The word “calculated” felt too cold, too clinical for what I’d done.
The truth was, I had been desperate. A desperate gamble fueled by fear. Fear of losing him, fear of losing her.
“We weren’t together at the time. Dante was still furious with me for investigating the Trick Pony—a justified anger, I admit. I had to find a way to reach him, to make him see. So, I... I used the information about Danika. I put it on a thumb drive and gave it to one of his club brothers. Forced his hand.”
Each word was a stone in my gut.
Haizley lifted an eyebrow, her silence more damning than any judgment.
“I knew he’d want answers. I deliberately omitted some details, just enough to pull him back to me. I needed him to ask for my help, to need me. I had already started the process of getting Danika back, but he didn’t know that. All I cared about... all I could think about... was securing him. Sealing him to me,” I admitted.
“So, you manipulated him?” Haizley’s question, though whispered, held the air captive.
I nodded, the weight of my actions crushing me. “Yes. I did. And it wasn’t just about the information; it was... I knew his anger stemmed from a broken trust and I exploited that. I knew if I could get him in the same room with me, I could explain everything, and he’d understand.” My lie choked me.
Did he understand? Or did he just forgive me because of the sex?
“And did he?” Haizley’s gaze was unwavering.
Smirking a brittle, unconvincing mask, I looked at Dante, who sighed, his shoulders slumping.
“Afterwards, he did.”
“After what?” Haizley pressed, her eyes piercing through my carefully constructed façade.
“After... after I claimed him. After I... showed him who was in control.” My words felt hollow, devoid of the confidence they were meant to project. It had been about control, yes, but control born of desperation, not strength. A desperate need for his love that I sabotaged with my own actions.
“I see.” Haizley cleared her throat, shifting in her seat. “Do you often use sex to get your way, Danny?”
Her question wasn’t accusatory, but it laid bare the brutal truth.
I hadn’t just manipulated him; I had used him. I had used my sexuality—a part of myself that I had always valued—to secure him. A part of myself that had been twisted by my own fear. “It wasn’t like that, Doc,” I began, but the words felt weak, unconvincing, even to me. The truth was far more complex, far more damaging. I had sacrificed a part of myself, a part of my integrity, all for a love I was terrified of losing. And the fear was that even now, with Danika safe, he might still slip away. The weight of my actions, the hollowness of my victory, threatened to consume me.
“Then explain it to me, because from what you just said, you used sex to manipulate Dante into doing what you wanted. You coerced him, giving him no choice but to comply. I’m not judging you, Danny. I’m trying to understand the dynamics of your relationship. It’s clear you both care deeply for each other and your daughter. I need to know these things to help you both effectively.” Haizley’s tone was gentle, and I could see she was trying to put Dante at ease.
“I get that, Doc. It’s just... it was a complicated time. We were both dealing with a lot, and I knew Dante well enough to know how to get through to him. It wasn’t just about the sex. It was about reconnecting and showing him I was committed to him and our family.” I paused, considering my words carefully. “I guess I just wanted to make sure he knew we were in it together.”
Haizley nodded, her expression softening. “Love can make us do crazy things, and it seems like you two have a strong bond. I think it’s important to remember that effective communication is key. Now tell me about the first time you met Danika.”
“I got to her first,” Dante began. “She was so small. Her body was shaking. The people she was with didn’t give a damn about her well-being, only doing the bare minimum needed to keep her alive. She was starved for affection. When we got her out of there, she clung to us. Well, Danny mostly. She wasn’t speaking. She barely cried. She always wanted to be held.”
“Children who are neglected and unloved often crave what they’ve never had.”
“Well, we tried to give her everything she’d been missing. Even found her the best child therapist around. Everything was going well until it didn’t.”
“How so?”
Sighing, I muttered, “I left.”
“Club business?” Haizley guessed.
Nodding, I looked away. “Yeah.”
“How long were the three of you together before club business took you away?”
“A week and a half,” I echoed, my voice heavy with regret. “That’s all the time I had before everything fell apart again.” I closed my eyes, the memory of that day still fresh in my mind. “I had to leave. It was important club business, and I thought I’d be back in a few days. I never imagined it would take me away from them for so long.”
Haizley’s gaze shifted between us, and her eyes filled with understanding. “And during this time, Danika formed an even stronger bond with you, Dante. She must have been confused and scared when Danny left so suddenly.”
