Page 10

Dante

“You called Stella?” Danny whispered angrily while I watched in awe as the woman barked orders at her husband. She was a force to be reckoned with, that was for sure. Opening and closing cabinets, she spouted off items as Digger nodded, saying absolutely nothing while he wrote down everything she said. When she peered at the takeout food on the counter, she scrunched up her nose and before I could stop her, she picked up the containers of uneaten food and threw it all in the trash.

“Stella, I was gonna eat that,” Danny protested, causing the woman to turn on her booted heel.

“You ain’t eatin’ anything I can’t spell,” the woman huffed, adding, “Besides, you’re too thin. Gotta put some meat back on those bones. You need red meat and potatoes. Write that down, Digger. Meat and potatoes.”

“Got it.” The man grinned, making a note.

Danny sighed, defeated, knowing there was no arguing with Stella when she was on a mission. The woman’s determination was something to behold. She moved with such purpose, her presence commanding attention from everyone in the room.

“Now, let’s get you cleaned up,” she declared, her voice brooking no dissent. “Digger, run a bath. Use lavender soap if they have it. It’ll calm his nerves. If not, put it on the list.”

“I’m not nervous.” Danny glared at me, narrowing his eyes. “Just hungry.”

“Ain’t running a bath for anyone but you, babe. Kid can wash himself.”

Stella rolled her eyes but didn’t argue. Instead, she turned her attention to the small pile of dishes in the sink and began washing them with brisk efficiency. It was as though she was determined to fix everything that had gone wrong and nothing could stand in her way.

Danny watched her for a moment, then glanced at me, his eyes pleading for some form of intervention. But I could only shrug. Stella was a whirlwind and apparently there was little anyone could do to slow her down once she set her mind to something.

In a matter of minutes, she’d cleaned the kitchen spotless and emptied the trash bins, as the scent of antiseptic soap filled the air. It was a complete transformation from the chaos that had reigned just moments before.

“Alright,” Stella announced, drying her hands on a towel. “Dinner’s in an hour. Digger, make sure you get the good steaks. None of that cheap stuff. Danny, you better eat every bite or I swear I’ll—”

“I’ll eat, I’ll eat,” Danny interrupted, raising his hands in mock surrender. “Just promise me you won’t throw away the food before I have time to taste it.”

Stella smirked, a small victory gleaming in her eyes. “Deal. Now, go rest. I will call you when dinner is done.”

Danny shuffled off, leaving Stella to oversee the preparations with a satisfied air as Digger took his list and left, no doubt in search of a grocery store.

Stella turned to me, a knowing look in her gaze. “You see, hon, you gotta take charge. These boys need direction. If not, they will run roughshod all over you. Stand your ground and tell them to fuck off, but you gotta mean it. Grew up around the club my whole life. Bikers are nothing more than a bunch of overgrown children with too many toys. Let them run over you and they always will. Now, come sit a spell with me and get me caught up. What’s really going on with you and Danny?”

I sighed, taking a seat opposite Stella. “It’s complicated,” I began, knowing full well that Stella had little patience for ambiguity. “Since Danny’s accident, he’s been under a lot of pressure. The club’s dealing with some heavy stuff and they can’t make a move until Danny gets his memories back. To make matters worse, Ace and his crew keep hounding Danny for information he can’t remember. It’s a big mess. No one knows anything, and the one person who does, can’t remember shit.”

“And how are you handling everything?”

I sighed, shaking my head. “I’m hanging on. Trying to be strong for Danny, but it’s a lot. I miss him. I know he’s in the other room, but it’s like living with a stranger. I just want my husband back.”

Stella’s gaze softened and she reached across the table to pat my hand. “You’re stronger than you think, hon. Danny will come around. Just give him time and support. Remember, he’s been through hell, but he’s got you and that’s something.”

I nodded, grateful for Stella’s words, but the uncertainty gnawed at me. Every day felt like an uphill battle, and the weight of the club’s expectations only added to the strain. As Stella began talking about her own experiences with the bikers, sharing anecdotes and wisdom, I found solace in her strength. She had seen it all, yet here she was, unyielding and fearless.

The conversation drifted to lighter topics and for a moment, the heaviness lifted. We laughed, reminisced, and for the first time in weeks, I felt a glimmer of hope. Stella’s unwavering spirit was infectious, and I let myself believe that maybe, just maybe, things would get better.

