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“I can only give you one night,” she said.

“I’m just passing through town. I’ve only got one night,” I assured her. Though it crossed my mind Lawton, Oklahoma and the Diamondback MC were less than an hour away, and fuck, if I didn’t consider asking to patch over.

“My name’s Lyssa.”

“Travis.” Why I gave her my real name, I wasn’t sure. But I wanted her to know it. When she came on my tongue at the hotel I would be taking her to, I needed to hear my real name on her lips.

“Let’s go. I’ll get us a room. Somewhere nice, and we’ll spend the one night we have on fucking repeat.”

She nodded, and I took her hand, leading her outside to my bike.

“You ride a motorcycle?” she asked with what sounded like hesitation in her voice.

“Yea, you ever been on one?”

She nodded again, her eyes trailing over me. What she was looking for, I wasn’t sure.

“I forgot my jacket. And I need to tell my friends I’m leaving. Can you wait for me?”

“I’ll come with you.”

“No, I’ll be right back,” she said, brushing up against me and kissing my neck. “Warm her up for me.”

I watched her jog back inside and then swung my leg over the seat. Starting up my bike, I waited for her to come back. After about twenty minutes, I shut the bike down and went inside to look for her.

Searching the room, I saw no sign of her. Her friends were gone as well. Checking the back hallway to the bathrooms, I noticed for the first time the back exit. It wasn’t an emergency exit per se, it had no alarm on it. Just a back door for someone to sneak out of.

Walking back to the bar, I ordered another whiskey. There was a sleazy motel across the street. I planned on getting falling-down drunk. I could stumble across the road later and sleep it off, leaving for home in the morning.

The bitch fucking ghosted me. Which was fucking ironic considering my road name and how I got it.

Chapter One

Melissa

December 2, 2024, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

“You must understand, Mr. Franks, that while your daughter wasn’t sexually abused, she was emotionally and mentally neglected. For a child as young as Danika is, that is life-altering. Instead of being loved and cared for by loving parents, who should have shown her affection, happiness, boundaries, and tools she mentally needed to help her grow, she received nothing, hindering her mental growth. While children Danika’s age are generally talking, secure in playing by themselves and with others, have the basic knowledge of right and wrong, know that Mom and Dad are safe and strangers are bad, your daughter knows none of that. She missed all of her benchmark milestones. To make matters worse, from what you’ve told me, Danika received nothing but basic functional care and food. Tell me, Mr. Franks, how did Danika react when she was rescued?”

Mr. Franks held his partner’s hand as he answered, “We got to her at the same time. She was in the arms of one of the men who rescued her. She clung to him. She was shaking, but she was allowing him to hold her. Dante got to hold her first. She went right to him.”

Sighing, I leaned back in my chair. “My guess is, the man who rescued her was the first person who ever held her, and she was unsure how to act or respond. Who does she gravitate to the most?”

“Me,” Mr. Franks admitted as he held Danika in his arms. She hadn’t moved from his lap since they’d been here. “She’s always by my side or in my arms. She allows Dante to hold her, but I have to be in the room.”

“That’s because you are the alpha in the relationship. She’s corelated that as long as you are around, she is safe. It’s called attachment theory. A typical childhood attachment is an emotional bond between mother and child, or in some cases fathers, which starts at birth and impacts the child’s behavior from cradle to grave.”

“Like when a newborn is born?” Mr. Sharp added, sitting up. “I think I read about this in one of the books I bought. You’re talking about when a baby is born and doctors place the baby on the mother’s chest, skin to skin.”

“Yes,” I nodded. “The mom cradles her baby lovingly, giving the baby the first stimulation of safetyand security. Danika never received that. She never felt safe and tends to be distant. Her guard is up all the time, which is preventing her from accepting the love and support she needs to thrive. Right now, she knows that Mr. Franks will protect her.”

“I’m her security blanket?”

“Yes. That’s exactly what you are, Mr. Franks, and until Danika realizes that she is safe with your partner as well, she will continue to cling to you. Danika needs to know that no matter what, both of you will be there for her.”

“How do we do that if she only wants Danny?” Mr. Sharp asked.

“By doing what you are doing now. Availability is a big component for a child like Danika. She needs to know that no matter what, the both of you will be there. Also, routine is big in attachment therapy. A constant, familiar schedule or routine will give Danika the comfort and security she needs.”