Page 13

Dante

“He doesn’t remember me.” The words stung, and I knew Torment heard the pain in my voice.

“You knew this would not be easy, Intern. Head trauma takes time. Recovery is a process and we must be patient.”

I wanted to scream at him. I didn’t have time for patience. My hands balled into fists as I paced the office, my anxiety building.

“I don’t have time!” I shouted, my voice echoing off the walls. I knew I was being irrational, but I couldn’t help it. The situation was dire, and I had no one else to turn to. “You don’t understand,” I croaked. “Sypher needs to remember. It’s crucial that he gets his memories back, and soon.”

Torment, ever the calm presence, tried to reassure me. “Then help me understand, Intern. We all want the same thing here. Sypher is one of us, and we will do everything we can to help him recover.”

I took a deep breath, knowing I had to trust someone. “Can I tell you something, Torment? Something in strict confidence?”

“Of course,” Torment replied, his voice steady and reassuring. “What is said in this room stays between us. I’m bound by patient confidentiality.”

I hesitated, knowing that what I was about to reveal could have far-reaching consequences. “What about the club?” I asked, my voice laced with worry. “Doesn’t the club have a say in this?”

Torment shook his head, his expression resolute. “The club doesn’t matter in here. Only you and I. Whatever you tell me will go no further.”

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what I was about to reveal. “Danny and I have a daughter,” I whispered, the words feeling like a weight lifted from my shoulders. I knew this information could change everything, but I had to trust Torment. He had to know the full extent of the situation. “She’s the reason I need Sypher to remember. It’s crucial for her safety.” I paused, my anxiety building as I awaited Torment’s response.

Torment’s expression softened, and he leaned forward, his eyes filled with a mixture of concern and determination. “Tell me about your daughter, Intern. What’s her name?” he asked, his voice steady and calm.

I felt a slight relief at his reaction, but my worries were far from over. “Her name is Danika, or Dani,” I replied, a small smile appearing on my face as I spoke her name. “She’s just a baby, barely two, but she’s already been through so much. Danny and I have kept her existence a secret, even from the clubs. Only a handful of people know about her.” I took another deep breath, the weight of my responsibilities bearing down on me.

“Where is Danika?”

I shook my head. “She’s safe. With someone we trust, but the danger to her still exists. The longer it takes for Danny to get his memories back, the more danger she’s in.”

“Why?” Torment asked, leaning forward. “Why is Danika in danger, Dante?”

“Because like me, she’s a product of the Trick Pony. She was conceived and born there.”

Torment’s eyes widened at my revelation and he sat back in his chair, processing this new information. “A product of the Trick Pony?” he repeated, his voice steady despite the shock in his eyes. “Are you telling me that Danika was born in that fucked-up place? How?”

“I was in college when it happened. I was partying with friends one night and woke up there. For one week, a woman tortured, beat, raped and forced me to do things that have stained my soul.”

“And the same thing happened to Danika’s birth mother?”

I nodded. “Yes. I’d never been with a girl before. I knew I was gay from a young age, accepted it. But that fucking bitch didn’t care and she damn near beat us to death until we did what she wanted. My daughter is a product of rape, Torment. Not just her mother, but me. When Danny started investigating the Trick Pony, it didn’t take him long to learn that I fathered a child. And when he learned where she was, he set things in motion to save her.”

“You’re talking about the FBI raid and your subsequent arrest.”

I nodded again. “Yes. Danny learned Danika was being held in an off-site military instillation.” Getting to my feet, I paced the room again. “God, Torment, everything is so fucked up. When we got Danika out, I thought everything would settle down, but it didn’t, and the only one who knows what is going on is Danny and he can’t remember shit. I need him to remember.”

Torment leaned forward, his eyes intense. “I can’t just make him remember, Intern. There are limits to what I can do.”

“There’s more,” I said, my voice low. “The bitch who runs the Trick Pony, she’s not just going to let this go. She knows about Danika, and my gut is telling me she wants her back. I fear she will stop at nothing to get to her. That’s why I need your help. We have to make Danny remember, for Dani’s sake.”

Torment’s eyes narrowed and a deep furrow formed between his brows. “If what you are saying is true, it changes things, Intern. The club will want to know about this. We have resources that could help keep your daughter safe.”

I shook my head, my anxiety spiking at the thought of involving the club. “No, they can’t know. Danny and I made a promise to keep her existence a secret. The fewer people who know, the safer she is.”

Torment considered this, his expression unreadable. “Very well, Intern. For now, we keep this between us, but understand that I may need to involve others to ensure your daughter’s safety. We’re dealing with a powerful and dangerous enemy.”

I nodded, knowing he was right. “I understand, Torment. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep Dani safe. Just please help me make Danny remember. It’s our best chance at protecting her.”

Torment leaned back in his chair. His eyes filled with a mixture of determination and concern. “We’ll start with Sypher. I’ll try an alternative approach to help him recover his memories. I’m not promising anything. In the meantime, I want you to focus on taking care of yourself. You’ve suffered a major trauma yourself, and that needs to be addressed. I know now is not the time, but when shit settles down, I want to see you in my office. Understand?”

I nodded.

