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And I had the documents to prove it.

I didn’t know what happened to Dante. For the first few weeks, he texted every evening to let me know he was alive and ask how Dani was doing.

Always from a different number.

The first day he missed, I tried not to worry. I tried to justify the vast number of scenarios that could have kept him from checking in. The next night was the same, and I continued that line of thought for eight additional nights until the first note arrived.

I pulled Dani in close when she started to whimper, and she settled against me and quieted down. We slept the rest of the night curled up together. I gave her comfort in her nightmares, and she gave me the strength to continue on.

If by some miracle, Danny and Dante were still alive and survived whatever battle they faced, their daughter would be here waiting for them when they returned. I would keep her safe.

The morning sun poured through the curtains I neglected to close last night. Dani was already awake when I opened my eyes. Her little smile said she had forgotten about last night’s adventure.

She signed the word for eat, letting me know she was hungry.

“Baby, use your words.”

“Hungy.”

“Hungry, huh?” I tickled her belly, and her little giggles lightened my mood. “Well, we better get up and see what we can find to fill your belly.”

Every time Dani said a word, I prayed that Danny and Dante made it home safe to her. Neither of them had heard her speak. She had only just started a few weeks after Dante left.

I hadn’t told him about her words when I texted to let him know she was safe. I didn’t want him distracted by everything he was missing. The reality was, I had no idea what the two of them were doing. They could be off screwing each other and enjoying their time unburdened by parenthood.

You don’t believe that.

No, I didn’t believe that. I knew they both adored their daughter. I couldn’t deny the fear in Dante’s words when he asked me to keep her. Even as angry as I was at Danny, I knew he was doing what he thought was right.

He just didn’t realize he was wrong.

I changed her diaper and got her dressed. Giving myself a whore’s bath, chuckling at the irony of where I was. I was pretty sure all the rooms had bathrooms, so the club girls were able to take actual baths, or at least showers.

Maybe later I would ask Amber or Ellie to watch Dani while I showered. For now, this would have to do.

As we made our way downstairs, and the closer we got to the main room, the more shouting we could hear.

“She’s my fucking sister!” Gunner’s voice was unmistakable.

“You need to calm down.” I smiled when I heard Haizley try to control my brother. She had her work cut out for her with his stubborn ass. Later, when we talked, I wanted to hear all about how she ended up with him.

“She’s fucking mine!”

I stopped in my tracks.

That voice was also unmistakable, and the words were equally as telling.

I held my head high and walked into the room. With Dani on my hip, I stopped in front of the two men who were arguing about my life. A life neither one had any say in.

“SHE does not belong to anyone.”

Chapter Twenty-Six

Ghost

When I walked out of church last night and saw Lyssa standing in the clubhouse, the sight initially filled me with rage. She had run from me, then suddenly shown up on my doorstep. There was only one reason a woman tracked down a one-night stand.

Only she already had a child in her arms. That fueled my anger more until I realized who the child was. Then the questions began to tumble through my head.