Greg

 

 

 

Dani has been in surgery for hours. No one has told me anything. Not one person has been in this room to tell me how she's doing.

My dad arrived about a half hour ago. He'd just finished interviewing and charging Maya. I'm not fully sure what with, I wasn't really listening. But I assume it's bad. She'll be going to prison for this for a long time. She shot and could have killed Dani.

God, she could die!

I hope Maya gets fucking years for this!

What's going to happen to Dean?

Yeah, he's got his real father, but can that man really take care of Dean the way he deserves?

It's not my business. I can't go poking my nose where it's not wanted. I don't even know the guy's name, I never wanted to know, but he'll take care of Dean. He'll make sure that little boy is taken care of, happy and safe. I don't know how long he'll be without his mother, but I know he'll be all right.

“Here, I got you some coffee.” I take it from my brother's hand without looking at him.

The room is full of people. I'm not totally sure who all is here. I know Enzo had to go to work, he can't get out of it, so he left. My parents are here, my brother, Callie, and Roya, three out of the four of my brothers-in-law. Freddy is back at the station working.

I scrub the back of my neck with my free hand. I've gone through everything in my head over and over again. Why would Maya have a gun? Why would she think we could get back together after everything?

She was always a little unhinged, always a little hyper, but I never thought for a second Maya could do something like this. I didn't even know she knew where to get a gun from. I sure never had one. What the hell would I need one for?

I can't help thinking that whoever the guy is she left me for has been filling her head with crap. What crap? I have no idea. I don't even want to think about it right now, there are more important things for me to worry about. Dani.

“Greg? Why don't you come with us to the cafeteria? You need to eat something.”

“I'm not hungry, Mom. I don't want to go anywhere until they tell me how Dani is.”

“You're no good to her if you pass out.”

I roll my eyes and get to my feet. I don't want to be angry with anyone, but I'm so worried right now that I can't think straight.

“Fine. We'll grab you something and bring it back.” I simply nod at her without looking at her. As long as I don't have to leave this room, she can do what she wants.

“Mr. Harper?”

“That's me.” I shoot out of my seat the second the doctor opens the door and calls my name.

“Danika's partner?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Well, Danika made it through surgery.” I let go of the breath I was holding inside of me, the pressure in my head eases a little. She made it. “Now, the bullet lodged in Danika's rib cage, breaking two in the process. Her lung collapsed, and she was slowly drowning in her own blood.”

Jesus Christ!

“She lost a lot of blood, but we gave her a transfusion. Everything went well and we're convinced she'll make a full recovery.”

Everyone is talking behind me, happy that Dani is going to be okay, and I close my eyes in relief. She's going to be okay.

“She's going to need some therapy and rehabilitation, her ribs were badly damaged from the impact of the bullet. It's going to take a few weeks for her to be back to full health. She's going to need someone there to take care of her when we release her.”

“When will that be?”

“At least a week, Mr. Harper.”

“I'll be there to take care of her.” I'll move into her damn house if I have to, but I'm not leaving her alone. “When can I see her?”

My brother squeezes my shoulder, letting me know that he's right by my side.

“I'll take you through now. But only you. I'd rather she didn't have many visitors over the next twenty-four hours, she needs her rest.”

I nod.

Turning to my family and friends, I tell them, “Thank you for being here. Thank you all for everything you've done, it means a lot. But I have to go see her, I need to see for myself that she's okay.”

“You're in love, aren't you?”

There has never been a question so easy to answer in my life. “Yes, Mom. I am.”

She smiles happily.

It's only been a couple months I've known Dani, but that girl has changed my life in ways I didn't know were possible. She makes me see the beauty in things, the fun that life can bring, simply by walking through the woods or skimming stones across the lake, swinging from the old tire swing that hangs from the oak tree in Cutters Ridge.

The way she smiles at me, light sparkling in her eyes, love even. She doesn't have to say the words for me to feel them. But I want to tell her now just how I feel about her.

And as I follow the doctor to Dani's room, I know I'm going to tell her. I'm going to tell that beautiful girl just how I feel about her.

“Now, before you go in, I must stress that Dani has to be kept calm. Try not to tire her out, and don't worry if she falls in and out of sleep, it's perfectly normal.”

I nod my head. I understand, I just want to get in there and see her. He opens the door, I walk in. The air leaves my lungs the second I look at her face. She's white as a sheet, machines beeping, wires coming out of her all over the place.

I smack my hand over my mouth to ward of the sob stuck in my throat. Tears clog my eyes. This isn't real. God, how can this have happened to her? It's all my fault. Maya did this to Dani because of me. Dani may have thrown herself in front of me, to protect me, but look where it led her.

I'm no good for her. I know that now. And I love her enough to know it's time to walk away.

Maya may be locked up right now, she may well go to prison, but there could be other things that come along and threaten to destroy what Dani and I have. I may have been back at work just a few weeks, I may have moved home permanently, but it doesn't mean I won't be hired for a big case that could take me away from here for months on end. A case that could see me with death threats as my brother once received, causing him to hide his then six-year-long marriage to Aimee.

I'm not that strong or selfish. I couldn't do that to Dani, I'm man enough to let this beautiful woman move on and have a life away from me.

I know that it's doubtful there will ever be a threat of that magnitude against me or my family. Kory took on the wrong case, the kind of case I never have or will. It doesn't alter the fact I feel like hell because of this.

I should have told her about Maya, I should have told her about Dean. Fuck, I didn't even tell her I'm home now permanently! I wanted to surprise her with dinner and tell her that she had nothing to worry about, she'd be seeing me every damn day because I'd be working at my brother's offices here in town.

But it's all ruined now. I can't risk putting her through more of my shit. I can't risk hurting her any more than she's already been hurt. She'll move on from me, I won't be around and risk her bumping into me. I think that would just hurt both of us. I'll go back to Seattle. She'll get on with her life just the way I want her to. She deserves to be happy, she won't be happy with me. I know that now.

I take her limp hand in mine and bring it to my lips while stroking her hair back from her forehead. “I'm sorry, baby. I'm so sorry.” This time I can't stop the tears. I cry as I sink into the chair below me, Dani's hand against my forehead.

I don't know how long I sit here, but it's getting dark out. It's time I was going. It's time I walked away for good.

I kiss her head and tell her, “You're going to be okay, beautiful. Take care.” I love you. I turn and walk away, not once looking back.