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“I’m glad.”
“Mom’s good.”
“Your brother and sister?”
Ryan smiled. “They’re good too. They’re happy. They miss you.”
Dane reached out and put a hand on his son’s arm. “Don’t. I know they barely know me. It’s fine. I’ve made my peace. Lucy wants me to spend more time with them.”
“They were young when you left.”
“I know. One day.” He wanted to get to know his kids, but when the time was right, and of course, when they were ready to know him.
The sound of a motorcycle had Dane tensing, and he stood. Being a prospect, he was prepared for plenty of visits and any possible call-outs. He recognized Damon’s bike as he got closer.
“What’s up, Damon?” Ryan asked, putting his plate of food down and going to Damon.
Dane was shocked by how much his oldest son could consume. It was costing him a fortune to keep them in food alone. The barbeque pit helped a lot. The kid put away so much meat it was unreal.
“Am I needed at the club?” he asked, getting to his feet.
“No. This isn’t club business. I need to talk to you in private.”
“No need to say more,” Ryan said. He grabbed his tray of food and entered the trailer.
Dane needed to organize the build for his home. The plot of land was perfect, but he had to get his shit together to finally get his dream home.
“What can I do for you?” Dane asked. “You want something to eat?”
“Greater Falls Offpeak Medical Center,” Damon said, and Dane froze. “I just got off the phone with them, pretending to be your insurance provider.”
“That’s illegal, Damon.”
“All that time, you were an hour away.”
Dane’s jaw clenched. “You had no right.”
“You up and left, Dane. Since you’ve come back, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know something happened. You constantly mentioned second chances and all that positive mumbo-jumbo shit. What happened?”
“I don’t have to explain myself to you.”
“Then explain it to the club. Help us to understand.”
“I ignored the signs,” Dane said. “That’s what happened. They told me … it was prostate cancer, but being the fucking asshole I was, I didn’t go to the doctor straight away. They told me it had spread, that I didn’t have long to live,” Dane said. “At first, I figured what the hell. Who gives a fuck? I’ll party. Get my badge to hell. Screw chicks, have some fun.” Tears filled Dane’s eyes.
“What happened?”
“I woke up next to my wife. Lucy deserved better than me. I’d spent the day in fucking hell, to be honest with you. The partying. The shit. I figured I’d die with the club, and I looked at her, and I knew. I’d put her and our kids through shit. They didn’t deserve to see me die. I couldn’t put her through that. I told my doctor I planned to die alone. So I packed up, and I left. I was traveling for about a month I think it was, when an experimental program was opened. I had stopped taking my meds, but I got the call, and they told me the risks. I figured I didn’t have a lot to lose. If it worked, I was healed. If not, chances were I’d be dead sooner. Win-win for me. I entered the program, and it took some time, and they declared me cancer-free, but along with it, I realized I had a big problem. I started rehabilitation, you could say, for my personality. I met so many different people. I got therapy and it was through them that I realized what an awful human being I’ve been. This is a second chance, Damon. This is what I’ve got. There is a high chance the cancer will come back. There is always the risk, but I’ve got a boy I need to make it right with. Two children who barely know me, and a woman I’ve got to help raise these kids with. I’m not going to fuck it up.”
“You’ve got to tell the club.”
“No. I will earn my patch back.”
“They will understand.”
“I don’t give a fuck if they understand or not, Damon. I will earn this patch. I will take my rightful place, and I will make amends for all the shit that I’ve done. It’s why you need to stop Teri from leaving. You love her and she is a good woman. The right woman for you. Don’t let her slip through your fingers. Take it from a man who knows what it’s like to lose someone you love.”
Damon shook his head. “Fuck, man. You should have told us.”
“It was another selfish act. You know I can’t handle pity.”
“We’re your brothers.”
“It’s why as soon as I was well again, I came back.” He had no intention of letting anyone know the truth.
Damon moved closer to him, and Dane accepted the hug.
