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“I’m sorry I lied to you,” Danny said. “Zach told me who you were, and that you wanted nothing to do with the club. But when I looked into you and saw what you had done, the children you had worked with. I needed you to work with my daughter. I didn’t tell Dante because, well, let’s face it, he’s a better man than me. He would have told you the truth. I convinced him to stay quiet under the guise of Dani’s safety. Which wasn’t completely untrue.”

I didn’t know how to feel at that moment. Believing you knew something and then being told the truth of what you suspected was supposed to make you feel better. It was supposed to make you feel secure in your assessment.

All it did was leave a pit in the bottom of my stomach.

“Dante and I talked. We want you to be a part of Dani’s life. But you understand that with us come the clubs. His and mine.”

I knew that. Of course I did. And the freaking pit grew. Because Travis had left the club for me. Without me asking him to. I had told him days ago we couldn’t be together, that I couldn’t be with a biker. Yet, I was willing to concede with Danny and Dante to have Dani in my life.

Wasn’t Travis just as important? Maybe more so.

“I wouldn’t ask you to leave the clubs. It’s not my place.”

“What about Ghost?”

My shoulders fell. “I didn’t ask him to leave the club.”

“No. But you could tell him he doesn’t have to.”

I nodded.

“I’m scared.”

“Of what?” he asked.

I shook my head. Tears formed in my eyes and I tried hard not to let them fall. I couldn’t speak. My throat felt as if it was closing in, preventing me from putting the words I was afraid of out there.

“What are you afraid of, Melissa?”

“Of losing him. Losing Dani, you, and Dante.” I swiped at the tears that refused to stay where they belonged. “I already lost my brother.”

“You haven’t lost him. He’s right outside.”

“I lost him ten years ago when he left me alone.”

“I thought I lost my brother when he joined the service. I was so pissed at him. Ace was everything I wanted to be growing up. He was strong, smart, and so sure of everything. Then one day he was gone. He didn’t even say goodbye. For a long time, I was angry at him for leaving me alone. I didn’t understand that he needed something that the club couldn’t give him. He found what he was looking for in the military. Can’t say were best buds again, but I understand why he left. He’s still my brother, and I love him. Just don’t tell him I said that last part, okay?”

“Where is he now?”

“I left him in New York. He’s still a pain in the ass, but he’s my brother. You forgive family even when you’re pissed at them.”

“I don’t know if I can.” I said honestly.

“You forgave me.”

I smiled at Danny. “Who said I forgave you?”

He laughed and pulled me into a hug. “Let me tell you about New York and the shit my brother pulled. What you feel about Gunner will come into perspective and make him easier to forgive.”

I sat there and listened to Danny. He told me about Jane Craven, the woman who had taken and abused Dante and Danika’s mother. He shared with me about Dante’s family and where they were. About why Dante couldn’t be told about them yet because the risk was too great. The danger wasn’t just from Jane. He told me he tried to go up face-to-face against Jane and what she had done to him. What he suffered through after the explosion and how he had hurt Dante.

My tears never stopped. Hearing what Danny had gone through broke my heart, and the guilt at the way I treated him when they showed up here ate away at me.

“Danny, I’m so sorry. I had no idea. I feel awful for the things I said to you.”

“Hey, I didn’t tell you all this so you would feel guilty. I wanted you to know what you are getting into being in our lives. And I wanted to remind you that having the club at your back is the safest place to be. The Golden Skulls and the Soulless Sinners will do everything they can to protect you as Danika’s mom. But you have another club that will stand in front of you and shield you from whatever shit they can. You just have to let them.”

Danny was right. Even if I hadn’t already decided to talk to Travis last night, talking to Danny today would have ensured I made the right decision.