Page 14 of Sypher

“I know, and if I could bring him back for you, I would. But life moves on, Danny. You need to find a way to move on fromhim before his death consumes you and you become someone unrecognizable.”

“I don’t know how.”

“Yes, you do. Only you’re scared of what everyone will think.”

“I don’t want to disappoint them.”

“That’s impossible. Would you like to know why?”

Nodding, I turned and looked at him.

“Because they already know.”

That was impossible. I was careful.

“Your dad was so fucking proud of you, Danny. He talked about you all the time, and when he got started, the biggest smile would spread across his face. He told me once that you were his future, the legacy he was most proud of. You were the joy of his life.”

“I annoyed him.”

He smirked. “Yes, that’s probably true, but he loved you none the less. Your dad knew you were special, Danny. Hell, the Biker Federation and the entire underground knew that from a young age. What you can do with computers is remarkable. Your dad only wanted you to have every opportunity this world could afford before the forces of nature took a hold and drew you into the darkness.”

“It didn’t work. I still got sucked in.”

“Yes, you did, and now it’s time for you to own who you are, because if you don’t, this world will destroy you. It’s hard enough to navigate the underworld, but to do so alone while pretending to be someone you’re not, is an impossible feat. I should know. There are days I find myself barely hanging on.”

“But you love this life.”

“Yes, I do, but that doesn’t mean it’s all been easy for me. You need to find someone who gives your life purpose; meaning if you don’t, this world will chew you up and spit you out. And before you tell me you have no one, you should know Pippen hasa picture of you in the top drawer of his desk. He keeps it hidden ‘cause he thinks we will kick him out. Fucking prospect.”

“He thinks you hate him.”

“Good. Then I’m doing my job, but I don’t hate him. I guess in a way, Pippen’s a lot like you. So young and still so much to learn about the world he lives in. But I have faith that he will learn. You, on the other hand, need to accept who you are. Own it. Wrap it around you like a cloak and fuck everyone else. You get me?”

Nodding, I whispered, “I think so.”

“Good,” he sighed, getting to his feet, then smiled. “You should know your brother Ace showed up looking for you. We’ll hand you over to him, eventually.”

I moaned. “Great. He’s gonna kick my ass.”

“I sure hope so, because you are skating on thin ice, kid. You can’t straddle the line anymore. You’re gonna have to choose soon. School or lifestyle. You are too important to everyone.”

“Montana?” I spoke up while he turned to leave only to look back at me.

Smirking, I asked, “Does this mean we’re friends now?”

Shaking his head, he grinned. “Not a fucking chance in hell, kid. You are still on my shit list.”

As promised, Montana kept me confined within his cage, the hours melting into days, as my sense of time completely distorted and faded away. As more time passed while I sat in the confines of this cage, a feeling of claustrophobia intensified, constricting my mind to such an extent that it ultimately prevented me from falling asleep.

Exhaustion had taken over me completely, causing me hardly to notice the loud voice emanating from the clubhouse. Trying to concentrate, I vaguely heard a muffled shout, like a distant clap of thunder.

“Where is she?!”

Confused, I shook my head. The cacophony of noises assaulted my ears, making it nearly impossible to focus. Completely out of touch, the words felt like gibberish, their meaning obscured by my lack of understanding.

Was someone missing? Who?

The unanswered questions mounted, each one a blow to my head, a pressure building behind my eyes. Grabbing my head in my hands, I pressed my fingers against my ears, the ringing and distorted sounds closing in, as I desperately searched for something, anything, to anchor me to reality.

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