Forbidden Surrender

Dominic looked ghastly, pacing the waiting-room they had been shown into like a caged lion. There were lines of tension beside his mouth, a greyness beneath his tan, and the last thing he needed to be told right now was that Marie had talked of another man before falling asleep.

The operation seemed to have been going on for hours, and the strain of it all was beginning to tell on their father. He looked haggard, dark shadows beneath his eyes, a weary droop to his shoulders.

‘How the hell much longer are they going to be?’ Dominic muttered, but received no answer as he continued to talk to himself in that low angry tone.

Sara stood up. ‘Would either of you like a cup of coffee?’

Her father gave a wry smile. ‘I think it’s starting to run out of my ears already.’

‘Oh.’ She sat down again.

‘I’ll have one,’ Dominic requested huskily.

She stood up again. ‘Black?’

‘Please,’ he nodded.

He didn’t really want the coffee, he knew it and so did she, but Dominic had sensed her need to do something, to feel useful at a time when they were all powerless to do what they really wanted to do, and that was to save Marie.

She was out in the corridor, putting money into the coffee machine, when Danny walked into the hospital, a plaster across the bridge of his nose.

‘How is she?’ he immediately demanded to know. ‘How’s Marie?’

‘We don’t know yet,’ Sara shrugged. ‘She’s still in theatre.’

He drew a ragged breath. ‘I came as soon as I found out. Do you have any idea how long they’ll be?’

‘None,’ she told him gently, aware that if her father and Dominic looked ill, Danny looked ten times worse.

‘Where’s Dominic?’ he scowled.

‘With my father.’

Danny sighed, gingerly touching his nose. ‘Do you think he would mind if I waited with them?’

‘I’m sure he wouldn’t,’ she assured him warmly. ‘I doubt he even remembers your fight, Danny.’

‘Probably not,’ he acknowledged heavily.

‘Come on!’ She took hold of his arm.

Her father gave Danny an absentminded nod as he recognised him, while Dominic scowled heavily when he saw his brother, evidence that he hadn’t forgotten their last meeting at all.

‘Your coffee.’ She left Danny to cross the room to Dominic, holding out the plastic cup to him.

‘Thanks.’ His expression was brooding as he took it. ‘What’s he doing here?’ His eyes were narrowed on his brother.

She put her hand on his arm. ‘He heard about Marie,’ she explained softly. ‘He’s concerned, Dominic.’

‘Yes,’ he sighed. ‘Yes, I suppose he is.’

‘Go and talk to him,’ she encouraged.

‘Mm, I suppose I should apologise for breaking his nose.’

Her eyes widened. ‘It really is broken?’

Dominic nodded. ‘So my mother informed me. She wasn’t very happy about the situation. Danny and I used to argue when we were younger, but not lately.’

‘It was my fault, I’m sorry,’ Sara sighed. ‘I should have explained what had happened, but I was just so shocked.’

‘Of course you were.’ He squeezed her hand. ‘I just—I jumped to conclusions.’

‘As you have about Eddie too,’ she put in softly.

Dominic frowned, his eyes narrowed as he looked at her searchingly. ‘Is that the truth?’

She met his gaze unflinchingly. ‘Yes.’

‘Thank you for that,’ he again squeezed her hand. ‘I’d better go and reassure Danny that I don’t intend turning violent on him again. He looks as if he could do with some reassuring about something.’

‘It’s Marie. He—Danny—’

‘I know,’ Dominic cut in harshly. ‘I’m well aware of my brother’s feelings towards Marie. He loves her, he’s always loved her.’

Sara’s eyes widened. ‘Knowing that you still asked Marie to marry you, even though you must have realised how hurt your brother would be?’

‘Danny’s feelings were considered—’

‘And discarded,’ she scorned, turning away. ‘As mine were. Go and talk to Danny by all means, although whether or not he wants to speak to you is another matter entirely.’