Keep Me Safe (Slow Burn 1)

She’d been treated like an animal, barely kept alive with minimal food and water. According to Beau she’d lost a lot of weight and was severely dehydrated. Worse was the fact that Beau had completely broken down on the phone while trying to relay Tori’s condition.

Beau was solid. Of the four Devereaux siblings, he was the hardest nut to crack. Never showing his emotions, his features always set in stone. And he’d broken down in tears while talking to Caleb. It was a testament to just how truly terrible Tori’s condition was.

Quinn, Caleb’s youngest brother, had remained with Tori at all times, riding with her to the hospital, where Beau now awaited Caleb’s arrival.

When Caleb strode into Tori’s hospital room, he was quickly met by Beau and was motioned outside. Caleb shook his head. He was going nowhere until he saw his sister. He had to see Tori with his own eyes, no matter how bad it was. He needed that reassurance, to know she was alive and finally safe from further harm.

Quinn glanced up from his position at Tori’s bedside, anguish in his eyes. Caleb quietly approached, not wanting to disturb Tori’s sleep.

“They gave her something so she would rest,” Quinn said softly. “She was hysterical and who the hell can blame her? God, Caleb. What she went through.”

Quinn choked out the last words and then went silent, his gaze drifting back to their sister, a glossy sheen in his eyes.

Caleb took in Tori’s haggard condition, the deep shadows underneath her eyes, her pallor and the fact that she was far too thin. He sucked in his breath when he saw a handprint on her face to match the one that had appeared on Ramie’s when he’d forced Tori’s scarf into Ramie’s hands. Guilt surged through him all over again.

Tori was here. Hurt, damaged, but here with family and a support network. Ramie was alone in a high country cabin with no one. She’d endured the same treatment as Tori and yet she had no one to help pick up the pieces. It just hardened Caleb’s resolve to return as soon as Tori was taken care of. He couldn’t take back what he’d done, but he could damn well try to make amends. At least make sure she was taken care of and not alone.

“How the hell did you do it?” Beau asked in a quiet voice. “How were you able to pinpoint her location so quickly when we weren’t able to find a trace of her before now?”

“Ramie St. Claire,” Caleb said simply.

Quinn’s surprise was obvious. But then he knew through Caleb that she’d gone off the grid and presumably was refusing to help anyone again. “You got her to help?”

“I didn’t give her a choice,” Caleb returned quietly. “What I did to her. God, I had no idea. I hunted her down and when she refused to help me, I forced Tori’s scarf into her hands and she went straight into the pits of hell.”

Beau’s expression became savage, anger flaring in his eyes. “Why would she tell you no? What the hell is wrong with her that she would refuse to help save someone’s life?”

“Because of what it does to her,” Caleb murmured. “I didn’t know. I had no idea. How could I have? And what’s worse is that I can’t honestly say I wouldn’t have still done the same exact thing I did, but at least now I understand why she said no.”

Quinn cocked his head, confusion in his gaze. “I don’t understand. What does it do to her? I thought she was just able to track victims, locate them by touching an object that belonged to them or that was associated with the crime scene.”

“She tracks them because she becomes part of them,” Caleb said. “I put her there. Just as if she were the victim. Everything that Tori endured? Ramie endured it too. I saw a handprint matching the one on Tori’s cheek appear on Ramie’s cheek. Ramie was raped as surely as Tori was.”

Quinn paled, astonishment and disbelief reflected in his eyes. Beau visibly flinched and the anger that had been present in his eyes just moments before subsided as he stared back at Caleb. Then he closed them, fatigue evident when he next spoke.

“Son of a bitch,” Beau muttered. “That’s a hell of a note.”

“Tell me about it. I feel like a complete bastard for subjecting her to that and even worse of an ass**le for knowing I’d do it again if it meant having Tori safe and out of the hands of a killer.”

“Jesus, what are you going to do? I mean, how is Ramie now?” Quinn asked.

Even more guilt plagued Caleb. He’d been so desperate to get to Tori, to call in her location, that he’d simply done as Ramie had begged. He’d left her alone.

“I don’t know how she is,” Caleb admitted. “I left her. She begged me to. And my focus was entirely on Tori. But once we get Tori home and on her way to healing I’m going back to make things right with Ramie.”

“We all owe her a huge debt,” Beau said, his gaze sweeping over their sleeping sister.

“Yes, one I fully intend to repay,” Caleb vowed. “What did the doctor tell you?” he asked, changing the subject from the uncomfortable topic of Ramie St. Claire. “How long will Tori have to remain in the hospital?”

“A few days at least,” Quinn replied. “She has multiple broken ribs and numerous contusions.” He winced as he said the next. “They need to make sure there’s no permanent internal damage and they want to rehydrate her and make sure she’s ready to be discharged before doing so.”

The three men went utterly silent when a soft moan escaped Tori’s lips. Her forehead furrowed and an expression of pain marred her face. She twisted restlessly and tears slid down her cheeks.