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Dante

December 29, 2024, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

The sound of my phone ringing shattered the silence of my deep sleep. Not that I was really sleeping, anyway. Rolling over in bed, I fumbled for my phone on the nightstand, finally answering the insistent ringing. When I heard the voice on the other end speak, my world instantly shifted.

“Dante?”

Sitting up, I barely said, “Silas? What’s wrong?”

“You need to come home. It’s Danny.”

Something was wrong. Silas never showed fear. Never in all my years had I ever heard his voice tremble. He was one of the strongest men I knew.

Wide awake now, every muscle in my body coiled in fear, I whispered, “What happened?”

“Danny’s hurt. A building exploded, and he was in it. It’s bad, Dante.”

I leaped from the bed and began a frantic search for clothes, all the while questioning where he was. “What hospital is he at?”

“He’s not.”

That caught me off guard.

“What do you mean?”

“He’s at the Playground. Sinclair has him.”

“WHAT THE HELL?!”

“I don’t know what you know, but it’s really bad here. Everyone is looking for him. It’s only a matter of time before the clubs realize where he’s at. Dante, the table has issued a kill order for Danny. They want him dead.”

“Why?”

“Because they can’t let what’s in his head get out into the open.”

“How does Sinclair figure in to this?” I asked, jumping into a pair of jeans.

“Because Danny let it slip that he possibly knew where Thena was. Sinclair isn’t fucking playing around this time, Dante. He’s keeping Danny until he reveals Thena’s whereabouts.”

“Why?” I growled. “Why is he still looking for her?”

“Because of what she has.”

“What?”

“She took something when she ran away. Something Sinclair wants back.”

Yeah. I didn’t know what to do with that information. Right now, I had to focus on getting to Danny, and every bit of information helped. “What did she take?”

“I don’t know, but like I said, Sinclair isn’t fucking around. He’s got Danny in a private room at the Playground under lock and key. He’s keeping him alive in the hopes that Danny will reveal where Thena is. If he doesn’t, then I don’t know what Sinclair will do to him.”

“I’m gonna kill him.”

“Get in line because when the clubs learn Sinclair took Sypher from the hospital, there will be nothing Rowen or I can do to save him. I’m hoping that maybe you can talk some sense into him before he gets himself killed.”

“He’s never listened to me before, Silas.”

“There is a first time for everything,” Silas muttered. “Just get to the Playground fast.”

I needed no more convincing. With a sense of urgency, I packed up everything I thought I would need as Silas’ words echoed in my mind. The Playground, a place I knew all too well. It was like every other club Sinclair owned. And like the other clubs, I knew what to expect when I walked in.

My mind raced through the possibilities, the dangers that awaited me, and the uncertainty of what I would find there. Crispin Sinclair wasn’t a man I ever wanted to cross. While Sin and the others raised me, it was Sin who I’d always feared the most. I knew something dark lurked deep within the man. Something malevolent and sinister. Unlike Silas and Rowen, Crispin Sinclair preferred total control in everything around him, and when that didn’t happen, the facade he showed the world slipped, showing the real man behind the mask.

Shaking my head, I finished getting dressed. I knew something was wrong. I had felt it in my soul for weeks, and Silas’ call just confirmed my worst fears. Someone had hurt Danny, and he was in trouble. To make matters worse, everyone I thought I could trust kept this from me.

Not one person told me the truth.

My mind raced as I tried to piece together the fragments of conversations and odd behaviors that had plagued my thoughts. Danny had always been a beacon of strength and reliability, yet before he left, he had been distant. A troubling silence had replaced his laughter, once a constant melody, leaving me to grapple with the gnawing fear that something sinister was unfolding.

The betrayal cut deep.

Friends and family, the very pillars of my support system, had kept me in the dark. Their silence was a tacit agreement to shield me from the harsh reality, but it only deepened the wound. I felt abandoned, isolated in my anguish, and they shattered the trust I had placed in them.

Determined to uncover the truth, I steeled myself against the mounting dread. The weight of the unknown pressed heavily upon me, but I knew that I could not succumb to fear. Danny needed me, and I resolved to be his unwavering support, just as he had been mine.

In the weeks after Danny’s departure, an unease had settled in my chest, a constant reminder that something was amiss. It began with subtle hints—hushed whispers and fleeting looks when Danny talked with men who had once vowed to protect me only to suddenly distance themselves. As the days stretched on, each one ladened with a growing sense of dread.

