Open Wounds by Camille Taylor Page A

“Coleani is a scum bag.”
    “What happened to the woman who said even scum have rights?” Darryl asked.
    She glared at him for throwing her words back in her face, then gritted her teeth as she opened the car door. Coleani was a sore subject. Her mother’s face flashed before her. She ruthlessly pushed the image away.
    “It’s just seeing him there on his lofty perch after all he put us through as kids. We had to grow up way too fast.”
    Amelia’s light brown eyes were filled with understanding and equal frustration. “I know, Kel. Believe me, I’m right there with you. But he didn’t give us one thing we could use against him. That man is as cool as a cucumber. I guess you need a certain set of balls to get you to the top rung. It makes me think of all the things he did to get there.”
    “But the question is…” Darryl began as he climbed into the driver’s seat of his police issued Commodore, “Did we learn anything at all? We pretty much already knew he was guilty.”
    “He’s narcissistic enough to believe himself to be a king, and like any king, when his kingdom is being threatened he will do everything in his power to do something about it.”
    Kellie leaned against the back seat. “I only hope Michael Lambert comes to his senses quick enough to see Dick’s true nature. He is not his saviour but will be his executioner. I guarantee it.”

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 12
     
     
    Michael’s heart raced when he caught sight of the green Commodore following him. He’d seen it on and off all morning as he drove around completing transactions for Coleani. Was Coleani checking up on him? He doubted it. Coleani would be less subtle. It had to be the police. Neither option was reassuring. Were they trying to trap him?
    Of course they are , he screamed at himself. They know you killed Benedict and Butler … two men you called your friends until the chance to be one of Coleani’s treasured lieutenants came knocking at your door.
    He tried to act brave and distant, liked to think their deaths meant nothing to him, but he couldn’t. He had lived a hard life but nothing had prepared him for squeezing that trigger and ending two lives.
    He no longer believed Coleani would protect him. He'd screwed up. He knew what happened to those that did. He'd killed them. Men he'd considered friends. Now he didn't think Coleani ever had his back.
    He ran a hand through his already dishevelled hair. How long had they been following him, and what had they seen? Did they know about the deliveries he’d been making? They must, which meant it was only a matter of time before they arrested him.
    Coleani must never know.
    But how could he continue with the police after him? He couldn’t go to prison. That’s where his father was, serving twenty years after a drunken brawl led to manslaughter.
    His mother was no better, having packed up and moved to greener pastures with the first bloke who’d so much as paid an ounce of attention to her. No, he knew he would never survive inside. He was weak, easy prey but he couldn’t betray Coleani, not after all the man had done for him. Clothed him, fed him, given him a place to live and a job. He’d been set for life after proving he had the right stuff.
    But what if he asks you to kill again? Can you do it? An inner voice taunted him.
    “Oh, God,” he whispered.
    If they interrogated him again, it would only a matter of time before he gave in and started spilling the truth about Coleani’s drug operation. Then he’d be a dead man. Coleani’s power spread wide. He doubted he’d ever live to see his testifying day.
    He had to get away, away from Coleani and away from Harbour Bay — hell, away from New South Wales. He’d never been anywhere else but he had always thought he’d like to see Queensland one day. He had been mesmerised by the pictures he’d seen of the Great Barrier Reef.
    Now was the time to do it. He’d been tucking away money for years. Every