Page 22 of Dark Promises

“Some say I am, but I haven’t had anyone in over two years.”

“That’s just around the time Cole left if I’m correct.” He aimed his raised eyebrow at me.

“Yes. Now I saw this guy at the club last night, and he sent me a note and invited me over to his place, and Sam is missing and I don’t think I can function. I just want you to show up and for all intents and purposes just get to know the guy. Nothing heavy or serious. Like you’re doing an interview to see if you’re... I mean, if I’m compatible with him. If you need something to wear, then wear some of my things.”

“Why didn’t you invite him here? You have a dungeon—”

“It’s a playroom,” I insisted, “...and it was meant for me and Cole. No one else is supposed to see it. Since Cole and I have been together, I’ve had no one in there but him. I kept it just like it was the day he left me.”

“The Magnificent Ambersons,” Sidney whispered. I hardly heard him.

“What?” I questioned. “Say it.” I was impatient and worried. Now I felt empty, because the last thing Cole left with me was his dog. I felt if he ever came back, he’d look for it, and I couldn’t tell him I didn’t take care of Sam. But if Sam was so precious to him, why would he leave him with me? Maybe because he wanted to come back some day, and that would be his entry.Who leaves their precious little puppy and is gone for years and then returns?It wasn’t the same as leaving his clothes and shoes, which he did. And stupid me kept them.

At that moment I’d convinced myself that Cole wanted us, and the next I’d completely demolished that thought.

I heard Sidney talking and I paid attention. It wasn’t at all what I thought about.

“I was watching a movie when I couldn’t sleep, and the name of it was The Magnificent Ambersons. It’s about...” I rolled my eyes, because I didn’t have time for Sidney to go into a long explanation about old movies that I was sure I wouldn’t be interested in. If he recommended or if he watched it for whatever value, I wouldn’t go near it.

Chapter 14

Cole

Ihoped Bryan wouldn’tcock this up, but he was known to do a lot of things. I had no one to count on to handle this important task, therefore he had to be my go-to guy. He came when I called him, and I did appreciate the gesture, even if I wasn’t the most pleasant dude to be around, but my attitude had to do with my impatient behavior, because I needed Daniel. “What are you wearing?” I glanced up to see Bryan in a pair of tight black jeans, and a black tee with a logo of a Star Wars character, or maybe it was Lord of the Rings.

Because the tee-shirt had been washed a number of times, I couldn’t make out the logo.

“Where did you find that ratty thing?”

“What? It’s mine of course. I carry it in my backpack along with a change of underwear—” I wasn’t interested, I just wanted an answer to my first question. I placed my hand up to stop him from going on about why. He saw the look in my eyes and the shake of my head, and he cut that short, or he’d go on about his sac for eternity.

“I didn’t feel comfortable wearing those clothes. After all, I don’t think we should jump into anything right now. You said you wanted information and I’ll get it for you. You have to talk to get that kind of information, not lying across a bench naked with a mask over my head, and a harness waiting which makes me nervous. Since I’m the one whose ass is on the line, then I think I should do it my way. As long as you get what you want, it doesn’t matter how I extract the info from Daniel.”

“If it means you sucking his cock in my living room that would definitely be a hard no.”

“I told you that we weren’t compatible. Had I thought we were, I would have still been with Daniel when you came back to town looking to start up where you left off. It doesn’t work that way, Cole—”

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