I began to notice patterns that didn’t add up. Danny’s usual quick responses turned into moments of silence. The laughter and camaraderie that defined our commitment seemed to fade, replaced by an unspoken tension. His excuses were plausible, but my intuition screamed otherwise.

Late at night, I would sit by the window, watching the shadows dance outside, wondering what secrets they held. My dreams were restless, filled with images of Danny reaching out to me, only to dissolve into the darkness before I could grasp his hand. It was in those moments that the weight of uncertainty became almost unbearable.

It was not just Danny’s behavior that alarmed me, but the actions of those around us. What cut the deepest was not the news itself, but the realization that those around me had kept it from me. The people I trusted, the voices I relied on for truth and support, had been silent.

The betrayal was a knife in my back, twisting with every unspoken word.

Friends who once vowed to protect became guarded; their eyes betraying the secrets they held. Conversations felt strained. Each word carefully chosen to avoid revealing too much. I felt increasingly isolated, as if an invisible barrier separated me from the truth.

Despite the growing number of signs, I clung to the hope that it was all a misunderstanding. That perhaps Danny was dealing with something personal he didn’t yet feel ready to share. But the phone call shattered that hope and left me facing a stark and painful reality.

After packing everything I would need for New York, I walked into my daughter’s room to find her curled up on her bed, hugging the soft teddy Danny got her before he left. I hated the idea of trusting another individual with my daughter, but there was no way I could take her with me. I needed her safe.

I gently sat on the edge of her bed, feeling the weight of my decision pressing heavily on my shoulders. Her innocent eyes looked up at me, filled with questions she hadn’t yet figured out how to ask.

Taking a deep breath, I stroked her hair and explained, “Sweetheart, I have to go away for a while. You are going to stay with Missy. Would you like to sleep over with Missy?” I tried to use my comforting voice, though I wasn’t entirely certain who needed the comfort more—her or me.

Since Danny left, Danika had become more reliant on me. Melissa said she would step in whenever I needed help, and tonight, I was about to test that offer. There was no way I could take Danika with me. It wasn’t safe for her, and knowing where I would be going, I didn’t want my daughter anywhere near that place. Bad enough I would have to endure it. She was innocent, and I was determined for her to stay that way.

She looked at me with a mix of confusion and trust, her little fingers fiddling with her teddy bear’s ear before she pointed at the picture of her and Danny on her little nightstand.

I nodded, forcing a smile that I hoped would mask my own anxiety. “Yes, sweetheart. I am going to bring Papa home. And while I’m doing that, I need you to be a brave little girl, okay? Missy will take such good care of you. I promise you’ll have so much fun,” I reassured her, though the knot in my stomach tightened.

Danika reluctantly nodded, her grip on the teddy bear tightening. I kissed her forehead, whispering a silent promise that I would return to her as soon as I could. Knowing this was the best way to ensure her safety, I gathered my courage, kissed her one more time, and then stood up.

Moving about her room, I packed several days’ worth of clothes for her before getting her dressed. Making sure she had everything she needed, I gathered her bags, then picked up my daughter and left.

The drive across town to Melissa’s office didn’t take long. It was late at night and everyone seemed to be home, resting up for the upcoming New Year’s Eve party. It was something that Danny and I should have been celebrating. Shaking the thought from my head, I focused on what I needed to do, but first I had to talk Melissa into taking Danika because if she refused, I didn’t know what I was going to do.

I knew Melissa would be in her office. The woman practically lived there. I needed her help badly, and right now, she was the only one I could trust. With a deep breath, I made my way to her building, each step echoing with urgency and desperation. The hallways seemed endless, a labyrinth of uncertainty, but I pushed forward, driven by the knowledge that Melissa’s counsel could make all the difference.

When I finally reached her door, I paused briefly, gathering my thoughts before knocking and opening the door. As the door creaked open, I saw her sitting behind her desk, buried in paperwork, her face illuminated by the soft glow of the desk lamp. She looked up. Surprise flickered in her eyes when she saw me standing there, holding Danika, while the bags I carried weighed me down.

“Melissa, I need your help,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper, but frantic, nonetheless.

She frowned, but didn’t stop me from entering.

Putting Danika on the floor, I dropped her bags and walked over to the woman.

“Dante?” she muttered, her eyes darting to Danika, who walked over to the water table. “What’s wrong?”

“I need you to take Danika for me.”

“What?” Melissa gasped, her eyes wide. “Why?”

