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.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Dante
“That movie was total shit,” Danny groaned while I chuckled, my head laying in his lap as we lounged together on the couch. We had taken Haizley’s suggestion to heart and just lazed around for the rest of the day, doing practically nothing. While I was okay with doing nothing, Danny had a hard time sitting still and focusing on one particular thing. His mind was always spinning and if it wasn’t engaged, he got frustrated quickly.
“It wasn’t that bad.”
Danny rolled his eyes. “That’s because you love that rom-com shit.”
“Fine.” I smirked. “You pick the next movie, then.”
“You hate the shit I watch.”
“That’s because I will have nightmares for weeks. Seriously, Danny, I don’t know how you can watch that gory shit.”
