Page 40 of Lani

The doctor sets her clipboard down onto the counter. “I have to ask, Lynn, do you think she was sexually abused?”

Lynn shakes her head. “Nope, after he got done with me, I would crawl in bed with her. She was never out of my sight ever. I would have killed him if he ever dared to touch my baby.” Her eyes fill with tears at the thought.

“You did so amazingly. You protected her. I’m so proud of you,” I whisper to her. She smiles at me, tears falling down her face before she wipes them away.

The doctor examines Michaela. “I would like to do blood work on her also to make sure nothing is wrong under the surface, but she looks completely healthy besides a slight ear infection. With some antibiotics, it will clear up soon.” She writes the prescription and hands it to Lynn. “I’ll see you guys in a few weeks.”

* * *

When we arrive home, the girls are completely exhausted. Trey orders a bunch of different kinds of Mexican food family-style so they can try different things since they’ve never had it before.

I sit down on the couch with a groan, feeling drained.

I hear a buzzing sound throughout the living room. I look at the security screen to see a man at the front gate.

Trey and Vinny walk over to the screen. Vinny’s face changes to one of pure shock. I walk over to him, concerned, and he unlocks the gate and the guy drives inside.

He throws the truck into park and runs up to the front door like he has this big emergency.

When I finally get a good look at his face, I notice right away how much he looks like Vinny and the girls.

Is this their brother Danny?

Vinny opens the door and Danny stops in his tracks when he sees Vinny. “Brother, it’s been so long,” Danny says.

My first impression of Danny is that he’s a big-ass guy. I get military vibes from him—straight-backed and clean-cut.

Vinny splits the distance and hugs him tightly. Danny closes his eyes. I take Trey’s hand at the sight of this reunion. I know that Vinny wondered about Danny all the time.

“Fuck, baby, they’re all back together.” I lean my head on Trey’s shoulder and enjoy this beautiful moment.

Vinny and Danny part. “I just got out of the special forces. I went back home to see Lynn and Etta, but the house was completely abandoned. I found a neighbor and she told me that you got the girls. Then I asked around town and found you here,” Danny explains.

“Brother, I need to speak to you in private.” Vinny pulls him down the porch and sits on the steps.

I close the door and allow them privacy. The girls are in the kitchen eating dinner at the island, where we were about to join them before their brother arrived.

Trey looks out the door, keeping an eye on Vinny, making sure he is okay. He’s always in protector mode.

Fifteen minutes later Vinny and Danny walk inside of the house. I stand up and take Vinny’s hand.

Danny walks into the kitchen where the girls are sitting, “Etta? Lynn?” They turn around in unison, then they take off running, hugging Danny.

“I missed you girls.” Danny holds the both of them. The girls are crying and I can see Danny is trying to hold back his tears.

“We missed you too!” Lynn wipes her eyes. “We’re all together again,” Etta finishes, and my heart is so happy for them.

“Danny, this is my girlfriend Lani and this is my man Trey,” Vinny introduces us, and I wince inwardly, hoping for a good reaction.

Danny shakes Trey’s hand before he hugs me. “Thank you for taking care of my brother. It’s nice to see him happy.”

Okay he is truly a nice guy, I can see that, but I can also see a deadly side of him. He has a darkness in him that is deeper than even Vinny’s.

We all get some food and take it into the living room so we can all sit together. Michaela wakes up crying and Lynn gets her and carries her into the living room with the rest of us.

Danny looks confused when he sees Michaela. “Vinny, why didn’t you tell me you had a baby?” He smiles at her, touching her hand.

Lynn clears her throat. “She’s mine.”

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