“Danny is in trouble. I need to go to New York City, and I can’t take Danika with me.”

“Dante, I’m her therapist. I can’t just take your daughter. There are laws!”

“Look, I know this is unheard of, but it’s an emergency,” I firmly said, rubbing the back of my neck. I knew the only way Melissa would help was if I told her the real truth. Danny was adamant that no one know who we were. He said anonymity was the only thing that would protect us. But I didn’t have that luxury anymore. I knew Melissa wouldn’t help unless I was completely honest with her.

“I am calling on doctor-patient confidentiality. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

She blinked. “Yes. I understand.”

“Danny and I, we’re not what we led you to believe. Yes, we own our own companies, but it’s more than that. Melissa, I’m an intern with the Soulless Sinners Motorcycle Club, and Danny is a patched brother in the Golden Skulls. Danny works for the Biker Federation.”

Melissa’s eyes widened

I watched her face pale. Slowly shaking her head, she took several steps back, distancing herself from me, almost as if to protect herself. I could see the fear and betrayal clearly written on her face.

“No.”

“Danny didn’t want me to say anything because of who he really is.”

“Who is he?”

“Sypher.”

“Oh God!” she cried, pacing the room frantically.

“Look, Missy, I know this is a lot to take in, and I’m sorry to dump this all on you at the last minute, but I don’t have a choice. Danny’s been in an accident, and I need to get to him. I don’t have a lot of time. I need you to keep Danika for me. No one can know where she is. If there was anyone else, I would ask them, but Danika trusts you and so do I.”

“I can’t!” Melissa shouted. “You don’t understand!”

Rushing over to the woman, I grabbed her hands and pleaded, “Please, Melissa. If you never want to see me or Danika again after this, I’ll understand, but please, I really need you to do this one thing for me.”

The woman took a good long look at me. I wasn’t sure she would help, and I didn’t know what I would do if she didn’t, but when she reluctantly nodded, I hugged her tightly.

“Thank you.”

Taking a step back, she took a deep breath as Danika walked over to her, raising her hands up in the air. Picking my daughter up, Melissa held her close while Danika laid her head down on her shoulder. The fear Melissa tried to contain seeped out of her pores.

I knew this was a big ask.

“How will I contact you?”

Shaking my head, I muttered, “You can’t contact me. I can’t risk Danika.”

“So, you are just going to leave her with me and trust that I can protect her?”

“Yes.”

“What the hell is going on, Dante? And don’t you dare tell me you can’t tell me because this ask goes way beyond a doctor-patient relationship. If Danika is in danger, then I need to know.”

“That’s just it. I’m not really sure. All I know is Danny was in a building when it exploded. He’s alive, but not in a hospital where he belongs. All the clubs are looking for him and the table issued a kill order.”

“The table won’t issue a kill order unless he’s a threat or they believe he’s been compromised.”

My brows furrowed. “How the hell do you know that?”

“I wasn’t always a therapist, Dante.” Melissa smirked. “Go. I’ll keep her safe until you get back.”

“Keep your cell phone close. I will send you a text every day to let you know I’m still alive. If you don’t hear from me after forty-eight hours, take Danika and find Ellery Thomas. She’s an old lady in the Silver Shadows MC. Her husband, Ryder Thomas, is a patched member. Do you understand me? I will not allow my life to hurt her any more than it already has,” I said firmly as she nodded, her eyes avoiding mine. Reaching into my back pocket, I handed her an envelope. “Take this. Danny thought of everything. It’s Danika’s birth certificate and IDs, stating that you are her mother. There is also a black Amex in your name. It has no limit. Whatever you need, this card will cover it.”

“I’ve got money.”

“Which can be tracked,” I stated. “That card can’t.”

“How?” she asked, her hands trembling as she held the envelope.

I grinned. “Think whatever you want about Danny, but the man thinks of and plans for every contingency.”

“He knew something like this could happen?”

I nodded. “Yeah, and he still did it anyway.”

“Dante,” she whispered, looking up at me.

Quickly hugging her, I muttered, “Take care of our daughter. She is the most important person in our lives.”

Giving my daughter a kiss on the forehead, I didn’t look back.

I couldn’t.

Because if I did, I wouldn’t be able to leave.

Determined not to let my fear paralyze me, I left my daughter behind and headed for Will Rogers Airport, as turmoil raged within me. Each mile was a testament to the resolve forming in my heart.

Danny needed me, and I would get him out of the Playground, no matter what it took.