Captive

Chapter Twenty Five

"So he slept in the spare room all night and he'll be lucky if he ain't there again tonight, damn stupid man," Dani said, folding her arms, her eyes flashing with irritation. Juliet smiled across at her.

"It's ok, really. Mark just says what he thinks in the moment. I don't think he meant any offence with any if it."

"Maybe not but he sure caused some," she replied crossly. Her face fell a little and she gave Juliet a close look, filled with emotion before she reached across and took her hand. "Darlin' I know everything that happened, well at least everything you had told Mark. He was distraught when he told me. Only other time I've ever seen that man cry was when his mom passed. And I know he feels awful for what he said and he damn well should. What you went through... well I don't know how you stay so strong."

"I don't feel strong," Juliet said, bowing her head. Dani gave her a level look.

"A lot of women would have gone under with what you've been through darlin'. Look at you; you're still standin' and you dealt with a lot of it completely alone. I'm not saying that was right either; I wish you'd had someone to tell."

"It wouldn't have changed anything though would it? It would still have happened and then all that would have happened is that other people would have been left hurting as much as I was."

"You were seventeen though. Surely your mom..."

"No," she cut in quickly. "No; Mum never needs to know any of it. It would absolutely devastate her if I told her what I went through. She has Edward on such a pedestal and I hate the idea of her being alone. To be honest it was almost a relief when he came back; she had been so lonely and I felt so guilty."

"Guilty? But why?"

"Because I told him to leave her. That was my fault. I could have just asked him to keep his brother away..."

"Oh darlin'." Dani shook her head and gave her a sad look. "What that man did to you is entirely on him and the fact that his brother tried to force you to keep that a secret... You ask me they both belong in jail or better still they belong up close and personal with your brothers." Juliet gave her a small smile but then shook her head.

"Do you mind if we don't talk about it? I wanted to talk about Dad; not that that is much better."

"I thought you might," Dani said. "Well to be honest I'm with you. Your father needs rehab and I'm more than happy to help you look into it. And Mark and Kane will absolutely be paying their share of that. Me and Tasha will see to that."

"Tasha?" Juliet asked, thinking hard as she tried to remember where she had heard that name before.

"Make up artist at their work," Dani said and Juliet beamed as she recalled Kane talking about her earlier.

"Of course! I thought Kane was a little shifty when he was talking about her earlier. He said he'd be in trouble for Mark's black eye."

"Not if I have anything to do with it," Dani retorted, still not having quite been able to forgive her boyfriend for what he had said the night before. "But anyway, in terms of rehab, there are a couple of decent places in Calgary. I've looked into it before for Mark but he wasn't interested. But now you're here we can tag team him as he would put it. There's the Rose Centre and the Maple Leaf Institute. They both have fantastic reputations and get good results. I can put a call in if you want, get an idea of treatment plans and quotes?"

"Would you?" Juliet heaved a sigh of relief at the offer. "I'll be honest I wouldn't know where to start."

"It's not a problem at all Juliet. I want to help and like I said Mark and Kane will pay their way; it shouldn't be all on you and they can definitely afford to help out. I'll give you a call once I've got the information we need and then I'll talk Mark and Kane into a visit to help you get him there. I reckon he might take some persuading and better we all do that. I'll tell Mark you might forgive him if he agrees to help out with Michael."