Page 2 of Devil in Disguise

“There is a first time for everything,” Silas muttered. “Just get to the Playground fast.”

I needed no more convincing. With a sense of urgency, I packed up everything I thought I would need as Silas’ words echoed in my mind. The Playground, a place I knew all too well. It was like every other club Sinclair owned. And like the other clubs, I knew what to expect when I walked in.

My mind raced through the possibilities, the dangers that awaited me, and the uncertainty of what I would find there. Crispin Sinclair wasn’t a man I ever wanted to cross. While Sin and the others raised me, it was Sin who I’d always feared the most. I knew something dark lurked deep within the man. Something malevolent and sinister. Unlike Silas and Rowen, Crispin Sinclair preferred total control in everything around him, and when that didn’t happen, the façade he showed the world slipped, showing the real man behind the mask.

Shaking my head, I finished getting dressed. I knew something was wrong. I had felt it in my soul for weeks, and Silas’ call just confirmed my worst fears. Someone had hurt Danny, and he was in trouble. To make matters worse, everyone I thought I could trust kept this from me.

Not one person told me the truth.

My mind raced as I tried to piece together the fragments of conversations and odd behaviors that had plagued my thoughts. Danny had always been a beacon of strength and reliability, yet before he left, he had been distant. A troubling silence had replaced his laughter, once a constant melody, leaving me to grapple with the gnawing fear that something sinister was unfolding.

The betrayal cut deep.

Friends and family, the very pillars of my support system, had kept me in the dark. Their silence was a tacit agreement to shield me from the harsh reality, but it only deepened the wound. I felt abandoned, isolated in my anguish, and they shattered the trust I had placed in them.

Determined to uncover the truth, I steeled myself against the mounting dread. The weight of the unknown pressed heavily upon me, but I knew that I could not succumb to fear. Danny needed me, and I resolved to be his unwavering support, just as he had been mine.

In the weeks after Danny’s departure, an unease had settled in my chest, a constant reminder that something was amiss. It began with subtle hints—hushed whispers and fleeting looks when Danny talked with men who had once vowed to protect me only to suddenly distance themselves. As the days stretched on, each one ladened with a growing sense of dread.

I began to notice patterns that didn’t add up. Danny’s usual quick responses turned into moments of silence. The laughter and camaraderie that defined our commitment seemed to fade, replaced by an unspoken tension. His excuses were plausible, but my intuition screamed otherwise.

Late at night, I would sit by the window, watching the shadows dance outside, wondering what secrets they held. My dreams were restless, filled with images of Danny reaching out to me, only to dissolve into the darkness before I could grasp his hand. It was in those moments that the weight of uncertainty became almost unbearable.

It was not just Danny’s behavior that alarmed me, but the actions of those around us. What cut the deepest was not the news itself, but the realization that those around me had kept it from me. The people I trusted, the voices I relied on for truth and support, had been silent.

The betrayal was a knife in my back, twisting with every unspoken word.

Friends who once vowed to protect became guarded; their eyes betraying the secrets they held. Conversations felt strained. Each word carefully chosen to avoid revealing too much. I felt increasingly isolated, as if an invisible barrier separated me from the truth.

Despite the growing number of signs, I clung to the hope that it was all a misunderstanding. That perhaps Danny was dealing with something personal he didn’t yet feel ready to share. But the phone call shattered that hope and left me facing a stark and painful reality.

After packing everything I would need for New York, I walked into my daughter’s room to find her curled up on her bed, hugging the soft teddy Danny got her before he left. I hated the idea of trusting another individual with my daughter, but there was no way I could take her with me. I needed her safe.

I gently sat on the edge of her bed, feeling the weight of my decision pressing heavily on my shoulders. Her innocent eyes looked up at me, filled with questions she hadn’t yet figured out how to ask.

Taking a deep breath, I stroked her hair and explained, “Sweetheart, I have to go away for a while. You are going to stay with Missy. Would you like to sleep over with Missy?” I tried to use my comforting voice, though I wasn’t entirely certain who needed the comfort more—her or me.

Since Danny left, Danika had become more reliant on me. Melissa said she would step in whenever I needed help, and tonight, I was about to test that offer. There was no way I could take Danika with me. It wasn’t safe for her, and knowing where I would be going, I didn’t want my daughter anywhere near that place. Bad enough I would have to endure it. She was innocent, and I was determined for her to stay that way.

She looked at me with a mix of confusion and trust, her little fingers fiddling with her teddy bear’s ear before she pointed at the picture of her and Danny on her little nightstand.

I nodded, forcing a smile that I hoped would mask my own anxiety. “Yes, sweetheart. I am going to bring Papa home. And while I’m doing that, I need you to be a brave little girl, okay? Missy will take such good care of you. I promise you’ll have so much fun,” I reassured her, though the knot in my stomach tightened.

Danika reluctantly nodded, her grip on the teddy bear tightening. I kissed her forehead, whispering a silent promise that I would return to her as soon as I could. Knowing this was the best way to ensure her safety, I gathered my courage, kissed her one more time, and then stood up.

Moving about her room, I packed several days’ worth of clothes for her before getting her dressed. Making sure she had everything she needed, I gathered her bags, then picked up my daughter and left.

The drive across town to Melissa’s office didn’t take long. It was late at night and everyone seemed to be home, resting up for the upcoming New Year’s Eve party. It was something that Danny and I should have been celebrating. Shaking the thought from my head, I focused on what I needed to do, but first I had to talk Melissa into taking Danika because if she refused, I didn’t know what I was going to do.

I knew Melissa would be in her office. The woman practically lived there. I needed her help badly, and right now, she was the only one I could trust. With a deep breath, I made my way to her building, each step echoing with urgency and desperation. The hallways seemed endless, a labyrinth of uncertainty, but I pushed forward, driven by the knowledge that Melissa’s counsel could make all the difference.

When I finally reached her door, I paused briefly, gathering my thoughts before knocking and opening the door. As the door creaked open, I saw her sitting behind her desk, buried in paperwork, her face illuminated by the soft glow of the desk lamp. She looked up. Surprise flickered in her eyes when she saw me standing there, holding Danika, while the bags I carried weighed me down.

“Melissa, I need your help,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper, but frantic, nonetheless.

She frowned, but didn’t stop me from entering.

Putting Danika on the floor, I dropped her bags and walked over to the woman.

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