Keep Me Safe(5)

“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 asshole 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.

Caleb was there in an instant. “Tori, honey, it’s me, Caleb. You’re safe now. Beau and Quinn are here too.”

Slowly, her eyelids fluttered open and then anguish and despair swamped her eyes, turning them to liquid aqua-colored pools. But worse was the shame crowding her eyes. It gutted Caleb that she would be ashamed of what she had no control of.

“Caleb,” she croaked.

He cupped his hand over her forehead and pushed back her hair in a soothing motion. “Yes, honey, it’s me.”

She licked her lips and swallowed, the medication slowing her and making her sluggish.

“How did you find me?” she whispered. “I thought no one would ever find me. That I’d die there. He told me I would die. He was going to kill me. God, if you hadn’t gotten there when you did. He was going to kill me and I prayed that he would.”

Her words ended in a sob and Quinn buried his face in his hands as Caleb hugged Tori gently to him. Beau stood at the end of the bed, his expression murderous, eyes filled with rage.

“I went to someone like you,” Caleb said gently, leaving off the part of Ramie being reluctant—with good reason—to help him. He’d never tell Tori that he’d forced Ramie’s compliance.