“She wants to leave though, doesn’t she? But you’re too much of a bastard to let her, she’s terrified to step over the line, afraid you’ll what? There was no Chance was there, it was all you. You’re the one who hurt her, beat her.”
“I’ve never laid a hand on Dani,” he yelled dodging the shot that came his way before landing one to Tyler’s jaw.
“No one believes that, especially not now,” Tyler stated, rushing him. They both tumbled across the yard and into his car, which set off the alarm.
Dani heard the commotion and peaked out the window of the bedroom. By the time, she got to the front door the rest of the neighborhood was outside watching the entertainment. She saw them trading blows, their words stinging just as much as the blows, and she couldn’t let it continue.
“Stop it!” she shouted and saw Luke drop his fist instantly.
Tyler didn’t listen and sent another blow towards him. Dani watched as Luke stumbled on the curb and her heart leapt into her throat when he went down, his head connecting with the sidewalk with a crack.
“Luke!” Dani screamed as she hurried over, dodging Tyler’s grasp. She knelt down beside him and stared up at Tyler who looked on in disbelief. “Are you happy now? Jesus Ty…”
“Me, you’re mad at me? After what he did, you’re mad atme?” he asked.
“Go away,” she told him as Luke came around. “Luke, come on Luke, wake up.”
“Dani,” he groaned lifting his hand to the back of his head, which smarted. He pulled it back and she saw the smear of blood on it.
“Shh,” she whispered wondering if she could make it through this without being sick again.
“Dani, I’m sorry baby,” he stated seeing the worry in her eyes and the look she always wore after seeing physical altercations. He tried to sit up, but his head swum, and she pressed him back down against her legs as she knelt beside him.
“It’s okay, baby.” Dani pressed her hand against his head. She felt the blood and knew they needed to get him to a doctor. “Angela, get me a towel,” she said looking up at the others.
Dani saw Brad heading up the drive likely he’d been alerted probably along with the police of the fight. This was not what she needed, another fight between Tyler and Luke was bound to make the reporters dig up more about them, and Dean would likely find out the truth. She could only imagine Luke’s anger over knowing she’d lied to him yet again.
“What happened?” Brad asked as he reached her.
“A series of misunderstandings that ended with Ty and him getting into a fight,” she told him as he moved between her and the larger portion of the crowd watching. Angela hurried over with the towel and Dani slipped it onto the back of Luke’s head pressing hard as he groaned. “We need to get him to the hospital.”
“I agree,” Brad said seeing the amount of blood that was on the towel already. “Boss…hey boss…Dani, keep the towel on his head,” he told her when Luke barely opened his eyes. He lifted him and she hurried up beside him keeping the towel against his head as much as possible.
“Slide in,” Brad said when they reached the car. She did and he eased Luke in laying him down so his head was in her lap.
“Hurry,” she said sliding her hand through Luke’s hair.
“Dani,” Luke groaned when they were almost there.
“Luke, shh…”
“What happened?” he asked attempting to sit up.
“Easy, we’re almost to the hospital; just take it easy Luke.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I know. It’s okay, baby.” Dani brushed a light kiss onto his lips. Tears prickled against the back of her eyes, and she forced them down as they arrived.
“What happened?” the doctor inquired seeing the bruises forming on his cheek and the cut on his lip.
“He and his brother got into a fight. Luke missed seeing a blow coming his way and it knocked him off balance. He stumbled on the curb and came down hitting his head on the sidewalk,” she answered.
“Has he been unconscious since then?”
“No, he’s come around a couple times, but it doesn’t last.”
“Alright,” he stated as they moved Luke into an exam room. “Arielle, can you help Mrs. Nolan find somewhere to clean up?” he said to a nurse as she walked by.
The nurse, the one from the night she came in, glanced at her, and nodded sending her a gentle smile. “This way Mrs. Nolan.”
Dani wanted to argue but saw the amount of blood on her legs and gave in, watching Brad move over to the doorway of the exam room then hurried after the nurse. She did her best to calm her nerves as she scrubbed the blood off of herself and prayed Luke would be okay. While it was true that she might not always have liked him, she didn’t want him getting hurt because of her.