Triple Beat-nook(47)

She wasn’t sure if they would have quit. They’d seen her in danger and gone into warrior-mode. Part of her wondered if they would have been able to stem their anger, to regain control or if the bloodlust would have raged on, but the point was moot when Jett and Blake ran into the room. Blake had his gun drawn and they both looked equally intimidating.

Dani was instantly struck by how much her life had changed. That night so long ago when her father attacked, she’d had to find her own way out and her protector had been an equally terrified, gray-haired neighbor. This time, men who would lay down their lives for her surrounded her.

For the first time since she’d stepped into the apartment, tears fell. How strange was it that she cried now? When she was safe?

Aiden came to her, drawing her up from the couch and into his warm embrace. Like he had after her nightmare, he gently rocked her, stroking her back and telling her everything was okay. Unlike the last time, the tears didn’t turn into sobs. Instead they were quiet creatures that slid slowly down her cheeks as each emotion—fear, love, relief, gratitude—found its way to the forefront.

Blake handcuffed her father and read him his rights, giving her time to pull herself together.

“Dani?” Blake asked after a few minutes. “You okay?”

She nodded.

“Do you need to go to the hospital?”

“No.”

Bryson scowled, his gaze raking her face. She had no idea what he saw there, but she could tell her eye and lip were puffy from her dad’s rough slaps. “Dammit, Dani. I think you should—”

“I’m fine, Bryson. Honest. He only hit me twice. And believe it or not, I’ve had worse.” He didn’t need to know how badly she’d been hurt. There was enough terror in his eyes. All that mattered was that he was here and they were all safe.

Bryson winced as he digested that information, his face hard, his jaw chiseled in stone. If Blake weren’t there, she didn’t doubt for a moment, Bryson would make her father pay for those past abuses. And pay dearly.

“Did you come here on your own?” Jett asked.

Dani tilted her head. “Are you insane? Of course not. He was driving the cab. There’s a gun in the pocket of that jacket,” she said, pointing to the coat.

Blake retrieved the gun. “I’ll be sure to let your parole officer know you’ve violated that condition. Though that’s a drop in the bucket as far as what we’re going to charge you with. Kidnapping, assault, attempted rape.”

Russell didn’t reply. Since the arrival of the other men, he’d gone uncharacteristically quiet. It was then Dani realized her father truly was a bully. Only brave when the cards were stacked in his favor, only a tough guy when he was surrounded by people weaker than he was.

Blake grasped her father’s arm, intent on taking him out. “I’m going to need you to come by the station and make a statement, Dani.”

Dani nodded, her gaze locked on her father’s face. “I should be happy you’re going back to jail.”

Russell scowled at her words, but he remained silent.

“But it occurs to me, I don’t care where you are. You’re nothing to me. In fact, you’re nothing, period.”

“Watch it, girl,” her father said, though his tone had lost some of its menace.

Aiden and Bryson stepped closer, flanking her, but she raised her hand to hold them back.

“You can’t break me, Russell. God knows you’ve tried, but there aren’t enough punches and cruel words in the world to erase the amazing life I’ve led. You can’t take away the support I’ve been given by my foster family and my friends, the kindnesses shown to me from strangers who owed me nothing, yet gave me so damn much. You can’t diminish or ruin the love I’ve known either.” She looked at Bryson and Aiden and smiled. “My life has been one giant blessing despite everything you’ve tried to do. You’re an utter failure. Be sure to think about that while you spend the rest of your life behind bars.”

Russell snapped forward, trying to break Blake’s grip in an attempt to get to her. Blake held tight, then twisted him toward the door, shoving him to the hall as he chuckled. “She summed that up pretty good.”

Jett kissed Dani on the cheek, his smile so big Dani thought it must physically hurt his face. “You are so f*cking cool. Love you, sis. I’m going to help Blake, leave my car here and see if I can’t finagle a ride in the police car. I wanna turn on the lights and blare the siren.”