So Far Gone in You(Primal Heat 2)(37)

“It’s done,” Fisher said to Craig as he walked into the large room. “Cooper Dalton is dead.”

Karidon’s entire body shook as he quietly cried. He’d heard Coop screaming, and it had cut Karidon down to his soul to know his best friend was being killed and there wasn’t anything he could do about it.

“He screamed like a little bitch,” Fisher said before he cocked his arm back and slammed his fist into Karidon’s face. “You’re gonna beg for death before I’m done with you. Thought you could take me down and I wouldn’t pay you back?”

Karidon fell backward from the blow, but he didn’t stay down. Craig pulled him back onto his knees. Karidon swayed, his head pounding so painfully that he would welcome unconsciousness. Fisher had shot something into Karidon’s veins, and he could hardly keep his eyes open, let alone focus.

Whatever it was that had been injected into him hadn’t killed the pain. He felt every single blow and kick Fisher had delivered. Aside from the chains and drugs, this was just like living with his father when he was younger. Karidon should be used to the pain by now.

He wasn’t.

He’d thought he would never be in this type of situation again once he’d left home. What made this punishment unbearable was the fact that he could hear his father’s voice in his head as Fisher dealt out his revenge.

The abuse had been erratic when he was younger. Karidon never knew when it would happen. He’d been slapped around because he hadn’t put the groceries away fast enough. Slammed into wall because he fell asleep with gum in his mouth. Had a tooth knocked out because he had forgotten to take the dog out for a walk and Lilac had urinated on the floor.

Karidon forced those images down, forced them back behind the door he’d kept them locked behind. He swore he would never allow himself to think about his father again.

“Oh, I’m going to have fun with you.” Fisher slid his shirt off and then grabbed a long whip from off a table. “You’re going to regret every laying a hand on me.”



* * * *



Olin and Ollie continued to search for Uncle Fester as the firemen put out the flames. The house was totaled. They shouted, but their uncle had yet to shout back. The medics were checking over their aunt. She’d tried to run back into the house to look for her brother. Thankfully, Olin had stopped her.

The bad part was he had to tackle her to do so. It wasn’t one of his proudest moments, but he couldn’t allow her to run into a burning house.

“What do you expect me to do, wait until they’ve found him?” Olin asked Ollie as he wiped at his neck. He was pissed that Craig had fooled Coop into thinking that Olin had been cut. He hadn’t. The guy had used a trick knife with some kind of fake blood to make it look as if Olin was bleeding.

Sick fuck.

What Craig hadn’t faked was the blow to Olin’s face. His eye was still throbbing.

“Think,” Ollie said. “Even if you went after Coop, where are you going to look? We have no idea where Craig and Fisher took him. What we need to do is find Uncle Fester and then go to Gabriel’s and check on him.”

“No.” Olin had a feeling he knew where Uncle Fester was, and he didn’t want to think about it. “You need to stay with Aunt Mya. She’s going to need you when…” When they find Uncle Fester’s body.

“He isn’t dead!” Ollie shoved at Olin as tears gathered in his eyes. “Don’t you dare say it.”

“Then where is he, Ollie? Our backyard is only so big, and he wouldn’t have run off. Tell me where Uncle Fester is,” Olin argued and then strode toward the front of the house. “Stay with our aunt. I’m heading to Gabriel’s.”

Olin was torn between staying and heading out. There was no true answer to what he should do at that moment. Olin stopped walking when he reached the side of the house and rubbed his hands over his face as he silently screamed in utter frustration. Uncle Fester, Coop, and Karidon were missing and Olin had no clue where any of them were.

“You need to get back,” one of the firemen said.

Olin walked to his car and got in. He’d been of sound enough mind to grab his keys and wallet before he rushed from the fire. He’d also grabbed the pajama pants he’d discarded by Coop’s bed. That was all he had on. He was glad it was summer, or he’d freeze his twig and berries off.

He paused when Ollie came running across the lawn, dodging around fireman. “Wait!”

Olin was not in the mood to argue with his twin. He started his car and then waited as Ollie approached. “No more arguing,” he said. “I’m going to Gabriel’s.”