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“I…I’m sorry Dani, the other night at the charity event I overheard some people talking about you. Calvin and Peter and they were calling Luke abusive, saying you were too scared to leave him. Ididn’ttell them.”
Dani looked away knowing he was telling the truth and hating that it’d happened all at the same time.
“You just couldn’t keep your mouth shut, could you? You had to go on until they figured it out, but they wouldn’t have if you’d done what we do and walk away. Get out Tyler, you’re no longer welcome.”
“Come on Luke, it sucks that the whole city knows your business but it’s not that bad.”
“Not that bad…not that bad! Photographers ambush Dani on the street for some unknown reason and then they ask her…they ask her ifIcaused it. Is that your definition of not that bad?”
“I didn’t know Luke.”
“No because you never think, don’t you get it? You were set up to talk and now not only does Dani have to deal with the entire city knowing, thinking that I had something to do with it, but now we have to face Mom and Dad.”
“Luke, please,” she said trying to take his arm and stop the mess, but he shook her off.
“Who cares if Mom and Dad know? Unless it’s true and you really are the abusive ass the tabloids make you out to be? Is that it? Did you throw her down another flight of stairs and cause it?” Tyler grounded out seeing the way he shook off her hold.
“You…” Luke growled his fists clutching.
“That’s it, isn’t it? The real reason she’s been so depressed, lost so much weight, you didn’t want the baby. You didn’t want anything getting between you and Dani so you made sure it wouldn’t, just like you made sure she wouldn’t leave you.”
Dani didn’t know what happened, one moment she was moving between the two and the next she was seeing stars.
“Dani!” Luke shouted catching her before she hit the ground. He hadn’t seen her, only the rage that his brother had caused, and he knew he had to find a way to get rid of it.
“Jesus Luke,” Tyler yelled at him.
“Dani baby, sweetie, come on look at me,” Luke pleaded as he checked out the spot on her head where his fist had landed. It was already starting to turn red, and he cursed. “Baby come on, look at me.”
Dani groaned as her eyes opened. Her hand went up to her head where it pounded, and she remembered what had happened.
“Dani…baby I’m sorry,” Luke said, and she saw the pain and regret in his eyes.
“It’s okay,” she managed.
“Okay? Is that what you say to him after each time?” Tyler asked glaring at Luke. “He apologizes and you forgive him?”
“Ty, it’s not like that. This was an accident.”
“What about last year when you ‘slipped’ on the stairs? Was that an accident too? How about when Chance was killed, was that also an accident? Who beat you that night Dani?” he asked regretting it when he saw the terrified look that passed through her eyes. “Get away from her Luke.”
“Ty,Lukehas never, and I meanneverlaid a hand on me that way. Iswear. This was an accident and the first,” she answered. Her head began to throb as she stood, and she felt sick. “I just want to go home, please Luke.”
“Absolutely,” he answered lifting her into his arms as she swayed. He carried her out the door and into the car holding her the entire way home then carried her upstairs, laying her down gently in the bed as he helped her undress. He pulled out her favorite pjs and slid them over her head, kissing her temple where he’d hit her.
She winced from the pain at the touch, and he pulled back. “Luke…”
“I get it Dani. Shit, baby, I’m sorry. I would never…”
“I know, believe me, I know Luke. It just hurt; I wasn’t backing away from you. Would you stay with me for a bit?” she asked pushing the covers aside.
Luke crawled in beside her and pulled her lightly into his arms holding her until she fell asleep. He kissed her cheek avoiding her bruised temple and went to call the doctor. He was sure there’d be a new story in the papers about this tomorrow and he knew it would hurt Dani more than him.
The doctor arrived and assessed Dani, assuring him that she’d be fine, a bit sore and a nasty bruise but nothing more than a bad headache, he was sure.
“Luke, you didn’t have to call him.” Dani sighed leaning back into the stack of pillows he’d put there.
“I did, if something happened to you, if I’d caused it, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself.”
