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The tears couldn’t be stopped.

I stood there watching this large, rough biker playing with this tiny little thing. He bopped her nose and nuzzled her neck. He blew raspberries on her cheek.

And she laughed.

Completely unaffected by the storm clouds that hovered over me. Waiting to pour down misery, drenching me in sadness.

“Hey,” Travis whispered.

Blinking rapidly, trying to dry out my eyes, I smiled the best I could. Joining them on the bed, Travis sat up and away from Dani when I unwrapped the towel to dress her.

Once she was dressed, I pulled the plate of cookies from the bag on the dresser. Hash, the clubhouse cook, had made some today after I explained what I wanted them for.

Travis picked up Dani, and he sat against the headboard while I grabbed her books.

“Cookies before bed? Wish I had a mom like you.” He winked in a teasing manner, but it suddenly occurred to me I knew nothing about this man.

“What was your mom like?” I asked, climbing onto the bed next to him. He settled Dani between us and gave her a cookie.

“My mom was great. She worked hard to keep a roof over our heads and food in our belly.”

“Was it just you and her?”

His eyes dropped to Dani. “I have a little brother. No idea who my dad was. He left when I was Dani’s age. My mom found out she was pregnant again and he hightailed it out as far as he could.”

“I’m sorry. My parents weren’t great.”

“You had Gunner though.”

“Yea, until I didn’t.”

“Melissa—”

“Pick out a book, Dani.” I didn’t want to talk about Gunner. Or my childhood. Dani’s nighttime routine gave me an excuse to ignore the look Travis gave me.

For years, I used school as an excuse not to form a romantic relationship. The truth was, I didn’t want to get to know people. I didn’t want to share childhood stories with others. My childhood wasn’t the stuff of fairy tales. It was the stuff of nightmares.

Nightmares were meant to stay in the dark.

I read Dani her books while she ate her cookies. Then I laid her in the crib. I wanted nothing more than to hold her in my arms all night. But it was time to put space between us.

“I’ll let you get some sleep,” Travis said, moving toward the door.

“Travis?”

He turned back, his eyes answering the question I was too afraid to ask. I didn’t want to sleep alone. I didn’t want to lay in this bed, dwelling on tomorrow.

He removed his cut, laying it on the dresser. Next, he sat on the bed and removed his boots. I stood there, waiting. Not sure what to do. Travis reached up and took my hand, and pulled me to stand between his knees.

“Whatever you need.”

We crawled into bed, and Travis pulled me against his chest. I clung to his T-shirt and cried myself to sleep.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Ghost

Melissa was all nerves. She hadn’t stopped pacing since she learned Danny and Dante were coming to the clubhouse. Her face was a war of emotions; the fear of losing Dani overshadowed her joy that they were safe.