“We were seven going on eight at the time.” He takes a drag of his smoke. “We don’t usually go home in the same car from our primary school, but that day, Xan and I caught a ride with Aiden. The driver was on their side. He took us to a deserted place where they ambushed us. There was a black van, three men wearing masks, and the rest is history.”
“W-what do you mean the rest is history?”
He grips the cigarette with his thumb and forefinger as he meets my gaze. “We were taken to a storage house blindfolded. Then we were separated for what seemed like hours or days, I’m not sure. The next thing I know, I was thrown in a deserted place. I assumed my parents paid the ransom or something. Xander was also thrown in a similar deserted place.”
“How about Aiden?”
He shakes his head slowly. “When we finally got home, we found out that Xander and I were taken for two days.”
“And Aiden?”
“He disappeared for ten days.”
“Why? Jonathan didn’t pay the ransom?”
He couldn’t have stood by when his only son was kidnapped. He couldn’t be that heartless.
“That’s the thing.” Cole’s eyes blacken to a frightening green. “The kidnappers didn’t ask for ransom for any of us.”
That’s weird.
No. That’s terrifying.
Why would they kidnap three rich kids if they didn’t plan to ask for a ransom?
“D-did Aiden lose his way? Is that why he was missing for longer?”
Please tell me that’s the case, please.
“I don’t know.” He takes another drag of his cigarette. “King doesn’t talk about that time, not even between the three of us.”
“How was he found?”
“Jonathan found him. I don’t know how, but he did.”
I watch Cole intently. “Why are you telling me this?”
“You deserve to know and King would’ve never told you.”
“Why now? Why haven’t you told me before?”
He smiles as he throws his cigarette to the ground and crushes it under his shoes. “Because King forced my hand and I dislike it when my hand is forced.”
What is that supposed to mean? Is this some sort of feud between him and Aiden?
“It has nothing to do with you, Elsa. You’re good.” He stands. “M
aybe even too good for him.”
I watch him for a few seconds, not sure what to say. I’m still helplessly trying to process what I just heard.
It aligns with what Levi hinted at. He said it wasn’t just Alicia’s death that changed Aiden, there was something else.
Like the kidnapping.
All the slash marks and scars make complete sense now.
“There’s also something else you need to know about.”