“I knew you would…it was the same when he used it on me,” Jackson said. “Rudy really did a number on you, Frank, and it was sheer luck Dylon got to you in time.”
“Was I worse off than my son was when you found him?” asked Frank. And when Jackson didn’t answer his question, Frank sighed. “I had hoped Rudy was just trash-talking when he told me about beating up Dylon, but since you’re not answering my question, I’ll take it as a yes.”
“You can take it any way you want, but if you want to know the truth, then ask Dylon.”
“Fair enough. Where’s Rudy? Did you kill the bastard?”
“Nope. I sent Dylon and the others on a rescue mission. Saving you was my first priority, especially since the High Council kept word of your kidnapping from Lizzie and Dylon for hours…hours we could have used to rescue you sooner,” Jackson said, barely keeping his anger under control. “Maybe you can tell me why the High Council did that. Or why they didn’t attempt to rescue you sooner. I find it hard to believe they didn’t know about your tracker.”
Sighing, Frank replied, “I can’t give you the answers you’re looking for.”
“Can’t? Or won’t?”
“Can’t,” snapped Frank. “Not until I conduct my own investigation and find out who else was involved other than Rudy.”
“Fifty prisoners escaped along with Rudy, and among them were three enforcers who worked for him at the Silver Point Pack,” Jackson said.
“Shit!”
“Frank, I’ve seen the security at the prison, and there’s no way Rudy could have escaped without inside help.”
“I know that,” Frank replied, pausing for a moment before continuing, “I suspected there was a leak last year, so I authorized an investigation, but no one was ever identified as the source. Whoever it is has hidden their tracks very well. However, during the investigation, I found weaknesses in our security protocols…”
“The prison had an issue, right?” asked Jackson.
“Yes…but the High Council refused my request to fix it.”
“Who was involved in the investigation?”
“Me…and people I have worked with for a long time…ones who’ve earned my trust.”
“I need their names,” Jackson said.
“Why?”
“Because one of them betrayed you,” Jackson growled. “And their action has also put my pack in danger.”
“The High Council won’t…”
“Fuck the High Council! They lost my trust when Josiah murdered my family, and they sat on their hands even after they knew what he’d done. Rudy is just as sadistic, if not more so, than Josiah, and I refuse to sit here, twiddling my thumbs, waiting for the Council to find him. Whether you want to hear this or not, that asshole is a danger to me, my brothers, and our pups. And yes, it includes Jake and Jessica. I won’t let that happen. If you won’t give me the names, that’s your choice, but mark my words, I will find who helped Rudy escape.”
Frank studied Jackson carefully, before asking, “You have the power to force me to comply, why aren’t you using it?”
“That’s not my way,” Jackson replied. “You should know that by now.”
“Do you know the high regard Dylon has for you?” Frank asked. “I bet you don’t, but I do. He took me to task for playing my games with you the first time Lizzie and I came to visit your pack. It surprised me so much that I agreed with him that it was a dumb thing to do. I knew right then that you were special…an Alpha my son not only respected and protected, but liked.” Frank sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed before holding out his hands to examine them. “Rudy swore he was going to kill me, and he nearly did. Every bone in both my hands were broken along with others in my body, but I refused to give him the satisfaction of dying.”
Looking up at Jackson, he continued, “All I had to do was hang on because I knew you’d send Dylon to save me…just as I knew the High Council wouldn’t do shit to find me. And during those long hours of lying in my own filth while trying to survive until my son arrived, I made several decisions…one of which was tendering my resignation to the High Council immediately. I can no longer be part of the problem, but I also cannot betray the oath I took when I became the Vice-Chair. So, after I do that, I’ll answer your questions about the people who were involved. Is that acceptable?”
“Absolutely,” Jackson responded, just as Lizzie burst into the room.
Stopping short, Lizzie cried, “Oh Frank…you’re okay!” Then rushing over to him, she smiled while tears filled her eyes, before cascading down her cheeks.
Slowly following his mother into the hospital room, Dylon stopped next to his Alpha. “Sorry about this, but she needed to see for herself that he was okay,” he muttered.
“No problem. Just a heads up though…Rudy told your father about the beating he gave you,” Jackson murmured. “Frank asked me if it was true, but I told him to talk to you.”
“I’m not surprised…Rudy loves bragging.”
