Hell's Angel: Devil's Backbone (BK 2)

Bait and Switch

Alison's POV
(bellamysgirl)

Grotto scoffed. "This is the wire you want me to wear? Why don't I just carry a video camera with me and a guy with a boom mic?" I sighed, leaning my butt into the table behind me and crossing my arms. The man finished wiring Grotto and ambled away. "Relax a bit, will you? You'll be fine," I assured. He grumbled something I couldn't make out and started fumbling with the buttons on his white dress shirt.

His fingers were a bit shaky, causing him to have a little trouble with the first two. I stood and stepped across the three feet between us and started buttoning the shirt. He dropped his hands to his sides with a heavy sigh but let me help. I felt like I was dressing a child. Back when Chase was a lot smaller. Or when James was leaving for work and for the life of him his tie could never quite look right without a little adjusting.

I finished buttoning and took a step back. "There you go."

"Everything's set on our end," Reyes said, coming back into the dank room they'd set us up in.

"Well, good for you, lady. Me? I got some serious reservations about this stuff," Grotto replied, not impressed.

Reyes looked to Foggy beside her with a tired expression. "Should I be concerned?" Foggy looked like he couldn't decide on what to say. He turned to Grotto and took a step toward him. "All we need is for Brass to admit he's dealing drugs again," he reminded him. "Okay? He doesn't have to say where, he doesn't have to say to who. Just get him to confirm it. Alright? Don't make it the first question—don't even make it the second one—get there organically. He's got no reason not to trust you."

"No? Look at this thing! It's like an eight track player around my neck," grotto adjusted his shirt nervously.

"You came to us for a deal, Grotto. You wanna walk, walk. We can always find someone else," Reyes said, seeming bored. "After recent events, we've got plenty of exciting prospects. Lots of low-lives looking to get out of the crime business for good."

Grotto looked down a second. "I don't doubt that."

"Good. You know where we stand then," she looked to Foggy. "Maybe you should do some counseling, Counselor." She motioned with a finger for one of her men and they followed her into the next room. I gave a grumbling sigh. "Maybe you should learn to be a human being, you witch," I mumbled.

"Alison," Foggy gave me a look.

I scoffed. "Don't give me that look, Nelson. Grotto may be a criminal with incredibly low standards but, just like everyone else in this room, he's a human being that deserves respect. If she uses the term low-life one more time, I'm going to grab her by her ridiculously over-permed curls and-"

"Thanks for the support, doll," Grotto interrupted. "But I'm afraid this is as good as it gets."

"He's right. This isn't a deal you walk away from," Foggy agreed.

"Not alive, no," Grotto commented, causing Foggy to turn away with a heavy sigh.

Karen finally spoke up, exhaling. "You get them Brass and they get you away from the psychopath hunting you."

"It's not just him—what if it's Brass that puts a bullet in me?" Grotto asked, raising his voice in anxiousness. "What if the Irish got wind I'm doing this?"

"They didn't. When Fisk went away, so did a lot of corrupt cops. No one's palms are getting greased anymore," Karen assured.

Foggy nodded. "We're getting you out. Clean."

"Doesn't feel like getting out. It feels like getting in. Deeper than before," Grotto shook his head.

"That's why we're here, Grotto. You're in the clear," I assured, earning a disbelieving but hopeful look from him. I nodded once. "This is your second chance. Just let the other guy do all the talking and he'll incriminate himself. You'll walk outta there alive."