Page 25 of Devil in Disguise

“Where is she?”

“With someone safe, away from all this mess. Danny didn’t want her involved. Me either, apparently, as I was the last to know about his accident. He’s kept so many secrets from me, Stella. I don’t know what to believe anymore.”

Stella sighed, sitting back on the couch. “Makes sense. The world he lives in is all about secrets, and Danny’s good at keeping them.”

“But I’m his partner, his husband. He shouldn’t have to keep secrets from me.”

“If those secrets endanger your life, he will do that and more. Look, Dante. Truth time. This world Danny lives in isn’t easy. It’s intense, brutal and deadly. Secrets keep you alive and there is none better at secrets than Sypher. The man built his reputation on the secrets he keeps. It’s why everyone trusts him.”

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. “But what about us? What about our life together? Keeping me in the dark doesn’t make me safe, it just makes me feel like a stranger.”

Stella reached out and patted my hand gently. “Dante, he’s trying to protect you the only way he knows how. Trust is scarce in his world, but Danny trusts you more than anything. He’s just trying to shield you from the darkness he deals with every day.”

I nodded, though the ache in my chest didn’t subside. “So, what do I do now?”

“Stay strong. Be there for him when he needs you. And remember, sometimes love means keeping secrets for the sake of the ones you care about. Now, tell me about your little girl.”

Smiling, I felt the tension I was just feeling flee my body. “Her name is Danika and she’s barely two years old. Oh God, Stella, she’s beautiful, and she adores Danny. She always wants him to hold her, and he’s so good with her.”

“Of course he is. Danny had an amazing father. He learned from the best.”

Stella’s eyes softened as she listened.

“She sounds like a little angel. It’s clear that she brings so much joy to both of you.”

I leaned back, allowing a small smile to play on my lips. “She does. Every time she laughs, everything else just fades away. I just wish Danny could see that more often.”

Stella nodded thoughtfully. “He will, Dante. Just give him time. He’s juggling so much right now, but he’ll find his way back to both of you. And when he does, he’ll appreciate every moment even more.”

I sighed softly, feeling a semblance of hope. “I hope you’re right, Stella. I really do.”

She squeezed my hand reassuringly. “I know I’m right. Just keep believing in him and keep loving him. That will make all the difference in the world.”

Chapter Eleven

Reaper

Soulless Sinners’ Clubhouse.

“For the record, I will not think twice before throwing the both of you under the bus when Sypher learns what I did. That being said, I did what you asked,” Matrix stated, getting down to business with zero finesse.

God, I missed the kid. At least he was happy about doing his job. Montana and I were working off a hunch that the only reason Sypher deviated from the primary plan was because he learned something about Dante and changed the plan at the last minute to protect him. As to what the kid learned, we didn’t know. I originally wanted Phantom to look into Sypher’s past, but the stubborn woman laughed and hung up on me. When I called Player, he just flat out refused and said hell no. Montana called a few of his contacts and like Player and Phantom, they laughed, flat out refused or said good luck. It seemed no one had the balls to dig into the past of the best hacker on the planet. So, when I called Matrix, I didn’t give the fucker a choice. I ordered him to do it. He wasn’t fucking happy about it, but I didn’t give a damn.

“Danny James Franks, born—”

“Jesus fucking Christ,” I groaned, banging my head on the table. “What the fuck, Matrix? I don’t need his complete fucking biography.”

“You want this shit or not?” the grumpy fucker snarked. “’Cause I’ve got better shit to do than this petty shit my son can do in his sleep.”

“Is he always this cranky?” Montana asked.

“Only when he’s awake,” I sneered, then looked at the screen and added, “Skip to the fucking good stuff.”

“Well, the kid lost his virginity—”

“MATRIX!”

I growled when the motherfucker had the audacity to smile at me. I was going to kill him. Samuel had plenty of uncles to help raise him. He would never miss his father.

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