Page 98 of Sypher

“Have you seen the fucking news?”

“Malice, pay attention,” I snarked. “You specialized in hypnotherapy in college as part of your psychology dissertation at John Hopkins. You know what drugs will help induce amnesia. I need you to make me forget.”

“What the fuck are you talking about, Sypher? Forget what?”

“Can you do it or not?” I shouted.

“Yeah, I can do it, but there are adverse side effects, like a complete personality change. There is a reason most therapists don’t like using hypnotherapy, because any fucking suggestion can alter a person’s personality forever. Add in the drugs and who the fuck knows what you would turn into. Whatever you are planning, think of something else.”

“I’m heading back to New York now. Can you meet me at Sinclair’s place?”

“Fuck,” Malice cursed. “I just fucking know Reaper is going to kill me for this. That’s if Montana doesn’t get to me first.”

“I owe you one.”

“Yeah, whatever. Just remember to put that on my headstone,” he said right before the line disconnected.

“This is a bad fucking idea, Sypher. Really fucking bad.” The driver groaned, turning back around.

“Wait till I tell you what I’m gonna do next.” I smirked as Thena Hartley stepped on the gas.

“For the record, this is a really bad idea,” Sinclair stated as he paced his opulent living room. “I respect you, kid, and we all agree that Pandora and the others need to die, but not at the cost of you. The underworld wouldn’t think twice before ordering a hit on me if they even thought for a second I was involved. Besides, there is only one way this ends and you know it. Not to mention the fact I won’t hurt Dante any more than I already have. I’m sorry. I won’t do it.”

Leaning forward in my seat, I looked at the man. “I’ve run the numbers, Sinclair. It’s the only way.”

“Then run them again,” Silas shouted as he looked at me. “Or just let Reaper and Montana burn the fucking world down around them. Anything but this crazy plan. I can’t let you do this, Sypher. Dante is finally happy. He has everything he’s ever wanted. I won’t be the one to break his heart again. I can’t.”

Rowen piped up from the corner of the room, “Not to mention what Reaper and the Golden Skulls will do to us when they learn we helped with this asinine plan.”

Sighing, Malice shook his head. “Kid, I don’t think you are comprehending how this will change the way your mind thinks. Right now, your mind is your own. You control the information. Your brain is like one of your computer programs. The second you alter it, it would be like installing a virus in your head. It will slowly take over, overriding the original programing. That’s if you even survive. I’m sorry, kid, but I agree with Sinclair and the others. I can’t be a part of this.”

“Then we’re all screwed, because there is no fucking way I can do what needs to be done without getting close to her. You all know what will happen if she escapes. You know most of all what that bitch is capable of doing and the fucking horror she will create. Are you seriously willing to let her walk away from this, knowing we had a chance to end it all?”

“It’s more than that, Danny.” Sinclair sighed, placing his hands on the back of a chair. “You are right, the four of us know exactly what that bitch is capable of, but what you are failing to realize is that even though we want her to pay for her crimes, none of us are willing to sacrifice a member of this family. As fucked up as our family is, you are a part of that now. The second you claimed Dante, you became one of us.”

“But I’m not, am I?” I challenged. “You came to me, Sinclair. I didn’t seek you out.”

“What’s he talking about?” Silas asked.

“Tell me you didn’t, Sin,” Malice groaned.

“I didn’t have a choice. I needed to protect Dante. I never thought he’d come up with a plan that would get him killed!”

“Jesus Christ, Sin.” Rowen sighed and pushed off the wall. “What the fuck did you do?”

“I will not apologize for protecting my family.”

“What the fuck did you do?” Silas sneered.

Standing up straight, Crispin Sinclair straightened his suit jacket and simply said, “In exchange for Pandora’s location, Danny has agreed to walk away from Dante.”

“You son of a bitch!” Silas roared, his arm a blur as it connected with the side of Sin’s face, a sharp crack echoing through the air. Stumbling backward a few steps, Sinclair rubbed his jaw as Silas stalked him menacingly, his movements slow and deliberate. “Dante loves Danny. Has ever since they met. You fucking knew that, and now that he’s finally fucking happy, your plan is to rip his fucking heart out!”

“How is what I’m doing any different than what you did to save him? Like you, I am willing to do anything to protect my family.”

Malice and Rowen moved fast to contain Silas from killing Sinclair.

“LET ME GO!” Silas roared vehemently, trying to get to Sinclair.

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