Read Cronin's Key III for Free Online Page B

Jodis and Eiji back to New York and
be back in just a moment. I will go with you.”
    Cronin looked
concerned and a little lost at Alec’s emotional outburst, and that
only served to layer guilt on top of Alec’s anger. Kind of similar
to what gasoline does to fire.
    In the blink of an eye, Cronin was gone along with Eiji and
Jodis. Alec knew he’d owe them an apology, another one, and that burned in him as well. Alec
leaned down so he was eye level with Jorge. “I am very grateful for
you.” Then he looked up at Adelmo. “And you, Adelmo.”
    Cronin reappeared and he seemed relieved to see Alec was
still there. And again, more guilt poured onto the blazing fire that Alec was struggling to
contain. He couldn’t even look Cronin in the eye, and that hurt the
most.
    Alec gave Jorge the best smile he
could muster. “If you need me, for anything, just call me in your
mind. I’ll hear it. I’ll be listening for you, okay?”
    They said their good -byes and Alec leapt himself and Cronin to the most remote
place he could think of. Somewhere he could scream and detonate
bombs of rage without being seen or heard by humans.
    Antarctica blizzard s,
or whiteouts, were loud. Something Alec didn’t realize before now,
though he was pleased. The winter, dark and freezing cold, seemed
perfectly apt for his mood. And even though the snow blasted him
from all directions, he could feel the earth beneath his shoes, and
it grounded him. He let the wrath and jealousy that bubbled in his
chest boil over. He let his head fall back and he roared, sending
flurries of snow rippling out from him.
    Cronin stood four feet in front of him, almost whited out with snow, but he never took
his eyes off Alec. He spoke in his normal voice, and even over the
rumbling blizzard, Alec heard him just fine. “Alec, tell me what
angers you so?”
    “ Everything!” he bellowed. He clenched his fists and roared as he smashed the ground
with every ounce of strength he had. A creaking fissure split the
ice beneath his punch. “Why was he there? Willem,” Alec said the
name as though it tasted bitter on his tongue. “You were pleased to
see him.”
    “ He was a friend,” Cronin said. “ An acquaintance with similar inclinations. Nothing
more.”
    “ You slept with
him!”
    “ Yes! Out of curiosity. I’d never experienced such things
before!” Cronin shook his head. He was angry in return now. “This
cannot be what angers you, Alec. You’ve known about Willem since we
first met. Have I ever questioned those that have seen your bed
before me?”
    “ Yes!” Alec replied
petulantly. “You wanted to kill them, remember?”
    “ I said that in jest,
Alec. And to what end does this worry you? You cannot change what
is done!”
    “ You chose him!” Alec cried. “You never chose me!” He
regretted his choice of words immediately and felt the resulting
stab of hurt in Cronin’s chest.
    “ Were my words at our wedding not enough for you?” Cronin
asked. His anger gone,
replaced by hurt.
    Alec pushed
out a bloom of sorry so Cronin could feel just how bad Alec felt.
“Of course they were enough,” he said. “They were everything.
Cronin, I can’t explain why I feel this way. It’s not rational, but
I can’t seem to stop it. I don’t blame you, and I don’t blame him.
I know you would choose me if fate had not done so
already.”
    “ You’re dealing with a
constant heavy burden, Alec. Don’t add an unnecessary
weight.”
    “ Don’t make excuses for
me,” Alec whispered against the blizzard. “I was an
ass.”
    Cronin smiled and finally closed the
distance between them. He put his hand to Alec’s face. “Don’t talk
that way about the man who holds my heart.”
    Alec took a
deep breath as though Cronin’s words lightened the heaviness in his
chest. “He was handsome,” Alec allowed.
    Cronin laughed like snow wasn’t pounding against him.
“Don’t think for one moment he even compares to you. Like a candle to the sun, Alec.
There