Free Dangerous Games by Marie Ferrarella Page B

libation. Eric had inherited his father’s penchant for drinking. That he did it indiscriminately and habitually wound up drunk was probably one of the reasons his father disliked his second born so much.
    “He’s brought nothing but shame to the family name. He should be grateful that we’re providing legal counsel for him.”
    Cole couldn’t restrain himself any longer. “Maybe if you and Mother—” he spared her a damning glance “—had provided something more when Eric was growing up, you wouldn’t have anything to be ashamed of right now.”
    His father turned a very unflattering shade of red as rage snapped into place. “Oh, so now it’s our fault? Oh, that’s right, Denise, did you know that it’s fashionable to blame the parents any time you screw up?”
    “Never mind that the parents screwed up first,” Cole pointed out.
    Lyle Garrison drew himself up to his full height. Men who towered over him quaked in his presence because he had the power and the money to break them into small pieces. It seemed to gall him that his son didn’t shrink back. “What are you saying?”
    Cole remained unaffected and he knew it goaded his father no end. “What should have been said a long time ago. That if there were two people who were definitely not meant to be parents, it’s you and Mother.” Disgust filled his eyes as he looked from one to the other. “There’s not a drop of compassion, of kindness, within either of you.”
    His father’s voice fairly shook with barely suppressed rage. “Well, this is some reunion, I must say. Did you come here to insult us?”
    Eric, think of Eric, Cole counseled himself. “No, I came to ask you get Eric out of jail. Being there is killing him.”
    His mother finally broke her silence. “And having this scandal dropped on our doorstep is killing me. Did he ever stop to think of that before he…did what he did?”
    His father looked at him contemptuously, although he kept his distance, as if sensing that he would not come out the winner in a confrontation with his son. “If you’re so concerned about him, Cole, why don’t you bail him out?”
    If the bail hadn’t been set as high as it was, he would have had Eric out the moment he’d arrived in Aurora. But his money was all tied up in his latest project and there wasn’t enough cash to use. “I don’t have enough collateral to put up. But you do.”
    Taking out a decanter, his father poured brandy into a goblet. Cole caught the slight look of dismay filter over his mother’s face, but she said nothing. She never opposed his father.
    “If that’s the only reason you’re here, Cole,” his father said before he raised the glass to his lips, “I don’t see as how we have anything else to talk about.”
    “I guess not.” He was an idiot to have come here. An idiot to have thought that there was an ounce of compassion to be squeezed out of either of them. “Mother, Dad—” he nodded at each “—nice seeing you both again. Don’t bother getting up, I’ll see myself out.” Sarcasm reeked from his words as he strode out of the room and then out of the house.
    He slammed the front door in his wake as he left.
    Time had mellowed him somewhat. He didn’t lose his temper anymore, certainly not like that, but dealing with his bloodless parents got to him. He’d gone to them against his better judgment. What was worse, he’d failed.

    Cole was still not in the best frame of mind when he strode into the hotel. He’d noticed the speedometer inching its way up to seventy as he’d driven back. It echoed the way he felt, as if he was in danger of reaching a maximum boiling point. Getting his temper under control took some doing.
    He was halfway across the hotel’s elegantly carpeted floor when a bellhop, hurrying behind him, tapped him on the shoulder. “Mr. Garrison?”
    Swinging around, he barked, “Yes?” then amended, “Sorry. Anything I can do for you?”
    The bellhop looked at him sheepishly. “The