Chapter 27

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

“Is Dani okay?” Gage shoved his phone back in his pocket and turned to answer Steel’s question.

“She will be now. Thank you for getting all the women together to go over to my house.”

Steel clapped him on the shoulder. “No need to thank me. Karlie and the rest of the wives were happy to go over. They want to be there for Dani any way they can. That’s what family does for one another.”

That word no longer made him cringe like it used to. He realized since returning to New Mexico that his team was indeed his family. Dani helped him realize that. And he may not have wanted it for himself in the past but he sure as hell wanted it for her.

“I see that now. After what happened with Karlie, I didn’t want to be close to the team. I couldn’t bear to look at myself if I let someone else down again.”

Understanding shown in Steel’s eyes. “I never blamed you for what happened and neither did Karlie. It wouldn’t have mattered who was with her that day, her brother was just that good.”

He knew that now. Another thing he needed to thank Dani for; she helped him see what was always in front of him. Karlie’s kidnapping wasn’t his fault. She wasn’t the only one facing issues but all that mattered was they were facing them together. There was so much he was seeing in a different light because of her.

“I know you didn’t but I blamed myself. It was easier to allow hate to consume me than it was to face the true root of my problems.”

Steel tilted his head to the side. “And have you? Faced them?”

Gage thought about it. Dani wasn’t the only one speaking to a therapist. If he wanted a future free of his past demons, then he needed to work on them. Dani showed him how strong she was and he wanted to be equally strong for her.

“I’m a work in progress, but yes, I’m facing them head-on.”

Steel clapped him on the shoulder for a second time. “I’m proud of you and just know if you ever need anything, I’m always here. Dani isn’t the only one who has people on her side. The guys and I would be glad to sit around and just talk if needed. I’m not saying it will be as cool as their ladies’ night but we would still get together for you.”

His friend walked away before he could say anything else, and really, there was nothing else to say. So many emotions were swirling around inside him and now wasn’t the time.

Black needed them and he wasn’t about to let down the man who gave him a second chance. The man who unknowingly helped bring Dani back into his life. The man who made sure he had a team available to save Dani when she needed help the most.

He owed Black his life and he would help the man any way he could.