The Man Who Hated Ned O'Leary (Dig Two Graves 2)

Cole struck the moment innocent blue eyes met his.

He’d done it so many times it was second nature. A punch to the face to confuse his opponent, then another one—to the back of the head. He’d have to choke the young policeman until he fainted if that wasn’t enough, but the boy-lawman sprawled on the floor like a discarded puppet.

The poor bastard wouldn’t be getting up anytime soon, so Cole picked up the fallen keys and ran straight to the doors ahead. There was a little barred window in each, and when the first revealed a small, empty room, Cole didn’t bother to peek into the other and unlocked it before yanking back the door with the thud in his ears playing a triumphant march.

He could finally breathe.

Ned sat on a cot with the serene expression of a man who’d accepted his fate, but his eyes grew wide the moment Cole’s presence sank in.

“You. What in all hells? Get out of here!” Ned snarled and jumped to his feet. This was not the joyful reunion Cole had imagined, but Ned had reasons to be angry.

“You’re wearing the jacket,” Cole uttered, his gaze lingering on the ugly bit of stitching where the left arm met the garment’s shoulder. He should have redone that bit a long time ago.

Ned frowned, backed into the corner. “What else was I gonna wear to meet my maker?”

The low, aggressive tone felt like a slap, but Cole wouldn’t let it affect him when Ned had every right to loathe him for the things he’d done. “Neddie. I’m getting you out of here.”

Ned’s scowl only deepened, and he shoved Cole back so hard he stumbled into the corridor. “Don’t you dare call me ‘Neddie’! Get out. I mean it. Get out before someone fucking recognizes you.”

Cole shut his mouth, but his throat tightened so hard he massaged it before speaking up. “I’m not going anywhere without you. What were you thinking? They’ll hang you!” he said, dashing right back inside, before Ned could have shut the steel door in his face.

“It’s my choice, not yours! You’ve washed your hands off me!” Ned’s nostrils flared when he huffed in anger, but all Cole could think of was that his nose was whole, and that Ned had no fresh bruises. That Craig hadn’t beaten him bloody, despite the grudge he’d been holding onto for the past seven years.

He wanted to argue, to tell Ned everything, down to the painful details, but the replacement the young policeman had been waiting for might arrive at any moment, and they had no time for a heart-to-heart. “We’ll talk once we’re out of here,” he said and pulled on Ned’s arm, struck by the need to give him a hug. But with the beautiful green eyes staring at him with open hostility, he didn’t dare pull him close.

“I’m. Not. Going.” Ned dug his heels in like a stubborn donkey, and they tugged at each other in an unwinnable war.

Of all the reasons for this break out to fail, this one hadn’t occurred to Cole. He had no time for questioning Ned’s motives though.

“If you’re staying, I will stay too. How about that?” He stepped so close the tips of his boots touched Ned’s. It was a foolish thing to say, and an even more idiotic thing to do, but he’d made his decision already and would not leave the station without Ned.

“You’re out of your goddamn mind!” Ned leaned in so close he almost butted Cole’s head. He smelled of soap, as if he’d washed and changed into a fresh shirt to avoid offending the lawmen with the odor of sweat. “Who gave you the right to interfere, huh?”

Cole wouldn’t back down. “Would you let me turn myself in?”

Endless seconds passed as Ned glared at him, but he said nothing and eventually walked out into the corridor, hitting Cole with his shoulder on the way.

“And how exactly does the Wolfman just walk out of here?”

Ned had never been distant like this. Not since that gut-wrenching week following the first two times they’d made love, but back then he hadn’t been sure whether he wanted to start a relationship with another man in the first place. This was different, but Cole needed to swallow his pride, because he deserved every bit of Ned’s contempt. He’d do everything in his power to make things between them right again, but for that he needed time, and time was something they were running out of.

“We put those on and pretend they’re locked,” Cole said, showing Ned the hand irons that came with his borrowed uniform. I’ll walk you out, and once we leave the station, we’ll run straight for my horse.”

Ned shook his head but held out his wrists nevertheless. “That is a terrible plan. If we get caught, you fucking run, understand?”