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Dante

Danny’s silence was a lead weight in my stomach. It wasn’t just his usual quiet. This felt different, charged. He kept picking at his food, his knuckles bone-white against his fork. I knew he was wrestling with something, something big enough to choke the air from the room. The thing was, I suspected what it was. A lie, a significant one, that threatened to shatter the foundation of our relationship—maybe even more.

My stomach churned. My belief system, the one built on honesty and trust, screamed at me to push him, to demand he speak. To force the truth out, even if it hurt. But a different voice, a colder, more selfish one, whispered that knowing the truth might irrevocably damage us both. The conflict tore at me. Staying silent felt like a betrayal of my principles, a passive acceptance of a potential deception. Pressing him, however, risked destroying something precious, something I desperately wanted to preserve. I was forced to choose between my integrity and my desire to avoid pain, a choice that felt like walking a tightrope over a chasm of broken trust. The silence stretched, each tick of the clock amplifying the internal battle, the weight of a bad choice looming large, the potential for regret a bitter taste on my tongue.

The dinner, once a simple meal, had become a battlefield for my conscience.

“I miss our daughter.”

Looking up, I swallowed my food and nodded. “She’s safe. I did just like you told me to. I had to tell Missy the truth about us, but she understood, I think. She knew who you were when I used your club name.”

Danny sighed, pushing his plate away before he leaned back in his chair. “That’s because her brother is Gunner. She grew up around the Arkansas Chapter of the Silver Shadows, before a fucking club brother put hands on her. Gunner damn near killed the son of a bitch. As soon as she left for college, the fucking idiot cut off all contact with her.”

“Why the hell did he do that?”

“Because he’s an idiot,” Danny said again, smirking. “The moron thought he was protecting her. Too bad it’s gonna bite him in the ass when she shows up at the clubhouse.”

“Missy doesn’t strike me as the forgiving kind.”

“Because she’s not,” Danny said, reaching for his beer. Slowly spinning the bottle on the table, he sighed. “I need to tell you something, Dante, and you’re not gonna like it.”

Saying nothing, I waited for him to continue.

“I wasn’t just looking into the Trick Pony for the club. I was looking for the bitch that hurt you.”

“I know,” I whispered, looking down at my hands, the familiar sting of betrayal a dull ache beneath the surface. I hadn’t just wanted Jane dead. I’d fantasized about it, a dark, delicious release from the pain. But the cold calculation that followed... that was different.

That was a violation of something deep inside me.

“I couldn’t look at you every day knowing I could ease your suffering, but no matter how hard I looked, I couldn’t find her, and you know I can find anyone. Well, after the shit at the Playground, Sinclair showed up at the penthouse and I did something that I’m not proud of.”

I stiffened in my seat.

“Tell me you didn’t,” I choked out, the words a prayer and an accusation.

“I asked Sin for a favor.”

“SON OF A BITCH!” I roared, jumping to my feet, my rage a thin veil over a deeper, sickening dread. “Do you know what you’ve done? That fucking bastard never hands out favors without getting something in return. Never.”

“I know that.” Danny’s voice was flat, devoid of his usual bravado.

He knew, too.

He’d known all along what he was doing. And he did it anyway.

“And you asked anyway, why?” My voice was barely a rasp.

“Because I had information he wanted.”

His confession hung in the air, heavy with unspoken consequences. My insides twisted.

He traded his soul for revenge.

“What?” I seethed. “What could you have that he couldn’t get for himself?”

Danny looked up at me, his eyes haunted. “Information on the whereabouts of your mother.”

“What are you talking about? My mother is dead.” My words were a shield, a desperate attempt to cling to a familiar pain, rather than confront the devastating truth.

Danny shook his head. “She’s alive, Dante. She was with you when you and the others escaped.”

Sitting back down, a cold wave washed over me.

“What are you saying, Danny?” My voice was flat, devoid of emotion. Numbness was preferable to the torrent of feelings threatening to overwhelm me.

“The woman Sinclair’s been looking for all these years, Thena Hartley—she is your birth mother. Only she didn’t know.”

“How is that possible?” The question was almost irrelevant.

The weight of the truth settled on me, crushing.

“Because she went into labor early and had to have an emergency C-section. She didn’t know she was carrying twins.”

“I have a sibling?”

His revelation didn’t bring relief, only a deeper sense of isolation.

“A sister, born five minutes before you.” Danny’s voice was quiet, almost apologetic. But there was no apology that could undo the torment raging inside me.

That sick motherfucker knew all this time and didn’t fucking tell me. He let me believe that my mother died at the Trick Pony. The room spun as I gripped the edge of the table to steady myself. I thought of the life I once had, the pain I’d endured and the darkness that had consumed me all because of Sin and his sick, twisted fucking games.

“Why?” The word escaped my lips, a broken whisper. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Danny’s gaze dropped to his beer bottle, his silence a confession in itself.

“You knew,” I continued, my tone hardening. “You knew, and you said nothing.”

“I’m sorry, Dante,” Danny said, his voice rough with emotion. “I thought I was protecting you. I thought if you knew the truth, it would destroy you. I never imagined Sinclair would—” His voice caught, and he cleared his throat. “I never imagined it would come to this. I should’ve told you. I’m so sorry.”

“Dante, what else are you feeling?” Haizley asked.

Haizley looked at both of us, trying to help process my emotions, but my anger remained, a smoldering ember in my chest.

I knew Danny had his reasons, but that didn’t make the betrayal any easier to accept.

