Page 8

Danny

Looking at my watch, I hurried down toward the harbor. It was late, and the sky pitch black. The moon hung low in the sky, a thin sliver of silver casting a faint glow on the water. The air was crisp and carried the scent of salt and seaweed, a constant reminder of the ocean’s proximity.

My footsteps echoed on the deserted cobblestone streets, the sound swallowed by the vastness of the night. The harbor’s lights appeared in the distance, their yellowish beams flickering like beacons of hope in the darkness. Ships, both grand and modest, bobbed gently on the waves, their masts swaying in a rhythmic dance.

As I approached the harbor, the gentle lapping of water against the docks grew louder, mingling with the occasional creak of wooden planks and the distant call of a solitary gull. The boats, tethered securely, painted a serene picture, their hulls reflecting the glowing orbs of light that dotted the pier.

I quickened my pace, feeling the urgency of my destination pressing against the tranquility of the night. Each shadow seemed to stretch and shift, whispering secrets of the countless stories that the harbor had witnessed over the years. The night was alive with possibilities, each corner and alleyway hiding its own narrative.

Finally, I reached the edge of the pier, the expanse of the ocean stretching out before me like an endless abyss. The water shimmered under the starlight, a canvas of ever-changing hues and reflections. I stood there, catching my breath, my eyes searching the horizon for the signal that had drawn me here.

In the stillness, a soft rustling caught my attention. I turned and there, standing just a few feet away, was a figure cloaked in shadows. Their presence was both familiar and enigmatic, a specter from my past or perhaps a harbinger of what was yet to come. The night seemed to hold its breath, the air thick with anticipation.

“I don’t like to be kept waiting,” he said harshly, his voice blending seamlessly with the night.

“My plane was delayed,” I replied, mostly to myself, knowing he didn’t like excuses. I was shocked to receive his text when my plane landed, telling me he wanted to meet with me. Generally, we talked over the internet through secure channels. I didn’t know what changed, but I could guess.

It was all over the news.

The Society was no more.

The Golden Skulls did what no one else could, and the fallout would be massive and felt worldwide. Already I heard the chatter of a new rising threat, as others clamored to secure their foothold in the underworld.

“Have you found her?”

“Not yet,” I admitted, then added, “I need more time.”

Reaching inside his jacket for a pack of cigarettes, I watched as he placed the cigarette in his mouth before flicking his thumbnail against the tip of the match. The flame illuminated a gnarly looking scar that rain across his jawbone before he blew out the flame. The scent of tobacco drifted through the air, mingling with the damp, salty, fishy smell of the surrounding harbor. He said nothing as he took a long drag of his cigarette before flicking it onto the ground, extinguishing it with a twist of his boot.

“Find the bitch fast, kid. Hate to be you if Morpheus loses his temper.”

Gasping, I bolted upright, my body drenched in sweat as I grabbed my head and winced, feeling the bandage that still covered my head. I really hadn’t dreamed of anything important since the accident. The doctor told me my memories would take time and not to rush them, yet I couldn’t shake the eerie feeling that I was supposed to be doing something important.

I stumbled out of bed. Each step felt like an eternity as the room swayed slightly. A vague sense of urgency gnawed at me, yet my mind remained a blank canvas, devoid of any clues. The ticking of the clock seemed louder than usual, an incessant reminder of time slipping away.

Heading toward the kitchen, I opened the refrigerator and grabbed a bottle of water. Twisting off the cap, I took a large swallow as I looked around the place that was allegedly mine.

Walking over to the large windows, I stared down into the city that never slept and I tried to make sense of my dream. I knew of the name Morpheus. He was the president of the Brotherhood of Bastards, only they weren’t any normal motorcycle club. The club was 1%’ers and didn’t listen to the Biker Federation. In fact, the brotherhood did whatever the hell they wanted and didn’t give a damn about anyone.

I knew there was something I was supposed to remember, something crucial about the Brotherhood of Bastards, but my mind was frustratingly blank. The name Morpheus hung heavily in the air, a shadowed figure in the fog of my fragmented recollections.

