Page 95 of Devil in Disguise

Our room was crowded, that was for sure.

“Well, if you weren’t so antagonistic towards the cranky woman, maybe she would still be here and so would our brother,” Jack piped up, leaning against the wall. Fucker couldn’t help but dig that knife deeper into Danny’s back.

“Not helping, asshole.” Ryder glared at the smiling brother.

“Danny, maybe you could talk to her again,” Ellie kindly interjected. “Just be a little nicer this time.”

“That’s what got him into this mess, babe,” Ryder said, hugging his wife.

Someone knocked on the door and Jackass opened it, allowing Gunner and Haizley to walk in.

“I was wondering where you all ran off to.” Haizley sighed, taking a seat on the bed next to Ellie and me, as I watched Danny mutter absently to himself while he continued to pace the room. “Has he come up with a plan yet?”

“Nope,” Me, Ryder, Ellie and Jackass said at the same time.

“Well, he better fast,” Gunner growled, arms crossed over his chest. “King wasn’t fucking around. He wants Ghost back in his cut, fast.”

“Not helping, Gunner,” Haizley snapped at her old man. “Danny’s been under a lot of strain lately. We need to give him time to figure this out.”

“He’s gonna be dead if he doesn’t fix this mess,” Jackass snarked.

Someone else knocked on the door before it opened and Amber walked in, carrying Danika.

“King’s pissed. He just tore out of here as if his ass were on fire.”

“Cash with him?” Gunner asked.

“Yeah, so are Blade and Colt,” the pretty woman informed, holding Danika closer, who laid her head down on the woman’s shoulder. Looking at the two of them, if I didn’t know any better, I would say they were mother and daughter. The resemblance was uncanny, right down to the small spray of freckles across the bridge of their noses.

“Mama?”

The second my little girl said that one word, everyone looked at me and smiled as a lightbulb went off in my head. “It can’t be that easy.”

“She loves Dani.” Haizley grinned.

“And she gave up everything to protect her.” Ellie smiled.

“But will she be enough?” I asked, looking at the two women.

Ellie shrugged. “There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for Chrissy or Tabby. Love those girls as if they were my flesh and blood.”

“Mellie’s stubborn,” Gunner piped up. “Gonna need more to lock her down.”

Turning to look at Danny, who was still muttering to himself, I added, “Which means he’s gonna have to eat crow and swallow his pride. But I know Danny won’t say shit if Ghost is there.”

“We can take care of that.” Jackass grinned, pushing off the wall.

“Gonna need King,” Ryder added. “Ghost was fucking adamant when he left.”

“You three can figure that out,” Haizley spoke firmly, turning toward me and Danny. “You two, however, have your work cut out for you. I know Melissa. She won’t be easy to sway. You’re gonna have to give her no choice. Corner her. Make her listen until she caves. Think Sherman’s March on Atlanta. Don’t give up and for the love of God, don’t surrender!”

“They’re not going to war, Haizley.” Ellie chuckled.

“You sure about that?”

The ride from the clubhouse out to the Powell Ranch didn’t take as long as I thought it would. I had wanted to leave right away, but everyone agreed to give Melissa time to cool off. More importantly, the guys, including Danny, agreed to give Ghost time to help cool off the stubborn woman, praying that Ghost could make her more... amiable.

In the end, we gave them the night. By sunrise, I was ready to get this shit show on the road.

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