“He looks like a drowned rat.” I frowned, not impressed.
“He’s gonna need you, Ace. With all these boys around, Danny’s gonna need someone to protect him.”
“He’s got Bailey and Charlie.”
“No, son,” my dad said, placing Danny in my arms. I didn’t want to hold him. I wanted a sister. I already had two brothers. “Bailey and Charlie barely survive as it is. Danny needs you.”
I just stood there, staring at my newest brother and didn’t know what to really make of him. He looked fragile, all bundled up in his blue blanket. He couldn’t even hold his head up. He was too small, but when he opened his eyes and looked at me, I knew I would always protect Danny.
As Danny grew, the bond between us only strengthened. I knew from the start that Danny was different from the others. He was quiet and preferred books, unlike Bailey or Charlie, who were always getting into trouble. So, I took on the role of my brother’s guardian with fervor, always ensuring Danny was safe and happy. Dad and I taught Danny to ride a bike, helped him with his homework and I cheered the loudest at every damn science fair. Danny, in return, idolized me and tried to emulate everything I did. Our relationship became a cornerstone in both our lives, characterized by unwavering support and love, and then I did the unthinkable and left to join the military, breaking my brother’s heart.
I didn’t have a choice and instead of talking to Danny about it, I just disappeared, leaving my parents to explain my absence. I always hated how shit went down between me and Dad that day and now it was too late to fix it. To make matters worse, my relationship with Danny was never the same after. I didn’t know how to explain to Danny that I couldn’t be what Dad wanted me to be. That I needed something more than what the club could offer me.
Years passed and the distance between Danny and me only seemed to grow. I would send letters and occasionally call home, but it was never enough to bridge the gap that my departure had created. I managed to get emergency leave when Dad died, but when I showed for the funeral, Danny wouldn’t even acknowledge me. Then when Mom died, well, that was the last straw. I was out of the country and unable to make it back. That was something I knew Danny would never forgive. Now, Danny was no longer the little boy who looked up to me with admiration. He had become a young man with his own dreams and struggles.
I tried to rekindle our strained relationship as it weighed heavily on my heart, but Danny had built walls around himself, walls that I had unknowingly contributed to. I tried to reconnect, but the easy camaraderie we once shared was elusive. Danny was polite but distant, his responses curt and guarded. The pain of our fractured relationship was a constant ache, a reminder of the things left unsaid and the wounds left unhealed. Knowing he didn’t need me anymore, I left again, hoping that one day I would get the chance to make things right.
It seemed no matter what I did, I kept messing up everything. Even with the shit currently going on, I blamed myself because it was me who offered to help him. There wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do for Danny or my other two brothers, for that matter. But I couldn’t do shit until I found him.
Valhalla
Soulless Sinners’ clubhouse, New York City.
Walking out of Bane’s office, I passed Montana’s office to find the asshole sitting alone, looking at his phone. Leaning against the door, I stared at the man who was once a good friend of mine and felt nothing. Not even a twinge of compassion for the man. Logically, I knew he wasn’t to blame for what happened to me, but I couldn’t get past the fact that it was his father who destroyed my life.
“You just gonna stand there and stew, or are we going to settle this shit?”
“Not really sure what you want me to say to you.”
“You can start with why you didn’t reach out after I took the chair?”
“You already know why I didn’t.”
Looking up at me, Montana placed his phone down and frowned. “No, I don’t, Merc. We were all close growing up. You, me, Auggie, and Bella did everything together. We kept nothing from each other. Then one day everything changed. You disappeared, August refused to talk to me, and then Bella up and moved.”
“What happened to Bella?”
“What do you think happened?” My former childhood friend scoffed. “My dad happened. It seems every bad thing that’s happened in my life has been because of him and two of my closest friends knew and couldn’t be bothered to give me a fucking heads-up.”
Shaking my head, I walked over and took a seat. “In my defense, I was dealing with my own shit. You know, being orphaned after my parents died, being kidnapped, then learning I was knocked up, so forgive me if I didn’t have time to pass you a quick note of warning.”
Montana growled. “You fucking know what I meant.”
Nodding, I leaned back in the chair and sighed. “Yeah, I do, and for that, I am sorry. Your dad screwed us all over, Montana, and we can’t change that. All we can do is pick up the pieces and move forward.”
“Can we?”
Shrugging, I muttered, “I don’t know. So much has changed.”
“He never forgot about you, Mere. I think in some way he’s been searching for you since you disappeared.”
“It doesn’t matter.” I sighed, looking down at my hands. “I’m not that little girl anymore.”
“He’s a doctor too.”
“I know.”
“He never married.”
