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

Family Ties

Alison's POV
(bellamysgirl)

Dani lead the way through the hall. My stomach was in knots. Neither of us slept very well last night. Or at all. Nor did we eat anything before coming here. So, not only is my stomach soured by not eating, but it's also got what happened last night and what's about to happen to contend with. This is the last chance we've got, and Dani said she could get me in to see Frank before they cart him off to jail. So we came in way of roof.

It wasn't the best idea I think either of us has ever had. I mean, we could both probably get arrested for something regarding this plot. And yet, here I am. Here we both are somehow. We started toward the hospital room door. There was only one cop posted there this morning. He looked young and possibly new to the force—so he'd be our best bet.

He turned toward us as we approached. "Who are you?" he questioned, a hand resting on his pistol.

Dani sighed. "We're from Nelson and Murdock—here to talk about the case." The cop eyed us a moment, obviously thinking.

He raised an eyebrow. "No one told me you were coming...?" he said, timidly.

"Really? This has been scheduled for the last three days!" she threw her arms up in mock outrage. "Why can't you people ever get this right? Nelson and Murdock, here for our scheduled meeting with Mr. Castle. You honestly can't mess this up." He nodded, seeming alarmed that he didn't remember. If I felt better this morning I probably would've been fighting laughter. But I couldn't make myself even crack a smile.

"Right, right—I'm so sorry about that, ladies," he sidestepped, gesturing to the door with a hand out. "Please. Go right in." Dani nodded, like that was what he should've said the whole time, and then glanced at me before pushing through the door. I slipped into the room behind her. She shut the door and my knees locked up. The room was practically empty. Nothing left but just the few things actually needed by the nurses and doctors.

A rectangle of red tape outlined the bed centered against the far wall, serving as a warning for all who step into the room. A thick black strap was tight across Frank's chest while silver cuffs kept his wrists shackled to the sides of the bed. He didn't look to be awake. Goosebumps shot up my arms at the sight of him. I felt a nudge in my side and glanced right. Dani gestured forward, "Go on. Don't worry about the tape."

I nodded once and turned back toward the bed. This is it. I haven't seen him since the cemetery. What he said about his family played in my head on an endless loop. For one moment's pause I almost couldn't make myself go over. But I finally convinced my feet to make their way to a foot from the end of the bed. I folded my arms loosely. "Frank?" Nothing. I inhaled, trying to speak up. "Frank?"

He stirred a second, before his eyelids slowly cracked open. His face was darkened with bruises. It was hard not to let the worry swallow me right then. "How are you feeling?" I asked, lightly. He stared at me for a bewildered second, his head tilted slightly. "Alison? How...how'd you get in here?" he asked, his voice a bit too raspy.

"You can thank Dani for that," I gestured a little to my right, toward Dani, standing by the door. "She tricked the guard. So, we're lawyers today." He looked relieved and concerned at the same time. In fact, his expression was almost too unreadable to even pick up on that. His eyes refused to leave mine, "Come here." You don't have to tell me twice. He didn't really even have to tell me once. I edged my way around to the right side of the hospital bed.

The only sound was the soft beep from the monitor for a moment as I stepped up beside him. Getting closer, the exact shape and placement of the bruises on his face became clearer. It definitely didn't look like the Frank he was before the Irish took us. I looked down. Though his wrists were cuffed on either side of the bed, his hands were still free. I slid my left hand into his.