Torment shook his head, his expression resolute. “The club doesn’t matter in here. Only you and I. Whatever you tell me will go no further.”
I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what I was about to reveal. “Danny and I have a daughter,” I whispered, the words feeling like a weight lifted from my shoulders. I knew this information could change everything, but I had to trust Torment. He had to know the full extent of the situation. “She’s the reason I need Sypher to remember. It’s crucial for her safety.” I paused, my anxiety building as I awaited Torment’s response.
Torment’s expression softened, and he leaned forward, his eyes filled with a mixture of concern and determination. “Tell me about your daughter, Intern. What’s her name?” he asked, his voice steady and calm.
I felt a slight relief at his reaction, but my worries were far from over. “Her name is Danika, or Dani,” I replied, a small smile appearing on my face as I spoke her name. “She’s just a baby, barely two, but she’s already been through so much. Danny and I have kept her existence a secret, even from the clubs. Only a handful of people know about her.” I took another deep breath, the weight of my responsibilities bearing down on me.
“Where is Danika?”
I shook my head. “She’s safe. With someone we trust, but the danger to her still exists. The longer it takes for Danny to get his memories back, the more danger she’s in.”
“Why?” Torment asked, leaning forward. “Why is Danika in danger, Dante?”
“Because like me, she’s a product of the Trick Pony. She was conceived and born there.”
Torment’s eyes widened at my revelation and he sat back in his chair, processing this new information. “A product of the Trick Pony?” he repeated, his voice steady despite the shock in his eyes. “Are you telling me that Danika was born in that fucked-up place? How?”
“I was in college when it happened. I was partying with friends one night and woke up there. For one week, a woman tortured, beat, raped and forced me to do things that have stained my soul.”
“And the same thing happened to Danika’s birth mother?”
I nodded. “Yes. I’d never been with a girl before. I knew I was gay from a young age, accepted it. But that fucking bitch didn’t care and she damn near beat us to death until we did what she wanted. My daughter is a product of rape, Torment. Not just her mother, but me. When Danny started investigating the Trick Pony, it didn’t take him long to learn that I fathered a child. And when he learned where she was, he set things in motion to save her.”
“You’re talking about the FBI raid and your subsequent arrest.”
I nodded again. “Yes. Danny learned Danika was being held in an off-site military instillation.” Getting to my feet, I paced the room again. “God, Torment, everything is so fucked up. When we got Danika out, I thought everything would settle down, but it didn’t, and the only one who knows what is going on is Danny and he can’t remember shit. I need him to remember.”
Torment leaned forward, his eyes intense. “I can’t just make him remember, Intern. There are limits to what I can do.”
“There’s more,” I said, my voice low. “The bitch who runs the Trick Pony, she’s not just going to let this go. She knows about Danika, and my gut is telling me she wants her back. I fear she will stop at nothing to get to her. That’s why I need your help. We have to make Danny remember, for Dani’s sake.”
Torment’s eyes narrowed and a deep furrow formed between his brows. “If what you are saying is true, it changes things, Intern. The club will want to know about this. We have resources that could help keep your daughter safe.”
I shook my head, my anxiety spiking at the thought of involving the club. “No, they can’t know. Danny and I made a promise to keep her existence a secret. The fewer people who know, the safer she is.”
Torment considered this, his expression unreadable. “Very well, Intern. For now, we keep this between us, but understand that I may need to involve others to ensure your daughter’s safety. We’re dealing with a powerful and dangerous enemy.”
I nodded, knowing he was right. “I understand, Torment. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep Dani safe. Just please help me make Danny remember. It’s our best chance at protecting her.”
Torment leaned back in his chair. His eyes filled with a mixture of determination and concern. “We’ll start with Sypher. I’ll try an alternative approach to help him recover his memories. I’m not promising anything. In the meantime, I want you to focus on taking care of yourself. You’ve suffered a major trauma yourself, and that needs to be addressed. I know now is not the time, but when shit settles down, I want to see you in my office. Understand?”
I nodded.
“I need you to be honest with me from here on out. We’re dealing with a complex and dangerous situation, and withholding information could put all of us at risk.” Torment’s voice was firm, but his eyes held a hint of empathy.
I knew he was right; I had to be completely transparent if we were going to protect Danika and help Sypher. “I know, and I’m sorry. It’s just that this whole situation has been so terrifying. I’ve been scared and unsure of whom to trust.” I paused, gathering my thoughts. “The truth is, I don’t know much more than what I’ve already told you. Danny is the one who set everything up. He knows more than me. He insisted we keep Danika’s existence a secret from everyone except a few trusted individuals. He arranged for her to be cared for by someone outside of the Biker Federation, someone who has no ties to our world. But if that bitch finds out where Danika is at, I fear she’ll stop at nothing to get her hands on my daughter.”
“We’ll uncover the truth, Intern. I promise you that. In the meantime, I want you to focus on taking care of yourself and staying strong for your daughter. I’ll speak with Dr. Robinette and Malice. Maybe we can come up with a plan to help Sypher recover his memories and together, we’ll ensure Danika’s safety.”
Torment’s words offered a glimmer of hope in the darkness that had enveloped my life.
Leaving Torment’s office, I stepped onto the bustling city street, wrapping my coat tightly around me. A cool breeze swept through, sending a shiver down my spine as my mind raced with the revelations I had just made.
The busy street, with its honking cars and large crowds, felt surreal, like I had stepped into someone else’s chaotic dream. My thoughts swirled like the fall leaves scattered by the wind, each one carrying a piece of the story I had shared with Torment. I felt exposed, as if my deepest secrets had been laid bare for the world to see. The burden of my discovery was immense, leaving me wondering if I could ever outrun its consequences.
As I wandered through the city, my mind continued to turn over the events of the past hour. The cool breeze became a biting wind, reflecting the chill that had settled in my bones. I felt a sudden urge to escape, to find a quiet place where I could be alone with my thoughts and make sense of the turmoil within me.
I found myself drawn to the river, a place where I often sought solace. The water, glimmering in the fading light, offered a sense of tranquility amidst the urban chaos. I sat on a bench, watching the gentle current, my thoughts still swirling like the leaves now drifting onto the surface. The city noises faded into the background as I reflected on my conversation with Torment. The weight of my confession seemed to lift slightly in the presence of the river’s quiet flow. But as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows, the chill in my bones deepened.