Each day that passed without resolution felt like a chasm widening between us, threatening to swallow the life we’d built together. I wanted to forgive him, to bridge that gap, but the hurt was a tangible thing, blocking my path. Hours turned into days and still, we danced around each other, our once easy companionship strained and stilted. I avoided conversations, shared spaces, unable to bear the weight of his unspoken words. It was as if we were strangers, each lost in our own private hell, unable to find our way back to each other.

The silence was suffocating, yet neither of us seemed capable of breaking it.

Then, last night, as I lay awake in our bed, Danny’s side cold and empty, the realization hit me.

This wasn’t just about his secrets, or even my anger.

It was about the very foundation of our relationship, the trust that had bound us together.

I knew, in that moment, that if we were to have any hope of moving forward, I had to confront the truth head-on. I had to give him a chance to explain, to really hear him out, even if it meant facing my own fears and insecurities.

“I feel like he doesn’t trust me.”

“And how does that make you feel?”

“Hurt,” I admitted. “Danny is the love of my life. I want to be his everything, the person he confides in the most, but he doesn’t. There’s this wall between us, almost as if he’s two different people. I want all of him. The good and the bad.”

“I’m trying to protect you,” Danny muttered.

“I don’t need your protection!” I yelled. “I need your trust. I can’t be with someone I don’t trust, Danny. We’ve already been down this road when I kicked you out of my apartment for going behind my back. I’ve been lied to my whole life. I won’t stay with a partner who lies to me.”

“I didn’t lie.” He sighed. “I just didn’t tell you.”

“It’s the same damn thing!”

“Alright.” Haizley sat up and firmly said, “Dante, take a deep breath and calm down. I want to hear from Danny.”

Sulking, I leaned against the armrest of the couch and crossed my arms as Danny leaned forward, resting his arms on his legs, his head bowed.

“I told you this was a bad idea. I told you he would leave me.”

“But he hasn’t left,” Haizley stated. “He’s sitting right there.”

Haizley’s words hung in the air, and I felt a twinge of shame at my outburst. I took a moment to gather myself, trying to calm the storm of emotions raging within me. Danny’s eyes remained fixed on the floor; his posture defeated. I knew he was hurting too and the weight of it all bore down on me.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, my voice hoarse with unshed tears. “I just... I need to understand. I need to know why you didn’t come to me. Why did you keep this from me?” My voice cracked, and I took a shuddering breath, steeling myself for his response.

Danny lifted his head, his eyes filled with a mix of pain and determination. “I know you’re hurt, and I wish more than anything that I could take that hurt away. Keeping things from you goes against every fiber of my being. But I made a promise, and I had to respect that, even if it meant losing you.” His voice was steady, but I could see the effort it took for him to keep it that way. “I love you, Dante. You’re my world, and the thought of losing you is unbearable. But I had to make a choice, and I chose to protect you, even if it meant protecting you from myself.”

The room fell silent as we processed Danny’s words.

Haizley’s gaze moved between us, giving us space to reflect. My heart was torn. I wanted to believe Danny, to trust that his intentions were pure, but the hurt and anger were still there, simmering beneath the surface.

“Danny,” I said, turning to face him. “I need to know that no matter what happens, that I come first. That our daughter comes first. I understand your job requires you to keep secrets, but we are married. There should be no secrets between us. We are partners in life. If we can’t trust one another, then what the hell are we even doing?”

“I can’t discuss club business with you, Dante. No one will work with me if I do.”

“I’m not asking you to discuss club business with me, but if it concerns me, our daughter, or our marriage, I have a right to know. I don’t care how awful shit gets in the underworld or how dangerous it is. I had a right to know about my mother.”

“You’re right.”

Blinking, I gasped, “What?”

Looking at me, Danny whispered, “You heard me. I said you’re right. I can’t promise I’ll tell you everything, but when it concerns you, our daughter or our family, I will tell you what I can, but know this, Dante. I will do anything to ensure yours and Danika’s safety, and if that means withholding information to protect you, then so be it. I just need you to trust I’m doing it for a reason.”

Danny’s words hung in the air, heavy with emotion.

In that moment, I realized the depth of his pain and the strength of his love for me and our daughter. I knew then that I had a choice. I could let my pride and hurt stand in the way, or I could take a leap of faith and trust that Danny was doing his best to navigate the difficult path we found ourselves on.

“I want to trust you, Danny,” I said, my voice steady despite the turmoil within me. “I want to believe that you’re doing what you think is best for us. But it’s not always easy, especially when I feel like I’m in the dark.” I paused, gathering my thoughts, before continuing, “I know your world is dangerous and I respect you want to protect me. But I’m not some fragile doll that needs to be shielded from the truth. I can handle it, whatever it is.”

Danny reached for my hand, his eyes filled with a mix of relief and determination. “I know you can, Dante. And I promise, from now on, I’ll do my best to include you in the decisions that affect our family. I can’t promise to always reveal every detail, but I will strive for transparency. You and Danika are my priority, and I will do everything in my power to keep you safe, even if it means making difficult choices.”

“I think this is a good place to stop.” Haizley smiled, leaning back in her chair. “You’ve both made excellent progress today, and now I want you both to relax and enjoy the rest of your day. No more heavy talking. Take a walk, get out of the house. Do something together as a couple. Tomorrow, I want to hear all about what you two did.”

Danny smirked wickedly as he looked at the pretty woman. “Yeah, we ain’t the holding hands type, Doc.”

Haizley blushed. “Well, you know what I meant.”

Danny chuckled as I rolled my eyes.