As I stood there, the city’s lights reflected like a sea of stars and a sudden flash of memory jolted me. A meeting—yes, a meeting in an old, rundown bar. Faces obscured by smoke, voices murmuring in hushed tones. Morpheus had been there, his eyes cold and calculating, issuing orders with a chilling authority.

The image faded as quickly as it had appeared, leaving me with more questions than answers. I knew I had to piece together the fragments of my lost memories, but where to start? The urgency grew stronger, twisting my insides with a sense of impending doom.

I walked away from the window, trying to understand why the Brotherhood was so important to me. And why the thought of letting Morpheus down sent a shiver of dread down my spine.

I tried to get back to sleep after that memory woke me, but my head wouldn’t shut off long enough for me to rest. Instead, I just got up. No matter what I did, I still couldn’t shake the feeling that I was supposed to be doing something when I heard a knock at the door. Looking at the time, I frowned. It was only four in the damn morning, and I knew Dante wouldn’t be up till seven.

That thought stopped me short.

How the hell did I know that?

Hearing the knock again, I headed over to the front door and opened it to find my brother, Ace, along with four other men, all staring at me. Groaning, I ignored them and walked away. I didn’t know why they were here so damn early, but I wasn’t in the mood for any of their shit.

“Why are you here, Ace? Isn’t the military looking for you yet?”

“They better not be if they know what’s good for them,” my brother absently muttered, then clearly spoke. “Look, Danny, we need to talk.”

Halting my stride, I turned back toward him and his friends. They looked agitated, tense, ready to flee at a moment’s notice. Standing my ground, I crossed my arms over my chest and asked, “You’re lying to me. Why?”

“Not lying,” Ace groaned. “Just not telling you what you want to know.”

“It’s for your own safety,” the man next to him clearly stated.

“If it has something to do with my head being fucked up, then I have a right to know.”

“It doesn’t. It is Harbor Security business.”

Glaring at the large man, I asked, “And who the hell are you?”

“Matthew Law. I am your brother’s commanding officer and head of Alpha Team.”

Huffing, I absently walked away again.

I needed coffee if I was going to be having a coherent conversation with these G.I. Joes.

Ace and Matthew Law followed me into the kitchen, while the others milled around, looking like they expected someone to jump out from behind the cabinets. “Harbor Security has been compromised. There’s a leak, and it’s big. We think it might be someone on the inside.”

I had absolutely no fucking clue what Matthew Law was talking about.

Flipping on the coffeepot, I willed it to brew faster. Leaning against the counter, I looked at the two men. “Okay, who and what the fuck is Harbor Security? Last I knew, you were still in the fucking military, Ace.”

“I was, but now I’m not.” Ace groaned, taking a seat on one of the stools at the island bar.

Matthew Law glared at Ace, then added, “Look, Danny, we know you don’t remember. That’s why we’re here. I’m hoping you will let Ace look through your computers to get the files you downloaded before the FBI raided our building.”

“Stop,” I sighed, holding my hand up.

God, just thinking about what he said was giving me a fucking migraine. FBI, raids, downloads. What the fuck was Ace into? More importantly, was it going to come back and bite me in the ass? “What is Harbor Security?”

“It’s the security company I started and you currently own.”

Blinking, I looked at the man as if he’d lost his fucking mind. I didn’t own a security company and there was no way in hell I would ever work with my brother, Ace. I fucking hated the son of a bitch.

“Look, Danny, I know you don’t remember shit, but it’s true. You own Harbor Security and before the FBI raided the building, you downloaded the company’s files, then wiped the main server room. I need the files you downloaded.”

I stared at Matthew and Ace as my mind raced to comprehend what the man had just said. Harbor Security? FBI raids? This was a level of insanity I didn’t sign up for. I rubbed my temples, trying to stave off the impending headache. “And why exactly would I do that?” I asked, frustration seeping into my voice.

Matthew exchanged a glance with Ace before responding. “Because you knew there was a leak, Danny. You knew someone on one of the teams was feeding information to our competitors and you wanted to protect the company.”

