Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 8

matter of time before someone at the Sixth gave into temptation. John's reputation and good intentions could only go so far.
    "I don't know. All my boys know that if they got money troubles, they come see me and we'll sort something out. If they got a beef, we take care of it like men. No double-crossing." He stood and started pacing. "It started off small, but somehow it's gotten out of hand. Files and evidence have gone missing, documents forged, hoods released due to lack of evidence, charges dropped, even had a witness hang himself, and no one saw a goddamn thing. It's a mess, Harlan. I don't know who I can trust."
    "Damn it, John, I—" Harlan was cut off by the sound of a gunshot, which was quickly followed by a second shot. Harlan jumped to his feet and they both ran for the door. A horrible, sick feeling washed over Harlan, and when he heard Nathan screaming for him, his heart plummeted. All he could think of as he ran out the door, was: 'Please, God, let Nate be okay.'
    CHAPTER 7
    "Harley!"
    Harlan was the first in the room, with John nearly knocking him over when Harlan had come to an abrupt halt, stunned by the site of Nathan cradling Danny in his arms, his hand applying pressure to a patch of crimson on Danny's side, one which was quickly spreading. At not seeing Shifty, his first instinct was to think the bastard had escaped, but when his gaze moved to the floor and the pool of blood spreading from under the small wooden table, it was clear that Shifty had gone nowhere.
    "What the hell happened?" John asked, running over to Nathan's side and getting on his knees. His hand slipped under Danny's head and the other went to check Danny's pulse. "He's still alive."
    Harlan called over his shoulder at the officers that had started crowding, and ordered them to get a medical team over immediately. He quickly joined Nathan, who looked frightfully pale and stricken.
    "We were putting the screws on him," Nathan replied shakily, "when the bastard mentioned some mug named Giorgio. Whoever it was, it really got to Danny. When I asked him about it, Shifty pulled out a .32. I drew, but I wasn't quick enough. He plugged Danny." He looked down at his bloody hand and shook his head. "Oh God, he's going to die, Harley. I'm gonna lose him again."
    "Danny's not going anywhere, Nate," Harlan assured him, knowing there was no way to know for certain, but he couldn't let Nathan fall apart. The last time he'd seen Nathan like this, was after they'd first met, after Danny's disappearance. If Nathan lost Danny again, God only knew what it would do to him. "He's going to pull through this. Right, John?"
    John looked up at him, then at Nathan. "Damn right. He's a fighter, Nate. You gotta believe in that."
    It had broken Harlan's heart when he'd been forced to drag Nathan away from Danny as the medics hurried him off to Broad Street Hospital. John had stayed behind, promising he would come join them at the hospital as soon as he got some answers, and judging by his severe expression, Harlan had no doubt he would do just that.
    Harlan and Nathan spent the rest of the day and well into the late evening waiting for word on Danny from the doctors. As soon as they'd arrived at the hospital, Harlan had insisted that no expense be spared in doing everything possible to help Danny. Hours later, he sat in a small chair in the wide, too-white corridor with Nathan pacing steadily back and forth, not saying a word. Harlan let him handle things his way, occasionally asking him if he wanted water or coffee. Nathan would just shake his head and continue pacing.
    A door opened and Nathan came to halt. Harlan quickly went to his side as the doctor approached.
    "How is he?" Nathan asked, receiving a hand on his shoulder and a reassuring smile, which immediately relieved a great deal of the tension in Harlan's shoulders.
    "He'll be fine, gentlemen." The doctor's smile slowly disappeared and he motioned for Harlan and Nathan to sit, which they did, though Harlan could see it was taking everything Nathan had to keep still.
    "What is it, doc?" Nathan asked worriedly.
    "I take it he served?"
    Nathan nodded. "In Hamel."
    The doctor pursed his lips, seemed to think about something for a moment then continued. "I gathered as much. He has several prominent scars on various parts of his body. Physically, he is a strong young man. The bullet went straight through and the damage was minimal. He should recover comparatively quickly. However, I have… other