Page 107 of Courting Danger

“H-how?”

“‘Cause I know what it’s like to try too hard. Only I lost out the first time, trying to fit in with my brother’s club. Never been more grateful to be rejected than when I landed here and learned what brotherhood truly meant.”

He hadn’t known he’d prospected elsewhere. Hell, he hadn’t tried to know Scout at all, just his daddies, after seeing how protective and nurturing they were of him and Axel. If therewas any one lesson he’d learned over all the others, it was that everyone here had a story of struggle, triumph, and personal demons they’d had to overcome before finding their place among the Jokers, the same as him.

He’d kept his secrets to himself believing no one would understand the shit he’d dealt with.

Only so many of them had endured so much worse.

It was enough to leave him both humbled and ashamed, as well as steadfastly determined to reach out if he ever saw anyone struggling the way he had, in the hopes that they wouldn’t wind up in as much shit as Roan had found himself in.

By the time they’d finished with him, the urge to cry had evaporated, replaced by the smile that stretched his cheeks so much they ached. It was a good ache though. Returning to his seat, all he could think about was what his kutte would look like later.

Turned out, those who’d pulled him aside and spoken to him about his behavior had all been right. All he’d had to do was be himself and he’d earn everything he was after.

Earn.

Not have it handed to him.

Not steal it away from someone else.

Not shortcut a system meant to forge the ties he’d so desperately longed for all his life.

He was a gods be damned Rollin’ Joker now.

A brother and a friend.

“Feels good, doesn’t it,” Danger said, wrapping an arm around him.

“Hell yeah,” Roan replied as Grunge put his paws in Roan’s lap so he could lick his face.

Roan rubbed noses with him and gave him a great big hug before letting him settle back on his blanket again while Roanleaned against Danger, much as he had that day back in the grocery store.

“Good, now let’s relax and enjoy the party,” Danger said. “You’ve earned it, many times over.”

“W-wait,” Roan stammered. “Is this bonfire night for me?”

“Yup,” Pope said. “It’s what we do anytime someone patches in. Of course, we never tell ‘em that’s what’s up. It’s always a surprise. Half the time they think they’re getting called on the carpet for something, which adds to the fun.”

Roan grumbled beneath his breath at that revelation, ‘cause damn, he’d been ready to crap himself.

“What was that?” Pope asked with a shit eating grin.

Huffing, Roan turned to meet his gaze. “I said that was exactly what I thought when he called me up there.”

“Uh-huh,” Pope muttered, grin stretching even more. “Sounded like a lot more than that to me.”

Roan nodded, because he wasn’t going to lie to his Papa, but man, all he could hear on the short walk to Mark was his heartbeat pounding in his ears.

“Trust me, I felt the exact same way,” Pope said. “And don’t even get me started on Danger’s reaction. He was ready to throw down thinking he was getting blamed for something he hadn’t done.”

“Not one of my finer moments,” Danger admitted.

“No, it was not,” Pope said, chuckling.

“Honestly, I’m just grateful and still in awe that it really happened,” Roan said. “I was scared that I’d screwed up too badly.”

“There is never atoo badlyto come back from,” Danger said, tightening his hold on Roan, “as long as you don’t betray the club.”