Page 73 of Frank's Felon
Frank eased Hayden onto a log to sit. “I won’t let Damien turn her over to the DSA.”
“Give him a chance to think of something.”
“Frankie will return with you. Delilah and I aren’t going back.”
“Frank––”
“Don’t push this, Hayden. I can’t entrust her to Damien, not after what—”
“Not after what? After he left you in prison?”
“You said it. Not me.”
“I think it’s time Damien finally told you the truth about what was happening back here when you were in prison. Several of us wanted to tell you earlier, but Damien forbade it.”
“Uncle Hayden!” Frankie came running up and hugged him. He winced when she banged into his injured thigh.
“Slow down, Francesca.”
The girl turned to Frank. “Uncle Frank, I can’t wake Delilah.”
“Shit!” Frank ran to the cave. Delilah was on her side. The back of her shirt was stained with blood. Her wounds had re-opened, and she was barely breathing.
Chapter Sixteen
FRANK
Delilah was laying in her bed at Damien and Tess’s house. She was out cold. Pryce had been giving her fluids, checking her vitals, and treating her wounds for more than an hour, but there was no change. She lay there so utterly still. And pale.
“There’s nothing more I can do for her,” Pryce said. “Either she wakes or. . .” Pryce stopped talking. He didn’t want to say the words any more than Frank wanted to hear them.
“Get Mila in here,” Frank ordered.
“She’s busy with the delivery. And I’ve spoken with her to make sure I wasn’t missing anything. There’s nothing either of us can do but wait.”
Tess was laying down next to Delilah, holding her hand, talking to her about their childhood, her time here with the pack, and whatever else she could think of that would keep Delilah engaged. Except his Delilah didn’t move, didn’t even moan or flutter her eyelids.
Pryce put a heavy hand on Frank’s shoulder. “Holding a partial shift is dangerous, but that doesn’t mean she won’t bounce back. She walked with you for two days. This is likely nothing more than exhaustion.”
“And if it isn’t?”
“Don’t say that,” Tess said, her light green eyes narrowing. “And don’t you dare give up on her!”
“I’d never give up on her. I want to blood-bond her, Tess, but you won’t let me!” Franked shouted back, then immediately shut up, realizing the yelling in front of Delilah couldn’t be helping her. He thrust his hand through his hair and walked to the window where he leaned both hands on the sill and stared out onto the vast woods.
“Blood-bond might work,” Pryce said in an even tone, attempting to ease the tension. “If it’s what Delilah wants. Otherwise it’s a forced bond and could do more harm.”
“Well, Frank. . . Did she ever show any desire to blood-bond you? And don’t you dare lie to me,” Tess said.
“I’ve never lied to you, Tess,” he said, shocked that she’d even suggest that. Then again, he understood her fear and frustration. She was scared for Delilah. So was he.
He returned to the bed, placing a hand on her foot. He didn’t like that there were blankets between them, keeping him from touching her flesh, but Tess was holding her left hand while Pryce was taking her vitals on her right side. He’d send them both away so he could be with Delilah, just the two of them, but he feared he wasn’t enough for her. . . Now, and after she recovered.
“She turned me down.”
Delilah’s refusal had crushed him, but saying those few words felt as if he was dooming her. He never understood why she had declined, and she hadn’t offered an explanation. Maybe he hadn’t proven his worth to her. He didn’t know what females wanted, though he thought he understood Delilah. She hid so much from him, from her own sister. Delilah didn’t let anyone in easily.
The main door downstairs slammed shut, rattling the doors upstairs. Tess’s head lifted. “Damien and Hayden. But I don’t know the voice of the man with them,” she said.
