As soon as Luke heard that Rafael was with Hera, he realized he needed to step up his game. With Dave—who was known for his impulsive and aggressive approach—also vying for her attention, and Rafael, who was accustomed to getting what he wanted, Luke knew they would likely act shamelessly the moment they had the chance. His strategy of gradually courting Hera and subtly establishing his presence might not be enough to compete with their more aggressive tactics.
Not to mention Leo—just thinking about how far Leo went during the drugging incident was enough reason for Luke to realize he needed to raise his game. Although Luke was never really the gentlemanly type and had always been more focused on power, influence, and money, Luke now saw those goals as lacking without the presence of a woman who could stand by him through the chaos and bloodshed.
