Total pages in book: 209
Estimated words: 196141 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 981(@200wpm)___ 785(@250wpm)___ 654(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 196141 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 981(@200wpm)___ 785(@250wpm)___ 654(@300wpm)
“I understand,” says Kyle automatically.
“Even with our shared hell, no one in this town likes me, nor do they give a shit what I’ve been through.” He lets out a bitter snort. “Not after I held the precious chief’s son at gunpoint in that pawnshop however many ages ago. Not after shooting you in the face. Don’t they know I didn’t have a choice? Wouldn’t they do the same damned thing if their families were being held captive by a psycho vampire named George? What the fuck kind of vampire name is that, anyway? George? Fucking kidding me?” He lets out another breath of smoke, coughs, wipes his reddened nose. “I’m convinced my family’s dead now. I did it all for nothing. George killed them. And I’m stuck here in this place … stuck here like I might as well have died and gone to Hell. This town … everyone in it … all of it can just go fuck itself.”
Kyle lowers his eyes to the ground, to the snow. He isn’t sure where to start. “We’re all cut off from our lives now. Some of us have our loved ones here. Some of us don’t. We’re all in the same boat whether we see it that way or not. And besides—”
“Is it true you know George?”
Kyle freezes at the question, stares back at him questioningly.
“I hear things.” Patrick pushes away from the streetlight. He pitches his cigarette at the snow where it sizzles out. “You’re one of them. So tell me. You know George? You’ve spoken to him?”
After a second’s hesitation, Kyle sighs out the words, “Yeah. I know … who he is. I know the sick bastard.”
Patrick licks his lips, spits at the snow, rubs his nose. His eyes are like hardened chips of ice as he stares Kyle down. “Do you …” His words are soft suddenly. “Do you know what he’s … done to my family? Do you know if they’re … if they’re s-safe?”
He wasn’t serious earlier about thinking them dead.
Patrick is clinging to hope. He’s been desperately clinging to hope since the day he stepped foot in this town. It’s the only thing left that’s warm inside the man’s soul. That precious, fragile hope. Despite this tough act he’s putting on right now, behind his wall of bitterness and contempt for everything and everyone, he’s just a weak, terrified man who bears a mountain of pain and guilt.
Kyle can see it all in Patrick’s eyes.
Perhaps that’s the reason Kyle says: “Yes.” Patrick is glued to Kyle’s every breath. “Yes,” he repeats, “they’re … safe. I heard it. From George. I … heard your family … is waiting for you. They are somewhere safe. They … They can’t wait to see you again.”
Tears explode from the man’s eyes.
He clenches his teeth and turns away at once, pressing hands to his face. His body shakes from his sobbing. Kyle only stands by the door to the bar, watching Patrick, numb.
“Thank you,” says Patrick finally after collecting himself. He peers partway over his shoulder. “Even if …” He sniffles. “Even if you’re lying to me. Thank you.”
Kyle frowns. “Patrick …”
The man says no more, walking away, disappearing down the snowy street. Kyle stands there watching him go, wondering if he did the right thing.
And why it doesn’t feel good.
“Kyle!”
He turns, yanked from his thoughts.
Kaleb is approaching in a big hooded jacket and scarf, a bright smile on his reddened face, eyepatch covering his inoperative eye. Raya saunters next to him in a pair of jeans and a simple blouse—a shocking departure from her usual dramatic black bustier or lace dress, what with her limited options in this town. And, to Kyle’s surprise, Nico trails behind them, hands stuffed in his pockets, his short, dark curls of hair going everywhere.
Kyle smiles and gives his brother a big hug. “Come to join the party? Or just here for Drake’s cookies?”
“Just the cookies. And way better heating,” adds Kaleb. “It’s too cold in our house. I didn’t know deserts can turn into snowy wastelands so quickly.”
“Elevation,” says Kyle for a lackluster explanation. “Hey, our heating is pretty good, and tonight is the coldest yet. If you want to stay the night with us, you can. I’ve got a cushy couch, or that spare cot set up in the back room, whichever you want.”
“I’ll think about it,” decides Kaleb, then adds, “assuming you three aren’t … planning on being … uh … noisy tonight.”
Raya stifles a laugh.
Kyle leans in, nudges his brother in the ribs too hard. “We’ve already done our business, no need to worry about that.”
“Didn’t need to know,” laughs Kaleb.
It was in a conversation they had many months ago, near the beginning of their time here, when Kaleb admitted to Kyle that, even at thirteen, he had suspicions about Kyle’s sexuality. It was something about the way he clung to Brock, strange enough, and how the two seemed inseparable. Also, Kyle never brought home any girlfriends for dinner. Kaleb noticed these things. Perhaps that’s why it wasn’t that much of a shock when Kaleb discovered that now, Kyle not only has a boyfriend, but two of them.