Page 3 of Devil in Disguise

“Dante?” she muttered, her eyes darting to Danika, who walked over to the water table. “What’s wrong?”

“I need you to take Danika for me.”

“What?” Melissa gasped, her eyes wide. “Why?”

“Danny is in trouble. I need to go to New York City, and I can’t take Danika with me.”

“Dante, I’m her therapist. I can’t just take your daughter. There are laws!”

“Look, I know this is unheard of, but it’s an emergency,” I firmly said, rubbing the back of my neck. I knew the only way Melissa would help was if I told her the real truth. Danny was adamant that no one know who we were. He said anonymity was the only thing that would protect us. But I didn’t have that luxury anymore. I knew Melissa wouldn’t help unless I was completely honest with her.

“I am calling on doctor-patient confidentiality. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

She blinked. “Yes. I understand.”

“Danny and I, we’re not what we led you to believe. Yes, we own our own companies, but it’s more than that. Melissa, I’m an intern with the Soulless Sinners Motorcycle Club, and Danny is a patched brother in the Golden Skulls. Danny works for the Biker Federation.”

Melissa’s eyes widened

I watched her face pale. Slowly shaking her head, she took several steps back, distancing herself from me, almost as if to protect herself. I could see the fear and betrayal clearly written on her face.

“No.”

“Danny didn’t want me to say anything because of who he really is.”

“Who is he?”

“Sypher.”

“Oh God!” she cried, pacing the room frantically.

“Look, Missy, I know this is a lot to take in, and I’m sorry to dump this all on you at the last minute, but I don’t have a choice. Danny’s been in an accident, and I need to get to him. I don’t have a lot of time. I need you to keep Danika for me. No one can know where she is. If there was anyone else, I would ask them, but Danika trusts you and so do I.”

“I can’t!” Melissa shouted. “You don’t understand!”

Rushing over to the woman, I grabbed her hands and pleaded, “Please, Melissa. If you never want to see me or Danika again after this, I’ll understand, but please, I really need you to do this one thing for me.”

The woman took a good long look at me. I wasn’t sure she would help, and I didn’t know what I would do if she didn’t, but when she reluctantly nodded, I hugged her tightly.

“Thank you.”

Taking a step back, she took a deep breath as Danika walked over to her, raising her hands up in the air. Picking my daughter up, Melissa held her close while Danika laid her head down on her shoulder. The fear Melissa tried to contain seeped out of her pores.

I knew this was a big ask.

“How will I contact you?”

Shaking my head, I muttered, “You can’t contact me. I can’t risk Danika.”

“So, you are just going to leave her with me and trust that I can protect her?”

“Yes.”

“What the hell is going on, Dante? And don’t you dare tell me you can’t tell me because this ask goes way beyond a doctor-patient relationship. If Danika is in danger, then I need to know.”

“That’s just it. I’m not really sure. All I know is Danny was in a building when it exploded. He’s alive, but not in a hospital where he belongs. All the clubs are looking for him and the table issued a kill order.”

“The table won’t issue a kill order unless he’s a threat or they believe he’s been compromised.”

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