Page 9

Dante

The second I walked in and found Matthew and the rest of Harbor Security all standing in my living room, I knew I wasn’t going to like what came next. More importantly, I noticed Danny’s computers were up and running.

Sighing, I stepped closer and sneered, “Tell me you didn’t wake him up so you could go digging around in his computers.”

“He was already awake, Dante,” Matthew stated.

Shaking my head, I growled. I couldn’t with these people anymore. All they cared about was what Danny had in his head and they were fucking determined to get the information. They didn’t fucking care about his mental well-being.

All they cared about was covering their asses.

Scanning the room, I found Danny sitting in a corner, rocking himself back and forth as he grabbed his head in pain, and I fucking lost it.

Enough was enough.

I knew now the only way Danny was going to heal was if I removed everything and everyone from his life so his mind could rest and recover on its own.

I stormed over to Danny, gently placing my hand on his shoulder. “Danny, look at me,” I whispered, trying to bring him back from his dark thoughts.

His eyes flickered to mine, filled with a mixture of pain and fear.

“It’s okay, I’m here now,” I assured him, my voice steady and determined. The room fell silent, all eyes on us. I could feel their disapproving stares, but I didn’t care anymore. This was about Danny, not their twisted agendas.

“I can’t remember,” he whispered.

“That’s okay, Danny,” I whispered back, squeezing his shoulder gently. “You don’t need to remember right now.”

Turning back to the others, I stood in front of Danny and seethed, “Get the fuck out of my home.”

“Dante—” Ace barely got out before my fist connected with his face.

“How dare you! He’s your fucking brother. Get the fuck out of here before I call the police or better yet, Reaper and tell him what you fucking said to him. You should be ashamed of yourself. You fucking know damn well Danny wasn’t responsible for Roxy’s death!”

“No, he was not,” the man himself snarled, standing in the doorway, clutching a gun in his hand.

Ace stumbled back, clutching his face, anger and shock blazing in his eyes. The others shifted uncomfortably, casting uneasy glances between us. I could feel the tension thickening in the air, but my resolve remained unshaken. The room seemed to hold its breath as Reaper’s presence demanded authority. His gaze never wavered when he stepped further into the room, the glint of the gun catching the light.

“You all heard Dante,” Reaper growled, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Get the fuck out. Now.”

Matthew Law ordered his men to leave. As Ace walked past Reaper, the irate man threw his arm out and stopped Ace. Looking at the fucker, Reaper smirked. “This isn’t over between you and me. You get me, fucker?”

Ace said nothing as he pushed past the president of the Golden Skulls.

The second they were gone, I turned to Danny, kneeling before him.

“Danny?”

He sat there, rocking himself back and forth, shaking his head, his eyes closed tightly.

“Danny, it’s okay. You’re safe now,” I whispered, my voice trembling with the effort to keep calm. I reached out, gently placing my hand on his shoulder. He flinched at the contact, his body still wracked with silent sobs.

Reaper’s footsteps echoed in the now-quiet room as he approached us. Kneeling beside Danny, he revealed a softer, concerned expression that contrasted with his earlier demeanor.

“Danny, look at me.” Reaper’s voice was gentle now, a stark contrast to his earlier menace. It was as if he had flipped a switch, instantly transforming himself into a different person. “It’s my fault your mom died. Not yours. I should have gotten her to safety with the others, but I didn’t. That’s on me. Not you, and I am so fucking sorry.”

Danny blinked as he looked over at the man and frowned. “It wasn’t your fault, Mr. Reaper. It was the Society’s .”

Reaper stiffened as he looked at me before turning back to Danny and nodding. “That’s right. The Society came for the club when I married Remi.”

“My head hurts.”

Not needing to hear more, I helped Danny to his feet and escorted him back to his bedroom. After giving him his medication and helping him back to bed, I closed all the curtains, ensuring the room was dark, before closing the door behind me.

Walking back into the living room, Reaper paced restlessly.

“He remembered the wedding.”

“The doctor said his memories would come back in pieces.”

“What the fuck was the goon squad doing here?”

Sighing, I sat on the couch and asked my own question, “Why are you here, Reaper?”

“Just wanted to come by and see how he was doing.”

Looking up at the man, I narrowed my eyes. “Is that all?”

“I know you don’t trust me, and after the way we’ve all acted, I understand, but you need to know that I care deeply for Sypher and, like you, I want him to get better. If that means walking away from him, I’m willing to do it. Just say the word.”

Leaning back, I closed my eyes and shook my head. “He wouldn’t want that. Contrary to everyone’s belief, I know Danny needs all of you. He lives for the club and helping others. It makes him feel important. I can’t take that away from him. I won’t, but I sure as hell won’t allow all of you to abuse that friendship. What Danny needs is time, and I’m sure you will agree when I say this, but the brothers in the fucking biker world are the most impatient motherfuckers around. You all want everything now.”

Reaper chuckled, taking a seat across from me. “Got that right.”

“I can’t do this by myself. I can’t take care of Danny and keep all of you at bay. If you guys don’t stop, I will take Danny somewhere else, and I really don’t want to do that.”

“So, you need a buffer.” Reaper grinned. “Someone who won’t think twice before putting us all on our asses, but eager to help you take care of Danny, putting his needs first.”

I smirked. “If such a paragon exists, then yes. That’s exactly who I need.”

“Good thing for you, Dante, she does exist,” Reaper said, reaching for his phone.

“Danny, food is here!” I yelled, closing the front door and carrying the takeout I ordered, placing the bags on the kitchen counter. Rifling through the bags, I started placing containers on the counter as Danny walked over, looking a little better, but I could see he hadn’t slept well. “I thought you’d like some Thai food. I got all your favorites: Tiki Masala and Mango sticky rice along with buttered garlic Naan.”

“Pad Thai?”

“Yep, got that too,” I said just as someone knocked at the door. “Go ahead and get the rest of the containers out. I’ll be right back after I take care of whoever’s at the door.”

Not waiting for a response, I hustled over to the front door and threw it open to find myself face-to-face with a beautiful woman.

“Where is he?” she immediately said, pushing past me. Blinking, I turned and watched as she marched her cute ass into my house.

“Gotta forgive my woman. She doesn’t stand on ceremony,” a voice said from behind me. Turning back around, a large man in a Golden Skulls cut smiled warmly at me. “Name’s Digger and that ball of hellfire that just walked past is my woman—”

“STELLA!” I heard Danny shout.