Caught in Us (Lost 3)

James turns to her, frowning. "You knew he was coming here?"

"No, I'm just happy to finally meet him. Hi, Damon. I'm Serena."

I smile at her, nodding curtly.

“Good, you two met. Now get out of my fucking office, Damon.”

"You'd better listen, James,” I say. “It's about Dani's safety."

This stuns him for a few seconds. "That shouldn't be an issue if you stay away from her."

"Not true."

James stares at me, but remains quiet. I take that as an invitation to continue. No reason to soften the blow, so I just say it bluntly. "Gabe seems to be plotting some stupid vendetta. He's pissed at both of us; on me for ratting him out for the drugs, on you for hiring the lawyer."

"Why now?" James asks.

"He's out of jail. I’m back. Dani's back. And he’s targeting her. He told me so."

James swears loudly. "Why?" he asks through gritted teeth, though I'm sure he knows the answer as well as I do.

"Because she’s your sister," I pause, "and because he knows I love her."

He swears again.

"He's keeping a low profile. Gabe's not stupid. I learn from my mistakes, so I won't underestimate him again."

"What's your plan?" James squints, his jaw clenched.

"You have him watched. You have resources to do that, right? My...sources tell me he's into drug dealing for real. Heavy stuff. If we manage to get the police to catch him and lock him up..."

"And your part in the plan would be?"

"The bait."

"No." His tone is so firm Serena flinches next to him. "Let me ask you this: what are your intentions regarding Dani?"

"Um, James...how is that your business?" Serena asks.

"I’m making it my business. She's my sister. The last time he was in her life, he screwed everything up for her then left."

It's my turn to get angry. "Not by my choice. I didn't leave her. I was carted off."

"You stayed away from her after you graduated high school. That was your choice."

"Yeah, after graduation...thought that was for the best."

"What changed?" he inquires.

"When I met Dani, I was at the lowest point in my life. I was dragging her down. It was a series of fucked-up circumstances, but still, I brought them on. When your dad and my dad arranged for me to be shipped away like a piece of pork, I gladly wanted to strangle them both. But then I thought, maybe it's a good thing. Maybe Dani would be better off without me. I hadn't planned a future for myself, or at least not one that would be worthy of Dani. After I finished school, I got into fighting again. I tried to live my life the way I had before I met her. It didn't work out. When I saw her in London, I realized I didn't want to stay away from her anymore. I wanted to change. I applied to Stanford and got in. I know I am not the man you want for your sister, but I want to become that man. I owe it to my mom, to Dani, and to myself."

"That was a swoon-worthy love declaration," Serena announces. "If you haven't told all of this to Dani, I will chase you with a gun."

I grin. "I like you, Serena."

"Serena," James exclaims, throwing his hands up in the air, "you are not helping." Turning his attention back to me, he continues, "Say this business with Gabe doesn't come to a resolution. What then?"

I take a deep breath. "That's not an option."