dane looked away, his hand absently rubbing over his mouth again.
“The deputy…” Angel said thickly, a numbness settling through his system. “He said… He said the serial killer was… Cole’s father .” His face pinched in confusion. “What the hell was he talking about? How can he be Cole’s dad—”
The door to Gabe’s room opened just then, and the two men emerged. Cole looked like death warmed over. When he saw Angel, the distress and guilt in his eyes tore at Angel’s heart. He blames himself.
“Cole…” Angel whispered, his voice shaking with tears.
Cole broke and engulfed Angel in his arms, his entire body racked with sobs. “I’m so sorry,” he cried brokenly against Angel’s hair, his strong arms tightening around Angel’s petite frame, practically crushing him. “I’m so sorry… it’s my fault… it’s all my fault…”
Angel hugged him back, crying into his shoulder.
“It’s not your fault,” Dane said thickly. “ Nothing that man does is your fault.”
“I don’t blame you,” Angel whispered. “I don’t.” He looked over Cole’s shoulder at Gabe, dressed in hospital scrubs. Angel sniffed and managed to untangle from Cole’s arms. “Why are you wearing those?”
“I needed some clothes,” Gabe said. “I didn’t want to make the trade wearing just the hospital gown with my ass hanging out.” He smiled small. “Can’t intimidate anyone that way, can I?”
Angel just looked at him, tears running down his flushed face. “Dane said… you’re trading yourself… for them?”
Gabe nodded slowly. “Nothing is more important than getting them back safe. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to make that happen.”
“But… But what about you?” Angel whispered. “How do we get you back?”
Gabe shrugged. “Guess we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”
Did he think he wouldn’t be coming back? Angel looked at Dane, Cole, and Devlin. “Do you have a plan?” He looked around. “Where are Clint and Cochise? Do they know about this?”
“They know,” Dane said.
“They… They have to have a plan, right?” Angel asked with a note of desperation. “I mean…” He looked at Gabe. “… you’re like their brother… they wouldn’t just let you go without a plan to get you back, right?”
“They’ll figure something out,” Gabe assured him. “Don’t doubt it for a minute.”
“You’re going to do this before they figure something out? What if—”
“Angel.” Gabe cupped his neck and drew him close, touching heads with the boy.
“We have to get Maddy, Abel, and Savannah home— now. We can’t wait.
Not even for a plan. This man is dangerous; we need to get them away from him as soon as possible.
” He straightened, releasing Angel and glancing at the other men, his gaze coming to rest on Cole.
“I can take care of myself. I’ll survive until the cavalry comes.
” He moved to Cole and kissed him, then hugged him. “I promise, baby—I’ll come home safe.”
Cole clung to him, breaking down in his arms.
Angel covered his mouth, sobbing quietly. He’d never seen Cole so fragile and broken. It scared him.
Byrne sauntered over, leaning heavily against his car with a grin that barely concealed the simmering malice beneath.
As the cool breeze whispered past him, he reached into his pocket and retrieved his phone, dialing with steady fingers.
“Are you ready? Because this powder keg is about to explode.” His gaze shifted, becoming distant and unblinking as he focused on the imposing hospital entrance, its automatic doors sliding open and shut in a rhythmic dance.
“Let’s see how many birds we can kill with one stone…
or rather, two stones,” he mused, a hint of mischief edging his tone.
When he spotted figures approaching the entrance doors from inside the hospital, he muttered – “It’s terror time.
” – and ended the call, stuffing the phone into his jacket pocket.
Byrne tugged his hat low, shadowing his face.
Gabe didn’t remember the attack, but coming face to face with his attacker might jog his memory.
It was fine if it jogged loose down the road, but not here.
Dane emerged from the hospital with Gabe, who was dressed in doctor’s scrubs. No one else was with them. Dane came forward threateningly and jabbed a finger in Byrne’s face.
“Why the fuck did you tell Angel about Maddy?” he snapped. “That wasn’t your fucking place.”
Byrne held up his hands. “I apologize,” he murmured, keeping his voice low. “By the time I realized you hadn’t told him yet, he knew I knew something about his brother, and demanded to know what it was.” He shrugged. “It is his brother, and he was right—he had a right to know.”
“I was going to tell him,” Dane growled between clenched teeth. “A complete stranger shouldn’t have told him.”
“I apologize, again,” Byrne replied calmly, itching to gut the fucker. His eyes completed a quick sweep down the man’s body. After I fuck that perfect ass raw. He looked at Gabe. “We probably shouldn’t keep the psycho waiting, huh?” he mumbled.
Dane stood between Byrne and Gabe. “Maybe I should take him.”
This again. The man didn’t trust him. Smart. But too little, too late.
“No,” Gabe cut in before Byrne could reply. Gabe gripped Dane’s shoulder with brotherly affection. “Stay with Cole. He needs you. Take care of him for me.” Emotion swelled his voice, and the two men hugged, the embrace deep, warm, and lasting.
Byrne suppressed the smirk that almost crawled across his face; when it was all over and the dust—and blood—cleared… there would be nothing left of these men but broken, empty shells. And Henry…?
Fuck… there would be nothing left of Henry.