Page 76 of A Game of Secrets

Roxi squirms and grabs at Cole’s hand around her neck, kicking her legs out to give herself some leverage but his hold is firm and unwavering. “Answer me or I’ll snap your neck right fucking now!” Cole spits.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Roxi whimpers in reply, still trying to free her neck from his hand as he squeezes tighter, cutting off her air supply.

“Don’t fucking lie to me you sick bitch we know everything!” he screams at her.

I step forward to remind him I’m still here and not to kill her just yet, his eyes flick to mine then he lessens his grip as she chokes bringing the oxygen back into her lungs. “I won’t ask again,” Cole warns and she eyes him but doesn’t answer. Big mistake. In a fluid swoop she’s off the breakfast bar and scrambling her legs to keep herself upright while Cole guides her by her throat to the dining table where he shoves her onto a chair.

“Don’t fucking move,” I instruct standing in front of her while Cole runs off into the bedroom and arrives back holding two pairs of handcuffs.

“I knew these would come in handy one day you slut,” Cole spits, attaching both hands to the arms of the chair. “Now fucking answer me and I might make this easy on you,” he says, now standing beside me.

Roxi eyes us both then drops her shoulders and begins to sob. “It was all Theo’s idea, not mine. I had nothing to do with it, I swear Cole. I wouldn’t do that to you,” she whines. “Please, you have to believe me.”

I can feel the disgust building in the back of my throat and want nothing more than to shut the bitch up but I don’t, I know this one is on Cole.

“DON’T FUCKING LIE TO ME ROXANNE!” he bellows, slowly stalking behind her chair and flicking out his knife then slowly grazing it along her neck. Roxi shivers beneath the blade and her eyes go wide as a small bead of blood follows in its path.

“You won’t kill me,” she snickers.

Cole crouches low to her ear. “You want to fucking bet?” he sneers. “I will wipe your fucking life away without even a second thought. You were nothing more than a fuck to me and you will never be more than that no matter how hard you try. You're only good for one thing, and even that you were never any good at.”

I physically see the words pierce her for a split second, then her pain morphs itself into bitterness. “You fucking cunt,” she spits. “Both of you, you’ll never win this. He is always one step ahead of you.”

I lash out, shouting at her to shut up, bringing my hand down sharp across her face. When she turns back to look at me a trickle of blood sprouts from her lip but her face is transformed, her lips pulled back in an ugly grimace as she cackles maniacally. “You will never be your father,” she spits, blood spattering my boots.

I slap her hard again, snapping her head to the side. “That’s not a bad thing. Do you think I'd want to be anything like that piece of shit,” I state, leaning forward to grab a fistful of hair at the back of her head bringing her face to mine. "He must be fucking desperate if he's crawling between your legs. Now where is Teddy?”

She hisses as I tighten my hold then smiles and taunts me, baring her blood smeared teeth, “Long fucking gone.”

I shove her back in the chair and nod at Cole who steps forward and in a swift fluid motion drags his knife across her throat eliciting a wet gargle as she chokes on her own blood. Cole watches as her body quivers and the blood begins to pool across the floor. I hear a low satisfying grunt escape his throat as the light fades from Roxi's eyes and he wipes his blade clean across her shoulder.

"Let's go," he insists, before shoving the knife back into his belt and walking out of the room. I glare at Roxi's now lifeless body one last time noting how her blood is already beginning to clot as it seeps across the tiled floor beneath her, then I leave without a second thought of remorse.It's time to face my father.

I join Cole back in the car, quickly texting Felix to order a clean up crew at Roxi's address before setting off in search of my father. Cole has now taken up position in the passenger seat as I slip behind the wheel and drive in the direction of his house thinking it will be the best place to start.

We travel in silence for a while, the tension so thick you could slice through it.

"You good brother?" I ask, keeping my eyes on the road ahead. I hear the sigh escape his lips and catch a movement in my peripheral vision as he swipes his hands across his face.

"I can’t talk right now. I can’t think right now," he starts, pushing the heels of his hands into his eyes. "Because when I do, all I see is a scared little boy with that fucking piece of shit husband and it takes me right back to. ." His voice trails off but he doesn't have to finish the sentence for me to understand. I know where it takes him and I know how hard he is fighting his demons right now and all I can do is let him because my own are pushing through just as hard.

My fists clench around the wheel until my knuckles turn white but I stay silent until I pull up around the corner from our destination. I let out a long breath before switching off the engine and turning to face Cole. "Whatever happens in there, I am the one who ends it. It needs to be me who ends him." I say, looking him square in the face to which he nods. "But first we find out why." I add, reaching back for the duffel bag that holds our collection of weapons.

"Time to execute the executioner," Cole snarls, cracking his knuckles and exiting the car.

We walk slowly with purpose towards the front door where I decide to play aloof to the whole situation and knock instead of barging my way inside. It takes a minute or so of scuffling behind the door until my father opens it wide and stares at us both dumbfoundedly on the other side.

"Son, what a surprise to see you here, and with Cole too." My brows raise slightly at the utter ignorance of this man but I brush it off and offer him my most sincere smile.

"Just thought we'd come over and offer you a new business opportunity we've happened to stumble across," I say, quirking my lip.

He stands back and holds out his arm to allow us inside. "Of course boys, come on in. I've had a few ideas myself recently that I think you would benefit from." Cole looks at me as we step inside and I silently motion to him to play along.

"So what is this business opportunity?" he asks, walking us through to the small office room at the back of the house. He has no protection here, a stupid move on his part but I guess he never thought he'd get caught.

"Oh it's something you wouldn't want to pass up. Trust us," Cole answers, pulling his lips back into a chilling smile. My father shuffles on his feet slightly, probably hoping that the move would go unnoticed and I can see the uncertainty start to creep its way in.

"Sit down, Dad." I insist, gesturing towards one of the leather arm chairs facing the roaring fireplace. The office itself is cold in feeling but the fresh burning logs on the fire let off a warmth that’s almost comforting. I stare into the flames for a long minute until the clinking of glasses brings me back into the room and I see Cole pouring out three glasses of whiskey from the bar in the corner. I drop the duffle bag to the floor beside me and sit on the chair opposite the man I'm about to murder.

---