“Your son is insane.”
That seems pretty obvious. He walked into the spiders’ den with little hope of survival to find out what is going on. “He’s always been fearless. I think it’s because I gave him a dirt bike at a young age.”
“Riding has nothing to do with it. That boy is just like you.” Maddox takes a long drink from his mug. “Yesterday, when you walked into my office and explained how some of my kids were going to do something that shouldn’t get them killed to help your brother avoid death and catch a drug dealer, you showed absolutely no sign of fear. It’s like you invited them over for a tea party in your parlor.”
I was and still am terrified. “A man doesn’t let fear stop him from doing something important.”
“Exactly. That kid of yours who’s going in deep, is he ready for this?”
A car drives by slowly, probably staring at the limos and men with barely hidden guns.
“Ryot isn’t a trained operative.”
“So you might have sent your brother in to be tortured and die.”
“Yeah.” That thought keeps me up at night. “He knows what he’s facing.”
“Does a boy his age really understand? When Ethan was training me, he had me experience some of what I would go through if I were taken captive. He did it to prepare me and to help me understand what torture meant.”
“You don’t truly understand pain, both physical and mental, until you experience it.” Waiting in that hospital room to see if my baby was going to die because I trusted the wrong woman…I would have preferred death by a thousand cuts.
“It’s the same as love. I didn’t truly understand what it meant until she came into my life.”
“I thought I loved the woman who gave birth to Creed, but I know now that was an unhealthy form of obsession. My whole world was this woman to the point that I couldn’t see—no, the right word is wouldn’t—I wouldn’t let myself see what a horrible person she was.” Until my son paid the price.
“There’s a little bit of obsession connected with love. But it’s more than that, so much more—Creed made it out alive.” Maddox nods at the screen. “And he’s smiling.”
“What could he have possibly talked about with those women for so long?” He definitely looks happy.
“You know, if he got all the dirt from them, we’re going to have to use his skills again.”
Right. Has my son broken the code to understanding women?
That thought is mind-boggling.
The door opens a few seconds later.
“Dad, I’m back.”
Like I don’t already know. “We’re in the kitchen.”
Creed rushes in.
“So, what were they doing?” Maddox doesn’t even pretend not to be interested.
“Eating breakfast.” Creed starts to shove his books into his backpack.
“They had to have talked while you were there.” Tell us everything.
“Nonstop. It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen. They talk over each other. Change topics without warning. Laugh for no reason. It was the wildest thing I’ve ever seen.”
That’s totally believable. “So what did they talk about?”
“The food was good. I’m late for class. Can I take my bike today?”
Irritating kid won’t answer my question. “Any chance of rain?”
“Nope.” Creed grins.