I shook my head, still not fully grasping the situation. “And what makes you think I have those files now?”

“You always have a contingency plan,” Ace interjected. “You never trusted anyone completely, not even us. You would have kept those files somewhere safe, somewhere you could access them if things went south.”

My mind was a whirlwind of confusion and disbelief. It was true. I had always been cautious, always had a backup plan. But this? This was on a whole different level. “Alright,” I finally said, exhaling heavily. “I’ll help you find those files.”

Matthew nodded, relief evident on his face. “Thank you, Danny.”

I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of a much larger, much more complicated mess. But for now, all I could do was follow the thread and see where it led.

“What do you mean it’s not there?” Ace asked as I typed away on my keyboard, and I frowned.

“What I said. In fact, there is nothing on these drives. Check for yourself.”

Getting up, I moved out of the way as Ace slid into my seat, typing fast. He could look all he wanted, but if I was right, someone wiped my drives clean. There was absolutely nothing on them. It was as if the computers were brand new, just waiting for information. Which was odd because generally I wiped the hard drives and uploaded my own programming.

“Shit,” Ace cursed, leaning back in my chair. “Danny’s right, Law. There’s nothing. Someone wiped the mainframe.”

“Who would have access to his computers besides him and Dante?”

“The FBI arrested him, but I don’t see their tech department doing shit. Danny’s system had all the bells and whistles. Anyone who tried to break in would soon find themselves up against a brick wall. Danny programmed his system to erase itself if anyone unwanted tried to get in.”

“So, Danny did it?”

“More than likely,” Ace groaned, looking at me. “But Danny wouldn’t have erased shit. Just moved it somewhere safe. Somewhere no one would suspect and only he could access when it was safe.”

“Actually,” I absently said mainly to myself as I poured myself a cup of coffee, “I would display it out in the open. People typically ignore what’s in front of their faces.”

“Holy shit,” Ace groaned, getting up and walking over to his backpack. Rummaging through it, he added, “My brother is a fucking genius. He ensured I had it all this time, and I was too fucking blind to see it. It’s on the Microdrive he gave me for the OP at the Trick Pony.”

Leaning against the kitchen counter, I watched as my brother dumped his entire bag, searching for some damn Microdrive I apparently gave him. I didn’t remember giving him shit, so what did I know?

“It’s not here.” Ace whispered, looking at Matthew, then at me. “It’s gone.”

“Don’t look at me, bro.” I shrugged. “I don’t even remember giving you a Microdrive.”

“When was the last time you saw it, Ace?” one man asked.

“At the Trick Pony,” Ace whispered to no one in particular. “I put it in a faraday bag before I set the EMP and destroyed the servers there.”

“So, what you’re telling us is that sometime between the Trick Pony and now, you misplaced the drive?” a man groaned, rubbing the back of his neck. “Jesus Christ, Ace. Are you telling us that fucking drive could be anywhere in anyone’s hands?”

Ace slowly nodded as he stalked over to me.

“What did you do with it?”

“What?”

“I know you, Danny. You are a sneaky little shit. You would have taken it out of my bag the first chance you got. Where is it?”

“I don’t know,” I muttered, slowly backing away from my brother. I didn’t like the look in his eyes as he stalked toward me. Ace was many things but understanding wasn’t one of them. He was like a dog with a fucking bone. If he believed I took it, he wouldn’t stop until I told him exactly what he wanted to know.

The problem was, I didn’t remember shit.

“Ace, leave him alone,” someone said, but my brother ignored him.

“Shut up, Shane,” Ace growled. “He’s my fucking brother and somewhere inside his fucking brain, Danny knows exactly where that drive is at, and I’m not fucking leaving until he tells me where.”

“I don’t know,” I whispered as my back hit the wall.

“Yes, you do,” Ace seethed. “You aren’t trying hard enough. Think! Because if you don’t, men are going to die. You want their deaths on your head, like Mom’s? She died because of you! Now fucking think!”

“Back the fuck off, Ace.” Matthew rushed over as I slid down the wall, grabbing my head. “Forcing him won’t help.”

“What the fuck is going on here?”