"Isn't that the same thing?"
I don't answer.
"You'd never lay a hand on her. Just like you'd never lay a hand on Jacob. The only way you'd hurt her is the way you're doing it now. By telling her to go away."
I feel him staring at me but keep my eyes on the ceiling. "I don't trust myself. I never will."
"You're not him. I promise you, you're not. I know your dad and I know you, and I'm telling you, you are nothing like him. You look like him but you don't have whatever it is in him that makes him this way. I know you don't believe that but it's true."
"You don't know that."
Danny sits back. "Did your dad love your mom?"
"No."
"Did he love you or Jake?"
"Hell, no. He didn't even want kids. He says my mom tricked him into it."
"So he's not capable of loving someone, not even his own kids. You love Jake like he was your son. You'd do anything for him, even give up your own life."
"Yeah? So?"
"You can't be like your dad if you love Jake that way. And Brook. It's not possible."
I keep quiet, thinking about that, wondering if it's true. Maybe it is, but I'm still not willing to risk it. I'd have to kill myself if I ever lost control and took my anger out on Brook, or Jake. I couldn't live with myself if I ever harmed them.
"Go into counseling," Danny says. "Take anger management classes. Do whatever it takes to convince yourself you're not him. Because you're not."
I hear his phone ding.
"Here." He hands me my phone. "Someone texted you."
"What the hell? Where'd you get this?"
"It was right there." He points to the table by the bed.
"I mean, how'd it get here? I left it at the house."
"I went back there today and got it. It was on the floor in the kitchen."
"How'd the house look?"
He shakes his head. "The place is a fucking mess. He tore the place apart. I didn't go in the bedroom but the living room and kitchen were pretty bad."
"I'll clean it when I get home." I look down at my phone and see a text from Brook.
I love you. Whatever happens with us, I just want you to know that I love you.
"Fuck," I say, feeling wetness in my eyes.
"What? Who's it from?"
I show him my phone.
Danny sits back. "What are you going to do?"
I blow out a breath. "I don't know."
