Page 55 of Devil in Disguise

“Then tell me.”

“I can’t. It’s club business.”

Narrowing my eyes, I felt my rage bubble. “Don’t give me that shit, Danny. I’m in a club too.”

“That’s the fucking problem!” he seethed.

“You think I don’t know that?” I challenged, my voice rising. “You think I don’t know the things you’ve done, the choices you’ve made? I’m not naïve, Danny. I know the life we lead, the things we do. And I’m still here.” My heart was pounding, my breath coming in short gasps as I faced him, refusing to back down. “You can’t push me away, not anymore. I’m done being pushed away.”

Danny’s eyes narrowed and his jaw clenched. “This isn’t about me pushing you away. It’s about keeping you safe. Club business is dangerous and I won’t have you caught in the crossfire.”

I took a step forward, closing the distance between us. “I’m already in it, Danny. I’m in this life with you and I’m not backing down. We’re in this together, remember? That means we face the dangers together, we navigate the chaos together. You don’t get to decide my involvement based on some misguided notion of protection.”

His gaze faltered, and I saw a flicker of uncertainty. “Fuck this. I’m going to bed.”

With that, he turned and stormed out of the kitchen.

Dr. Walker’s gaze remained steady, her expression unwavering as she held the silence, clearly waiting for a response from Danny.

I shifted on the couch, the weight of the conversation bearing down on me. I wanted to reach out to Danny, to offer some comfort or encouragement, but his body language was closed off, his eyes fixed on some invisible point across the room.

“Danny,” she prompted again, her tone gentle yet insistent. “I understand your reluctance to engage. It’s not easy to confront these issues, especially when it involves sharing personal experiences and emotions. But I assure you, it’s crucial for your well-being and for those around you who care about you.”

A muscle twitched in Danny’s jaw, the only sign that he had heard her.

I held my breath, hoping he would speak, offer some glimpse into his inner turmoil. Instead, he remained silent, his gaze now focused on his hands clasped tightly in his lap.

“I think it’s important to emphasize,” Dr. Walker continued, “that seeking help is not a sign of weakness. On the contrary, it takes immense strength to acknowledge our struggles and take steps toward healing. It’s clear that you’ve been through a lot and I’m here to help you make sense of it all and find a path forward.”

“Danny, please say something,” I implored. This would not work unless he opened up and talked. I got it was hard for him, but I couldn’t take much more.

He had to at least meet me halfway.

Instead of answering me, he yelled, “Zach, get in here!”

I looked at Dr. Walker, who, like me, seemed confused why Danny wanted Nav in the room.

“Yeah?” the Silver Shadow club brother spoke, walking into the living room.

“I need a computer.”

“NO!” I shouted, jumping to my feet. “Absolutely not!”

Looking from Danny to Dr. Walker to me, Nav gulped. “Uh, Sypher, I don’t think you’re ready for that yet. I’ve got everything under control, brother. You still need time to heal.”

“Danny, why do you want a computer?” Dr. Walker asked, trying to defuse the tension in the room.

“So I can do my job,” he snarked angrily, as he glared at me.

“No. Your job is to get better,” I said, taking a seat close to him. “Please, Danny. You need help. We both do. I killed a woman and shot Sinclair. I’ve never harmed another living soul and yet, I didn’t think twice about killing that bitch and shooting Sinclair.”

“You were protecting me,” he muttered, looking away.

“You sure about that?” I challenged. “Because all I felt was rage. A deep-seated visceral rage. I wanted to punish them, Danny. I wanted to hurt them as much as they hurt me.”

Danny’s eyes flashed with anger, and I could see the internal struggle playing out across his face. “I need to do something, Dante. I can’t just sit here and do nothing. I’m going crazy with boredom.”

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “I know it’s hard, but you have to give yourself time to heal. Dr. Walker is right. Our priority right now is your health. We can deal with club business later.”

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