“Question is what are you going to do now Luke?” Wren stated.
“What can I do? She’s the one who has to decide if she can forgive me, because I forgave her for all the lies the day that she said she loved me. Before that even,” Luke sighed. “If she’ll forgive me, I’ll prove how much I love her, how sorry I am for everything that’s happened.”
“You don’t deserve her forgiveness Luke,” Angela said harshly. “But she deserves a hell of a lot from you, her freedom for one.”
“Angela, your brother made mistakes. Dani made mistakes but it’s their decision. They have the girls to protect so let’s let them decide,” Joan cautioned ushering the others from the room.
“If you hurt her ever again, I’ll take you out Luke,” Tyler warned.
“I swear I’ll never hurt her, because it hurts me too,” Luke said before looking at Dean who remained. “You and I have some business.”
“We do,” Dean agreed as the door shut.
“I’m not even going to get into what you did to me or the company,” Luke stated glancing at Dani. “But what you did to her, what youlether do, you’re more selfish than I am and that’s pretty damned bad.”
“You love her. I love Mona, Kara, and Daniel. If I’d thought Dani was hurting herself, letting you hurt her, I’d have come back for her in a second.”
“And now that you do know?” Luke asked.
“I’m going to kick your ass out of her life even if I have to do it from jail. You forced my sister to marry you, probably to sleep with you, and it’s all because of me. So, take your best shot because one’s all you’re going to get.”
Luke didn’t need a second offer. He’d needed to push his frustrations out somehow and taking it out on Dani’s brother, well that was certainly one-way to do it. He pulled back his fist and let it fly, connecting to Dean’s jaw with a solid thud. It sparked something inside him, and he sent another towards the man who countered it and landed one of his own.
They continued until they crashed through the door slamming into the nurses’ station and scaring the ones on duty.
“What the hell?” Wren stated as the rest of the family sat in the waiting area.
“Ah let them,” Tyler laughed pushing the security guard back to let them pound each other to bits. “Better it happens here in the hospital than outside, at least they’ll be able to be put back together quickly.”
It seemed the others agreed because they all let them at it until a noise from the doorway to Dani’s room ceased all action.
“Stop it,” Dani stated looking at the mess they’d made. “I am so sick of all of you using your fists to solve things. Go away, both of you.”
“Shit,” Luke muttered pushing Dean away from him. “Dani, baby…”
“I don’t want to hear it.”
“Dan-Dan…”
“Get out Dean, go back to Auckland and leave me alone.”
“Boys go take a walk and cool off,” Joan said moving towards the room. “Come on Dani, you need to stay off your feet so you can heal.”
Dani let her lead her back to bed and leaned back against the pillows accepting the girls from Joan as they stirred.
“Dani, I’m so sorry my love. I don’t know how you could have kept up the pretense for so long.”
“What pretense?” Dani asked confused.
“Dean and Luke told us everything and no matter what you decide, you will always have a spot in our home. You and the girls are more than welcome to stay anytime.”
Dani glanced down at the girls as the tears blurred her vision.
“You don’t hate me?” she asked with fear.
“Never honey, you are our daughter too and we love you. It’s your decision but please give Luke a chance, talk to him.”
Dani agreed knowing she’d have to talk to him eventually…to hear him say it was over at the least. She just wished it’d never happened.