Reaper nodded slowly, his mind already working through the logistics. “Alright. We bring in people he knows, things from his past. We’ll do whatever it takes.”
Montana stopped pacing and faced the doctor. “And if that doesn’t work?”
Dr. Robinette’s expression softened. “Then we adapt. We find another way. But giving up is not an option.” With that, she returned to Danny’s room.
Montana placed a hand on Reaper’s shoulder. “We’ll get through this. We’ve faced worse before.”
Reaper glared incredulously at the fucker. “Have we? ‘Cause this is as bad as it fucking gets, fucknuts.”
“I don’t know why you’re yelling at me. I didn’t cause this shit!”
“Oh, shut up, Montana,” Reaper groaned, shaking his head as he walked off, with Montana trailing behind him, the two men bickering and sniping at each other.
Standing there in the hallway, I tried to understand what was happening as my entire world slowly came crashing down around me.
Chapter Five
Dante
I heard shouting coming from Danny’s room and ran down the hallway, slamming his room door open to find his brothers glaring at him.
“This is not up for discussion, Danny. You are going home,” Ace firmly ordered.
“I’m not going fucking anywhere with you,” Danny seethed angrily. “You fucking left, remember? Why the fuck are you even here, anyway? I don’t want you here!”
“Danny,” Charlie sighed. “Come on, bro.”
“No, Charlie,” Danny snapped. “That fucker left. He fucking left all of us. He doesn’t get to tell me what to do anymore.”
Balling my fist, I growled, “Get out.”
The surrounding silence was deafening as Danny’s brothers all turned to look at me. Even Danny, who had no clue who I was, said nothing as I stood in the doorway, pissed. I was so fucking tired of Ace trying to browbeat Danny into doing what he wanted. He fucking knew the decision wasn’t his. It was mine, and Danny wasn’t going anywhere until he told me differently. Drawing a deep breath, I stepped fully into the room, feeling the eyes of Danny’s brothers boring into me. The air was thick with expectation and for a moment, I felt the weight of the responsibility on my shoulders.
Ace’s eyes flickered with a mixture of anger and defiance, but he remained silent. The tension in the room was palpable, and I could feel the weight of the unspoken words pressing down on all of us.
In the days that followed since he had woken from his coma, Dr. Robinette ran several tests, and while she was pretty damn sure Danny’s amnesia was only temporary, I wasn’t holding my breath. When it came to Danny, I never presumed to know anything, as he constantly surprised me. The only thing I knew for certain was that Danny wasn’t leaving this fucking hospital without my permission.
I stepped further into the room, my eyes never leaving Ace’s. “You heard me. Get. Out.” My voice was low, dangerous, and I could see the flicker of uncertainty in his eyes.
Ace straightened, his jaw tightening as he took a step back. “Fine,” he spat. “But this isn’t over.”
With a sharp nod to Charlie, Ace turned on his heel and stormed out of the room, his anger palpable. Charlie hesitated, his eyes flicking between Danny and me before following Ace out with Bailey hot on his heels, leaving Danny and me alone in the room.
Danny’s shoulders slumped, and he sank back onto the bed with his face contorted in frustration and pain. His breaths came in ragged bursts, and I could almost feel the weight of his emotions pressing down on him.
I crossed the room to stand in front of him and reached out to place my hand on his shoulder. He flinched at my touch but didn’t pull away.
“We’ll figure this out,” I breathed. “But you need to focus on getting better. Forget about your brothers for now.”
Danny’s eyes met mine and for the first time since he woke up, there was a hint of vulnerability in his gaze and I saw the young man I first fell in love with. “What if I never remember?” he whispered, his voice cracking.
I squeezed his shoulder gently. “Then we start from scratch. Together.”
He nodded, and the tension in his body eased slightly. “I don’t even know you,” he murmured.
I gave him a reassuring smile.
“Don’t worry, Danny, I remember everything.”
