“Dane,” Lucy said.
He turned to find her standing with her hands locked together in front of her. Her hair was pulled up into a ponytail, and the black dress she wore molded to every curve of her body. He had spent so many hours kissing her body, loving every inch of her. There was a time he’d have had her laughing, and crying out his name right before he took possession of her, claiming her all for himself.
She folded her arms, and he saw the disappointment in her eyes, and that hurt more than anything.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I shouldn’t have done that.”
“You pulled a knife. Not only that, but your disrespect. How could you do that?”
“I wasn’t thinking.”
“For crying out loud, Dane. Our kids were there. Ryan was there.”
“He fucking hates me.”
“And whose fault is that? Mine? I’m not the one that walked away. I’m not the one that decided being a damn grownup was too much for him.”
“You didn’t exactly wait around for me.”
“Oh, you fucking asshole.” Before he knew what had happened, she had reached down and grabbed a stone, launching it at him. “How dare you? I waited years for you, Dane. I stayed up late at night, and got up early in the morning, hoping that you would walk through the damn door. I was scared that you had died. We have kids, Dane. Responsibilities. Bills, debts, you name it, we had it, and you walked away. Ryan, he would come home and look through every single room. He even went to the cops for them to put a search out for you. You didn’t wait for me. You left me.” Tears were shining in her eyes, and he had been the monster to put them there.
“Lucy?”
“No. You don’t get to judge me. You cheated, Dane. Not me. I’ve done everything I can to keep this family together, and you go and try to destroy the one bit of happiness? Why?”
“Because you’re mine.”
“I stopped being yours the moment you touched another woman. Now I’m going to give you a choice right now. I’ve never given you one of these. You either get your head out of your ass and move on, because I am. Or leave and don’t come back.”
“My kids?”
“You left them before. I don’t want them to be without a father. They deserve someone who isn’t going to hurt them, Dane. If all you’re going to do is hurt them, then leave. I didn’t think I could survive without you, but I did. I moved on. You’re still our children’s father, and I could never take that away from them.”
“Even though you’re giving me an ultimatum?”
“For the sake of them, Dane. That’s what I’m doing. Open your damn brain. You would have killed Lewis tonight with all those people watching. They’re my kids, and I want what is best for them. Decide.”
He watched as she turned her back on him and started to walk away.
“I love you, Lucy. I will always love you. I can’t just leave.”
Lucy turned toward him, and sighed. “I don’t. You’re the father of my kids, and I guess there is a part of me that will always love what we had. But I don’t love you anymore, Dane. I can live without you. I have. I’m in love with Lewis.”
With that, she left.
Stumbling back, Dane sat down on the ground.
He didn’t know how much time passed before James was in front of him.
“Make that choice now,” James said.
“You heard everything.”
“You think I’d let Lucy come here alone when you pulled a knife on a man you were disrespecting?” James grabbed him and hauled him up. “You make that choice right now. You get on your bike, give me your fucking cut, and you leave. You do not come back, and you stop being a Dirty Fucker. You cease to exist to this club.”
The very thought made Dane sick to his stomach. Even when he left, he was still a Dirty Fucker.
“Or you stay, and you learn to live with the fact you lost everything for being a selfish bastard. But I swear to you, Dane. You have a repeat of what happened tonight, and I’ve got a special patch just for your sorry ass.”