“I need you to be honest with me from here on out. We’re dealing with a complex and dangerous situation, and withholding information could put all of us at risk.” Torment’s voice was firm, but his eyes held a hint of empathy.

I knew he was right; I had to be completely transparent if we were going to protect Danika and help Sypher. “I know, and I’m sorry. It’s just that this whole situation has been so terrifying. I’ve been scared and unsure of whom to trust.” I paused, gathering my thoughts. “The truth is, I don’t know much more than what I’ve already told you. Danny is the one who set everything up. He knows more than me. He insisted we keep Danika’s existence a secret from everyone except a few trusted individuals. He arranged for her to be cared for by someone outside of the Biker Federation, someone who has no ties to our world. But if that bitch finds out where Danika is at, I fear she’ll stop at nothing to get her hands on my daughter.”

“We’ll uncover the truth, Intern. I promise you that. In the meantime, I want you to focus on taking care of yourself and staying strong for your daughter. I’ll speak with Dr. Robinette and Malice. Maybe we can come up with a plan to help Sypher recover his memories and together, we’ll ensure Danika’s safety.”

Torment’s words offered a glimmer of hope in the darkness that had enveloped my life.

Leaving Torment’s office, I stepped onto the bustling city street, wrapping my coat tightly around me. A cool breeze swept through, sending a shiver down my spine as my mind raced with the revelations I had just made.

The busy street, with its honking cars and large crowds, felt surreal, like I had stepped into someone else’s chaotic dream. My thoughts swirled like the fall leaves scattered by the wind, each one carrying a piece of the story I had shared with Torment. I felt exposed, as if my deepest secrets had been laid bare for the world to see. The burden of my discovery was immense, leaving me wondering if I could ever outrun its consequences.

As I wandered through the city, my mind continued to turn over the events of the past hour. The cool breeze became a biting wind, reflecting the chill that had settled in my bones. I felt a sudden urge to escape, to find a quiet place where I could be alone with my thoughts and make sense of the turmoil within me.

I found myself drawn to the river, a place where I often sought solace. The water, glimmering in the fading light, offered a sense of tranquility amidst the urban chaos. I sat on a bench, watching the gentle current, my thoughts still swirling like the leaves now drifting onto the surface. The city noises faded into the background as I reflected on my conversation with Torment. The weight of my confession seemed to lift slightly in the presence of the river’s quiet flow. But as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows, the chill in my bones deepened.

I pulled my coat tighter, wishing I could escape the chill as easily as I could escape the city’s hustle and bustle. The river, a silent witness to my turmoil, seemed to offer a gentle reminder that, like its flowing waters, change was constant. As the moon rose, bathing the scene in a soft glow, I felt a sense of resolve beginning to form. I knew I couldn’t escape the shadow of my past, but perhaps, like the river, I could continue to flow, to move forward and leave the torment of my revelations behind.

With a deep breath, I rose from the bench, feeling a sense of peace amidst the chaos. The river had offered me the solace I needed, and now it was time to return home.

“Good evening, Dante.”

“What do you want, Sinclair?”

“To talk, of course,” the man said, taking a seat on the bench. “Please sit.”

“I need to get back—”

“Sit down, Dante.”

It was an order. Plain and simple.

I hesitated, then slowly lowered myself back onto the bench. The moon reflected off the river, creating a serene atmosphere, but my muscles tensed, ready to flee at any moment. Sinclair, a figure shrouded in mystery, had a way of appearing when I least expected it and never with good intentions.

“What is it this time, Sinclair? What do you want from me?” I asked, my voice steady despite the turmoil within.

Sinclair smiled, a cold, calculated expression that sent a fresh chill through me. “I think you know why I’m here, Dante. We have unfinished business and I’m afraid it can’t wait any longer.”

My heart sank as I realized Sinclair wouldn’t let this go. “He still doesn’t remember, Sin.”

“But he will.”

Sinclair’s words hung in the air between us, heavy with implication.

The moonlight reflected off the river, casting an eerie glow on his face, and I felt a shiver that had nothing to do with the chill night air.

“He has something I want.” Sinclair’s eyes, cold and unblinking, held mine. “I know of a way to make him remember. It won’t be pleasant, but it’s necessary.”

I felt a surge of anger at the thought of putting Danny through more pain. “Why can’t you just let it go, Sinclair? He’s suffered enough.”

A faint smile played at the corners of Sinclair’s mouth, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Because, Dante, some debts must be paid in full. And this one is long overdue.”

I stood abruptly, unable to remain seated any longer. “Don’t do this, Sinclair. I’m begging you.” My voice was desperate, pleading.

Sinclair rose as well, his gaze unwavering. “It’s out of my hands now, Dante. The wheels are already in motion.”

I felt a surge of panic as the implications sank in. “When?” I asked, my voice hoarse.

“Tonight, Dante. It ends tonight.” Sinclair turned and walked away, leaving me standing there, my heart pounding. I knew there was no stopping Sinclair; the die had been cast.

As I watched Sinclair’s retreating figure, a sense of dread settled over me. The night had taken an ominous turn, and I knew that whatever happened next would change everything. With a heavy heart, I walked, my footsteps echoing on the pavement as I made my way back into the bustling city. The river, with its tranquil flow, felt like a distant memory now, and the chill in my bones seemed to deepen with each step I took.