Page 24 of Defiance
Did they really want to jump in at the deep end? Cole already seemed in a fragile state. Watching what they were expecting him to be part of might push him over the edge. “Really?” he mouthed.
“Got any better ideas?” Aaron mouthed in return.
No.
Sliding the laptop towards him, he said to Cole, “Do you want to see the HRU in action or do you want to go through some pack history first. Ease you in?”
Letting out a bitter laugh, Cole angled the screen so he could see it. “I’ve experienced them first-hand. How much worse can it be?”
He had a point, although Logan suspected it’d be different watching it happen to someone else.
Watching them interrogate Cole had gutted him. He’d rather face Tim a hundred times over than watch Cole go through that.
But he kept that to himself and played the first recording that Paul had set up for them.
The camera focused on a young man tied to a chair, just like Cole had been, head lolled forward as though asleep. When footsteps sounded off-camera, the guy looked up—blood smeared his swollen bottom lip, and his left eye had started to close up.
Human.
Cole’s gasp had Logan whipping round to face him. All colour drained from his face as he stared at the screen.
Rage simmered in Logan’s belly, and he struggled to keep it from erupting out. “You know him?” he asked in little more than a whisper, already guessing the answer.
It took Cole a second or two to answer, eyes glued to the screen where Logan had hit pause. With shaking fingers, Cole reached out to touch the screen. “It’s Nick,” he said, voice cracking. “My best friend.”
Aaron cursed softly, and Logan closed his eyes, fighting for control as every part of him—wolf and human—wanted to find Paul and gut him.
“Why didn’t you tell me they had him?” Cole hissed, reaching out to grab Logan’s arm.
Fucking hell.
Come on, Cole, keep it together.
“I didn’t know.” Logan struggled to keep his voice soft, soothing. One wrong word from Cole and they were done. And why the hell hadn’t Jacob told him?
“How could you not know? This is your fucking pack, isn’t it?”
“Yes. But I’m not privy to what the HRU does as part of their operation unless it’s deemed necessary.”
“And this isn’t necessary?” He jabbed a finger at the screen. “I’m still your candidate, aren’t I?”
“Yes, but—”
“Then why didn’t you know that my best fucking friend was being tortured?” He narrowed his eyes, looking at Logan in a way Logan hadn’t seen since their very first meeting. It sent an unpleasant shiver down his spine. “Or did you know all along, hmm?”
“No, Cole. I—”
“Did you keep it from me so that I’d go along with everything and not upset your fucking plans?”
He tried to tell him with his eyes that he needed to stop, needed to get a grip, but Cole either wasn’t seeing him or didn’t give a fuck. Logan strongly suspected the latter.
Shoving the laptop out of the way, Logan sat on the wooden coffee table and took a hold of Cole’s shoulders. His whole body vibrated under Logan’s hands.
Shit, he’s seconds from shifting.
“Listen to me, Cole.” He squeezed his shoulders hard enough for Cole to notice, and his gaze snapped to Logan’s. “Whatever is on that video, Nick will be okay. They might’ve been a bit rough, but I guarantee you they won’t have done any lasting damage.”
Cole scoffed. “Is that supposed to make it okay?”
