Page 42 of Defiance
“Yeah, I can’t imagine what this is like for you.” Logan patted him on the arm, the touch fleeting but reassuring nonetheless. With his back to the cameras, Logan gave him a proper smile, one that eased a little of the tension inside him.
Both Logan and Aaron wore dark suits similar to Cole’s, and while he could appreciate how good they looked, it only added to the unsettled feeling in his belly. “We ready?” he asked, wanting to get this day over and done with.
Logan nodded. “Rich and Smith are waiting by the car downstairs.”
Wonderful.
“Let’s go then.” Cole followed them both out of the door and they walked in silence. Once past security, Logan led them outside, and Cole took a moment to enjoy being out of the flat again, even if it was for his parents’ fake funeral.
He turned his face into the breeze, the fresh air welcome. This was the first time he’d been allowed out of the McKillan pack grounds in what felt like months. How long had it been since he’d been a free man?
Two weeks?
Three?
Before he had time to dwell on it, Logan gave him a gentle nudge. “Come on. We don’t want to keep them waiting.”
Cole glanced over at the big black SUV to find the two shifters leant against it, already scowling as they looked in Cole’s direction. Aware that they could probably hear him, he said, “It’s my parents’ funeral. I don’t really give a fuck about anything else today.”
No one spoke as they got in the car, but as Smith started the engine and drove away, Rich turned in his seat to face Cole. “We met with Paul this morning. He wanted to reiterate that you will not talk to anyone at the funeral—friendsorfamily––about pack business.” He began to list things off on his fingers. “That means no talking about your attempted escape, or who bit you, or that you’re effectively under house arrest. As far as anyone is concerned, you joined our pack and have taken the bite and things are progressing as normal.”
Cole could be wrong, but he was pretty fucking sure some of his family and friends knew about his failed escape. He’d gone missing for a few days, after all.They couldn’t have kept it secret from the other packs, could they?
“Smith and I are here for backup only. You’re their responsibility today.” He nodded at Logan and Aaron, then focused on Cole again, eyes narrowing. “If you fuck up, you won’t get a third chance.”
Rich looked as though he was waiting for a reply, so Cole nodded. “Understood.” He swallowed, nervous energy making him fidget until Logan put a hand on his knee and gave it a quick squeeze before letting go.
The rest of the journey passed in tense silence.
When the crematorium came into view, the car park full to overflowing, Cole’s stomach dropped, guilt weighing him down until he felt himself sinking into the seat. So many people had come to mourn his parents.
Who weren’t actually dead.
He scanned the faces of the people waiting outside, a lot of them familiar from his parents’ work. How many of them suspected the truth? His parents certainly knew that things like this happened, so it stood to reason that others did too. Cole wished he could tell them, give them some sort of sign that they were safe.
But he couldn’t.
As much as he wanted to, the risk wasn’t worth it.
Then his gaze landed on Nick and his heart dropped to his stomach.
Fuck.
Nick stood with his mum and dad, none of them looking Cole’s way, thank God. They were watching the hearse that had pulled in, along with another black car behind it. Smith parked the SUV at the far end of the car park, and Cole craned his neck to see his sister and brother being helped out of the second car and escorted inside.
His heart hurt watching them.
Even from this far, he could see the look of despair on their faces.
I should be with them. Even if it’s not real.
Logan got out of the car, holding the door open for Cole to do the same. As Cole stood beside him, he leant in close to whisper. “You can go join your family, but remember we’ll be within earshot at all times. Don’t do anything stupid.”
Cole gave him and Aaron a quick nod, then left to find his family.
Of course Nick caught him at the door.
He pulled Cole into his arms, crushing him against his chest. “I’m so fucking sorry,” he whispered into Cole’s hair.
