Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
Grayson double- and triple-checked every nook and cranny of his house, jiggling every window and door handle. That very night, he made an appointment for a locksmith to install a new lock on the doors, ensuring Helena’s safety. There would also be new security cameras and a numeric code to let them in the house.
Once all the questioning was over and done with, Grayson put her into the van and his father drove them home. Ray volunteered to stay behind and pack some of her things. He delivered them a couple hours later with her fuming brother who was ready to kill Daniel with his bare hands. Helena assured her family she was physically fine and let them fuss over her until she became too tired for all the attention.
Grayson promised he would have her call them in the morning once there was word from the police about further action. Helena handed over the recording from her phone, effectively sealing Daniel’s fate.
Her Daddy bathed her with a single-minded organization. Hair, face, body, legs, feet, he attended to her care, never breaking contact as she whimpered any time he did. Otherwise, Helena stayed quiet. Somehow, that was worse than her tears. But she leaned back, shutting her eyes as the events from the day depleted the very last bit of her energy.
“I know you’re tired, babygirl, but we’re going to dry off and get dressed.” He picked up one of her limp hands, noting the pruning.
He helped her up and wrapped her in a towel that was fresh from the dryer, placing her on his lap and rolling them to the bedroom. Helena needed familiarity and comfort, so he had her select a lotion and applied it to her body. Once she was in comfortable clothes, Grayson tucked her into bed.
“I’ll bring you something to make you better, baby.” He moved his joystick, but she took his wrist. She didn’t want to be alone, and Grayson’s heart shattered.
“Thirty seconds, baby. Daddy will be right back. Start counting when I leave.”
When he turned his chair, he heard a faint whisper counting down from thirty. By the time he returned with hot tea, she had gotten to five.
“There you go, baby, sip on this for me.” Helena obliged and wrapped her lips around her favorite mug.
The cup warmed her shaking hands, and she began to relax.
“I should have pulled into a police station, I should have—”
Her face pinched with a pained grimace, and she let her head fall back against the headboard.
“No, baby. You did what anyone would have done. You wanted the safety of home and he invaded that safety. You did absolutely nothing wrong, do you understand?”
Helena nodded, but he felt her doubt. This wasn’t something that could be fixed tonight, tomorrow or even months from now. Everything would be at her pace, and he would do everything in his power to make sure she was safe in her new home.
“It’s just… his wife. His baby. Their lives are being uprooted now. I can’t imagine how she must feel.”
Grayson felt the same. He considered perhaps trying to find the woman, but he left it alone. If Helena chose to reach out to her, it would be a carefully thought-out decision.
“She’ll be all right. Just like we’re going to be all right now that we’re home together and he’s going away. He will never hurt you again.” Grayson laid a hand tentatively on her cheek. To his relief, she leaned into it.
“Never?”
“Never again, babygirl.”
Over Grayson’s dead body would Helena be hurt ever again.