Cole (The Leaves) Read Online Free Page A

between my knees trying not to puke.
    “It’s him.” I heard the thug say to my father.
    “Are you sure, Giovanni?” he asked to confirm.
    “From everything he said about Serena, of course, it’s him.”
    “Him who?” I asked. I was certain of his identity, but I hated the feeling of not being in control of anything.
    No one spoke. “Father, so help me God, I am going to make you bleed if you don’t tell me what the fuck is going on right the fuck now!”
    “We need to talk to the girl. I’m sorry, Gus was it? We need to know what she knows.” My father took over as usual and ignored me.
    Everyone began to walk back into the house. “Wait a fuckin’ minute! I want to know when the transfer is happening. I want to know what the fuck this has to do with Anika and me.”
    “We’re just putting the pieces together, son. We do not have time to explain things now. Come on.”
    The slider opened, my mother and Aimes appeared. My father was going to take charge and I knew from here on out, he was running the show. I hated to admit that I was grateful. My mother went into the kitchen and began to make a pot of coffee. It was going to be a long night, but being a good host was the last thing on my fucking mind right now.
    “Amelia, is it?” My father asked.
    “Yes.” She said between gasps.
    “Listen. I have a reputation for being an asshole and forgive me, but we don’t have time for your tears right now. Now then, tell me everything you know about this man, Joe. The one from Anika’s childhood? I need to know when the last time she saw him was.”
    “The last time was a couple of months ago. He attacked her after work.”
    “And before that?”
    “Before that… when we were fifteen? I remember because her mom beat the crap out of her. I had to hide her from my parents for a week.”
    I wanted to beat the shit out of something.
    “Had you ever seen this man, this Joe?”
    “No. I tried to get her to report it, but her mom was a school teacher. No one believed her when she was younger. She tried to report it to her principal once. Then when she got older, she tried to find out his name, find out more about him, so she could report him. He never carried any ID on him, so she couldn’t even go through his wallet. All she knew was he was around for about seven or eight years, then he was gone.”
    “I am so sorry.” The thug said to my father.
    “Who are you?” I asked in a fuck you sort of way.
    “In a minute, son.” My father said.
    “No! Not another fucking minute. You’re going to tell me what the fuck is going on right now!!”
    My mother swept up to me and yelled, “Calm down, Cole! Go get a drink, drink it and calm down!” The shock sent me to the liquor cabinet more than anything else. My mother never raised her voice to me.
    I lined up a few shot glasses in the kitchen and as I poured the last one, my phone rang. The entire room looked at me, silently. Until my father spoke.
    “Cole, put it on speaker. No one say a goddamn word, understood? Cole, you tell him the transfer will take place at nine a.m. east coast time at the absolute latest. Trish, pen and paper. Now! Answer the call, Cole.”
    “Hello?” I said.
    “Ah, Mr. Carlyle. Have you made arrangements?”
    “Six a.m. It’ll be done. The transfer is going through our New York office, but they’re getting everything ready now. Let me talk to her. I’ve done what you asked. Let me talk to her.”
    “I know you’re not alone, so I’ll make this quick. You get another ten seconds with your beloved. If this is not complete, I’ll send her finger to go with the ring. Do you understand?”
    “Yes. It will be done. Let me talk to her. Please.” I squeezed my eyes closed.
    “Annie, your
fidanzante
would like to speak with you.”
    “Cole?”
    “Are you okay? It won’t be long my beautiful girl. I’ll never let you out of my sight again.”
    “I love you. He took my ring.” She cried. Her voice was ripping me