The hour passed quickly, and soon it was time for dinner. Danny emerged from his rest looking more relaxed, and I marveled at Stella’s ability to bring order and calm to our chaotic world. As we sat down to eat, I couldn’t help but feel a renewed sense of determination. With Stella’s guidance and the support of the club, perhaps we could navigate this storm and find our way back to each other.

Hearing a knock at the door, Stella ordered, “Dante, go let our guests in.”

“Huh?” I looked at the woman. “What guests?”

Before the woman could respond, I heard the front door open and turned to see Reaper and Montana walk in.

“Stella!” Reaper happily greeted, walking over to the woman to hug her, only for her to slap him upside the back of the head.

“What the hell, woman?” Reaper groaned, rubbing his head as Montana chuckled.

“You should have called me sooner!” Stella ripped into Reaper like he was an errant child. “I don’t want to hear any of your excuses and I’m not asking about club business, but what the hell is going on here?”

Reaper looked at Montana, who held up his hands, taking a step back.

Reaper grumbled, his shoulders stiffening slightly. “It’s complicated, Stella. There’s been a lot going on and I didn’t want to drag you in and dredge up old memories.”

Stella’s eyes hardened, her voice firm. “Does this have anything to do with my past?”

“No,” Reaper admitted carefully as Stella took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. Her husband, Digger, walked up behind her, wrapping his arms around her as she nodded. “Then you should have called me. You know that I’m the only one Ace listens to. Fucker is afraid of me.”

Digger chuckled. “Woman, we’re all afraid of you.”

“Good!” Stella scoffed. “Then I’m doing my job. Now, we can discuss business later. Let’s eat.”

And just like that, the tense discussion was over.

It was late by the time Montana and Reaper left, Danny having already gone to bed, saying his head was hurting again. I should have known that too much stimulation would cause a problem, but Stella assured me that if it was a problem, Danny would have left earlier. Digger left with Reaper and Montana, saying he wanted to check out the Soulless Sinners’ clubhouse, which was a lie, because Stella just shook her head and said he only wanted to go get drunk. In the end, it was just me and Stella when she asked, “So, let’s talk about the elephant in the room.”

Confused, I looked at the woman. “What elephant?”

“The little girl’s room that’s missing a little girl.”

Stiffening, I looked past Stella to the locked door and gulped.

“Don’t worry, I only peeked.”

“I wish you hadn’t.”

“Where is she?”

“With someone safe, away from all this mess. Danny didn’t want her involved. Me either, apparently, as I was the last to know about his accident. He’s kept so many secrets from me, Stella. I don’t know what to believe anymore.”

Stella sighed, sitting back on the couch. “Makes sense. The world he lives in is all about secrets, and Danny’s good at keeping them.”

“But I’m his partner, his husband. He shouldn’t have to keep secrets from me.”

“If those secrets endanger your life, he will do that and more. Look, Dante. Truth time. This world Danny lives in isn’t easy. It’s intense, brutal and deadly. Secrets keep you alive and there is none better at secrets than Sypher. The man built his reputation on the secrets he keeps. It’s why everyone trusts him.”

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. “But what about us? What about our life together? Keeping me in the dark doesn’t make me safe, it just makes me feel like a stranger.”

Stella reached out and patted my hand gently. “Dante, he’s trying to protect you the only way he knows how. Trust is scarce in his world, but Danny trusts you more than anything. He’s just trying to shield you from the darkness he deals with every day.”

I nodded, though the ache in my chest didn’t subside. “So, what do I do now?”

“Stay strong. Be there for him when he needs you. And remember, sometimes love means keeping secrets for the sake of the ones you care about. Now, tell me about your little girl.”

Smiling, I felt the tension I was just feeling flee my body. “Her name is Danika and she’s barely two years old. Oh God, Stella, she’s beautiful, and she adores Danny. She always wants him to hold her, and he’s so good with her.”

“Of course he is. Danny had an amazing father. He learned from the best.”

Stella’s eyes softened as she listened.

“She sounds like a little angel. It’s clear that she brings so much joy to both of you.”

I leaned back, allowing a small smile to play on my lips. “She does. Every time she laughs, everything else just fades away. I just wish Danny could see that more often.”

Stella nodded thoughtfully. “He will, Dante. Just give him time. He’s juggling so much right now, but he’ll find his way back to both of you. And when he does, he’ll appreciate every moment even more.”

I sighed softly, feeling a semblance of hope. “I hope you’re right, Stella. I really do.”

She squeezed my hand reassuringly. “I know I’m right. Just keep believing in him and keep loving him. That will make all the difference in the world.”