Page 30 of Chinook Winds

He wouldn’t be here now in this place of power, standing next to the man who was formally the president of the united states, if it wasn’t in part due to his father.

“Come. We have much to talk about.” Edward clasped his son’s arm.

Collins’s gaze shifted to Kincaid. “If we need you, we’ll let you know.”

Kincaid shrank away, most likely happy not to be included in the next line of planning.

Collins headed to the place he used as his office. A secure, soundproof room. His father came in and closed the door.

Edward moved further into the room. “Do you trust him?” He nodded toward the door.

“No.” He shook his head. “He’s weak and will sell us out given the chance.” He told him about Duncan being in the enemy’s hands.

“He has to be silenced. And they must be stopped.” Edward confirmed what he believed.

“Yes. I have my people searching.” He updated his father on the search.

“Have you heard fromhim?” The single word came back in a snarky tone. Though his mentor had been responsible for helping Edward escape, Collins always sensed his father was jealous of the man’s control over his son though he never mentioned it.

“No, but the time is not right.”

“And the weapons? Are they safe?”

Collins nodded. “For now. Hassanzai has people guarding them.”

A frown spread across Edward’s place.

“Is something wrong?” Collins asked.

“I don’t trust him. If it comes to him or you, he will save himself.”

Edward had said the same thing many times. Even when he was living free, thanks to Hassanzai’s generosity. Was it true? Hassanzai had been a trusted friend for many years. “I can control him,” Collins assured him.

Edward glanced around the room that had once been his home. “Can you? I wonder. Or is he controlling you?”

Anger boiled to the surface. He’d been trying to prove himself to his father since they reconnected. “No one controls me.”

Edward seemed pleased with his answer. “Good. Because if it comes to you or him, you have to take him down. You mustn’t let friendship stand in the way.”

Collins recalled the mistake he’d made with his wife, Sofia. He’d been so sure she would welcome him home, be pleased he was alive. Nothing was further from the truth. She’d freaked out. Told him he was a traitor. Claimed she would take their daughter and leave after she turned him in. He couldn’t let any of those things happen. His daughter was too important to him.

“She was your weakness,” Edward said as if reading his thoughts. “Just like Vanessa was mine.”

Collins didn’t want to get into the reasons why his father had been forced to kill his mother. The tiniest of memories from childhood played at the dark corners of his mind. His mother’s smiling face. Dark hair so much like his. Jamie’s. Big brown eyes. His memories claimed she’d been a kind woman who had died a violent death at the hand of someone she loved.

“Let’s speak of what we must do next,” Collins said to steer the conversation to what mattered. He couldn’t change what happened to his mother. Had no doubt his father had killed others since. Once the blood lust ran through your veins, it was hard to return to normal.

“Yes, we must act quickly. I’ve been listening to the broadcasts from this Strike Force,” his father spewed the words out. “Their opinion is gaining ground. There’s no time to waste.” Edward paused for effect. “It’s time to use the nuclear weapons.”

Collins knew this would be his response, and yet the idea of going to that extreme was concerning. Would they be blamed for the lives they took? “I realize this is the next step, but we must make sure our people are protected first.” And he needed to get his daughter and Betty to someplace safe.

“How is Betty?” Edward asked with eerie accuracy at mind reading. Their father had wanted to see his daughter after he escaped, but Collins had refused. Betty still carried the scars of the damage their father had done. She lived in fear their father would return here one day and kill them all.

Collins didn’t have it in him to tell her that he was the one who helped free their father. “She is fine.”

“She still doesn’t know that you helped me escape.” Edward guessed the truth.

“No, that’s why you have to stay here in the lodge. You mustn’t venture out. Betty will know. I can’t let that happen. And I can’t let you near Jamie either,” he said regretfully.

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