COLE: THE MADMAN: Book 3 (A Phoenix Club Serial Thriller)

CH 7: Revelation

"Clint and Cochise are on their way," Dane said as he ended his call and stuffed his phone away. "They know about Gabe. Angel had to tell them."

Devlin nodded. The balloon of dread in his chest expanded moment by moment. Every minute that they just sat there and did nothing... who knew what was happening to Abel and the kids? He could only think about it in the abstract. If he allowed his mind to delve into possible details, it would crack. And the one person who possibly had the information to help them was MIA.

Where the fuck are you, Cole? Where did you go?

His brain remained baffled as to what could have pulled Cole away from his husband at such a dire time. He tried to imagine what could cause him to walk away if it were Abel in surgery. He came up with nothing.

"I'll go out to the E.R. waiting room and meet the men when they arrive," Dane said.

Devlin's phone hummed. He checked the message, then closed his eyes and released a slow exhale.

"What?" Dane held his breath. "Gabe?"

"He'll be out of surgery in about thirty minutes," Devlin said. "He's doing well."

"Thank God," Dane whispered and released a breath he seemed to have been holding for some time. "One less thing to stress about."

"Amen," Devlin mumbled. Despite this good news, the balloon of dread remained fully inflated behind his chest wall. It wouldn't deflate until Abel and the kids returned to them safe. "I'll check on him as soon as he's taken to a room."

Dane nodded. "Text me his room number. I want to see him as soon as he's settled in. And I know Clint and Cochise will, too." His face was troubled. "Where the fuck is Cole?" he whispered tightly. "He needs to be here when Gabe wakes up. If he isn't... I don't know what to tell Gabe."

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," Devlin said. "Hopefully, Cole will return soon."

If he returns at all. The frightening thought pumped air into the balloon, increasing the pressure in his chest. How could they know if he would come back?

_____________________________________

"He wanted us to think he had Gabriel." Clint drove through the spacious hospital parking lot, searching for a spot near the E.R. entrance.

"Do you think it's someone we know?" Cochise asked. "Another fucker looking for revenge?"

Clint found a space and parked the car. "We can't rule it out."

"But you don't think that's it."

Yanking the keys from the ignition, Clint shook his head. "No, I don't. There's something different about this one. He didn't know me."

"He has to be the one who stabbed Gabriel," Cochise said. "And snagged his phone before he left him for dead."

"Sounds right."

The two gangsters left the car and walked into the E.R. waiting room. Dane sat tensely in one of the chairs and stood when he saw the men.

"Gabriel?" Clint inquired immediately.

"He's okay," Dane replied. "He'll be out of surgery any time."

"And Cole?"

Dane shook his head. "I don't know. He isn't back and he isn't answering his phone."

"Was Gabriel's phone on him when he was brought in?" Clint asked.

"I... I don't know." Dane frowned. "Devlin might know. He was here when Gabe arrived in the ambulance."