Chapter 15
Fifteen
Burke
It’s been a week since finding Bailey and Clara at the forest where her watch was. Curt and I checked the area every day and set up cameras.
The night I drove there, and both were lying in the dirt, was one of the scariest times I’ve had, other than the last two weeks she was missing.
Clara hasn’t told me a lot, and they have had to do a surgery on her from her past. Without medication, her body didn’t work the way it was supposed to, and that line from Ryan haunts me, when he told her she’d never be able to survive anything since she couldn’t even shit by herself.
The damage Andrew caused her so many years ago resulted in scar tissue lining her bowels, and they took it away. With time, she should be as she was. I’ve paid for the best therapists to be with both of the women. It’s the least I could ever do.
Straightening my jacket, I grab the bags I packed from the lists she gave me and park at the hospital. They get to come home today, and I’ve never been happier.
Although we have his name, we do not understand the ties to us or where he is.
George didn’t strike me as an evil man, and I have met a few in my day.
Clara continues to blame herself, and nothing I say can take that away. She thinks she should have known and been able to warn Bailey, but if he’s as good as they say, I don’t think it would have made a difference.
Curt has been working around the clock for me, tracing anything on him, scouring all his resources for some answers. We have been over the decayed barn a few times, but nothing ties him to taking the women or the photos.
Bailey hasn’t expanded a whole lot, and I think there isn’t much to go on. She recognized his outrage, but other than the possibility of abuse, I can’t think of how that’s tied to Clara.
Swallowing all my questions, I walk into the hospital room. Bailey’s bruises have faded a considerable amount, and Clara is almost back to normal.
“Did you walk?”
I smirk at Clara and shake my head. “Sorry, Dragonfly. I had to tie up some loose ends.”
After the first couple days of silence, her witty sarcasm has taken over, and I’ve started therapy myself to understand the situation better and be able to offer whatever she needs. I hand them their respective bags and sit on the edge of her bed.
Clara pulls out the comfy clothes and changes while Bailey hobbles into the bathroom. She has a fracture in her leg and will need to take it easy for a few more weeks. I thought of that while putting the apartment together and hope it meets all her needs.
“Did you find him?” Clara whispers once she’s dressed.
“Not yet, but we will. I’ve increased security at the house and at the diner. I know what you said, and I want to honour you in any way I can, but it’s needed for now.”
“That’s fine. When you find him, can I handle it?” Clara glances at the closed bathroom door and fiddles with the blue hospital blanket.
“All of it?” Raising an eyebrow, I stare at her.
She stares at me. “Most of it?”
Leaning forward, I brush her bottom lip with my thumb and kiss her forehead. “Deal. I need some of my own hits in there. He took my girl, after all.”
Clara blushes and looks at the floor before glancing back at me. “Yeah, something like that.”
“You’re mine and you know it,” I tell her.
She opens her mouth as Bailey steps into the room, and the moment is broken.
“Ready to go?” I ask them and stand up.
It’s been over a month since they left the hospital, and I think Bailey living in the basement has been good for both of them.
She’s able to feel more independent, and Clara has someone to lean on who gets the shit they went through more than I ever could. I’m glad I could provide both of them that, and the friendship they’ve formed is what they need most.
After the office, I stop by Curt’s place to go over the information he had. We’ve been working closely together, and I feel like we’re narrowing in on George.
I haven’t told her, and as much as Curt eggs me about, there’s no way I want to let her down again.
The moon is full tonight as I drive into the laneway, much later than I usually get home. There are a couple cars here already.
Sending Clara messages has left me feeling unease because I’ve gotten nothing back. Backing into the garage, I head inside and loosen my tie.
Clara, Debbie, and two other women I don’t know sit at the kitchen table we never use.
“Dragonfly, how was your day?” I say as I walk past, lowering my head to kiss hers. Setting my briefcase on the living-room floor and laying my jacket over the recliner, I return to the kitchen and sit at the table.
Clara gazes at me. “We have a plan, and I think it’s gonna work. I need this.”
“How can I help?” I undo the buttons on my shirt and roll up the sleeves before pulling the chair in closer.
“Told ya.” Debbie smirks at the other two women, and Clara turns pink.
“I want to start a nonprofit. We’ve talked about it extensively, Bailey and I, and then I brought Debbie into it. She has two friends, Tammy and Amber, who want to help.” Clara fidgets with her sleeve, and her gaze doesn’t leave the table.
“I’m proud of you.” There are so many things she could have done after living the life she has, and following this abduction, I would support anything she had to deal with to cope.
She raises her head slowly before making eye contact, pressing her lips together before giving me a quick smile.
“How do I fit in?”
Debbie laughs, looking around the table before speaking. “We could spend months—fuck, even years—raising money to help women and children leaving abusive situations, and anyone affected by what Clara and Bailey went through. Or–-"
“Or I could be a private investor. Done. I’ll have my lawyer sign up a contract.”
Clara clears her throat.
“We won’t be paying you back,” Amber states.
“I’d sure hope not. I want you guys to be completely covered. If I die, or Clara doesn’t want me anymore, I want it written that you still receive funds.”
“Burke, that isn’t necessary.” Clara leans back in the chair.
Pushing out from the table, I look at them. “Yes, it is. Every survivor deserves a chance. I have the money to help, so why wouldn’t I?”
Nodding, she seems to agree with me.
“Deal. We’ll get out of your hair. Send them to Tammy—she’s our legal service. We have an excellent system in place already. Clara and Bailey are stronger than I could ever imagine.”
Debbie gives me a strong embrace, and the other two ladies stand before pushing in their chairs and heading down the hall with Clara.
Grabbing my briefcase and jacket, I stop off at the office before heading for a quick shower. Once I’ve washed, the glass door opens, and my world is complete when Clara’s arms circle my waist.
We stand under the stream, wrapped up together until the water runs cool. Turning it off, I grab towels and dry us off. “Did you eat?”
“Yeah. Any word?”
“No, it’ll happen.”
We head into the bedroom, and she changes into one of my shirts while I throw on a pair of joggers. Getting into bed, I pull the covers over us and lie with her on my chest.
“I’m proud of you,” I tell her. “I know you’re not used to hearing it, but I am.”
She pulls the comforter up higher. “I want to help them. I was lucky enough this time to have you, but so many have no one, and that’s bullshit.”
“It is, and even though you’ve walked through hell, your heart is still so full.” I stroke her hair and grip her tighter in my arms.
“Burke, thanks for treating me normally while still protecting my softness. I don’t think anyone’s ever been gentle with me, and I don’t know how to repay you.”
I pull away, looking into her eyes as I lean on my elbow. “How would you repay me?”
“I don’t know. I just—”
“Exactly. I’m not asking you to repay me for giving me the ability to trust again, am I?”
She bites her lip, and I lower to kiss her. When she slides her fingers into my hair, I’m a goner until the phone shrilly breaks our moment.
Groaning, I break our kiss and roll over to grab it.
“We got him. Sent the location,” Curt says and hangs up.
“Burke?” she asks from behind me.
“Georgie’s been found. Did you plan that, too?” I roll over to look at her, and her wide grin tells me everything I need to know.