Page 81 of Devil in Disguise


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“No, we don’t. Our daughter loves Missy. I like Missy a lot. You are the only one who seems to have a problem.”

“And what problem is that, Dante?”

“Sharing,” I snarked as he plopped his ass down in a chair. “I get you like things your way, but we have a daughter now, Danny, and she needs to come first. You can’t control everything.”

“I can try.”

“No, you can’t. This morning is the perfect example. Neither one of us knew what Danika wanted. We assumed she wanted cake. It was Melissa who knew exactly what our girl wanted and gave it to her. She didn’t do it smugly or maliciously. She even explained why Danika was being so resistant. You owe that woman an apology and a thank you for taking care of Danika.”

My words hung in the air, heavy with truth, as Danny’s jaw ticked while he processed my words, his eyes never leaving our little girl who was happily munching on her pancake.

“I know I can be controlling,” he finally said, his voice low and laced with a hint of shame. “But I can’t help but feel like I’ve lost so much time with her. I just want to be her father, to give her the life she deserves.” He paused, his eyes flicking up to meet mine. “I’m trying, okay? I’ll try to do better.”

My expression softened as I reached out and placed a hand on Danny’s arm. “I know you are, and we’ll figure this out together. We’re a family now, and we’ll navigate this new dynamic as a team. We owe it to Danika to be united, to give her a stable and loving home.” I squeezed Danny’s arm gently before letting go and turning back to our daughter. “Now, let’s enjoy this precious time with her while we can. Who knows what kind of mischief she’ll get up to once she’s finished with her breakfast?”

As if on cue, Danika pushed her plate away, a satisfied smile on her face, and held out her arms to Danny.

“Mama!” she demanded, her big brown eyes pleading. I saw the second Danny relented as he swept her up into a tight embrace, pressing a kiss to her soft curls.

“Alright, baby girl,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion as he walked out of the kitchen.

Groaning, I banged my head on the table a few times when I heard. “Do that a few more times, Intern, and you’ll give yourself a concussion.”

Looking up, I spotted Bane standing near the coffeepot, drinking a cup of coffee. “He’s impossible sometimes.”

“You married him,” Bane snarked just as Amber walked into the kitchen.

“Hi, Bane. Hi, Pippen.” The pretty woman smiled warmly as she walked over to the broody man.

“Hi, beautiful,” Bane greeted, grabbing the coffeepot and pouring the hot brew into her waiting cup.

“So, how did last night go?” she asked, before taking a sip.

“Good,” I muttered. “After Danika ate two cookies.”

Amber chuckled as she walked over to the table and took a seat across from me. “Yeah, should have told you about that. Love your little girl to death. She’s sweet as candy.”

“I’ve missed so much.”

Reaching across the table, Amber took my hand and smiled. “You are here for her now. That’s all that counts. You are staying, right?”

“I don’t know. Haven’t talked to Danny about it, but I don’t like the idea of taking Danika away from Melissa. She’s grown really attached to Danika, and my little girl loves her. I can clearly see it, and even if he won’t admit it, Danny sees it, too.”

“You do what’s best for the kid,” Bane piped up. “Fuck everything else.”

“Bane’s right, Dante,” Amber whispered. “I didn’t have the best father. Danika is lucky. She’s got two dads that love her.”

“I know, and I want to do right by her,” I replied, rubbing my temples. “But it’s not just about Danika. There’s also Melissa to consider. She’s been like a mother to my daughter, and they have a strong bond.”

I sighed, feeling the weight of the decision on my shoulders. “I can’t bear the thought of tearing them apart.”

Bane set down his cup and crossed his arms, his expression softening. “You’ll figure it out, Intern. You’re a good dad and you want what’s best for your family. Trust your instincts.”

I nodded, grateful for his words of encouragement. “Thanks, Bane. I just hope I can make the right choice.”

As I sat there, lost in thought, Amber squeezed my hand gently. “Whatever you decide, we’re here for you. Family sticks together, no matter what.”

Chapter Thiry-Four