CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
After zipping through several time zones east and now a few more going west, Billie was understandably passed out in her chair, seatbelt buckled. In deference to the delicate situation with Sierra and wanting to make the best time to Wisconsin and then home, Tyler had chartered a jet for their travels and he was glad that he had. After all the crap she’d been through, Sierra shouldn’t have to withstand the stares of onlookers regarding her bruises. It also gave them the privacy they needed. The last thing he wanted was for Sierra to get dragged into his life and end up on the cover of some trash tabloid.
Taking her out of that apartment had truly been sad. She’d come out of the bedroom dressed in a plain white blouse and a pair of what looked like new jeans that didn’t fit her very well, just like the earlier outfit. It was then that it hit him that she was probably wearing donated clothes and he’d practically slapped his forehead in shame. She’d walked out of her old life with only the clothes on her back. Damn, she was brave as hell, just like his Billie. Courage ran in the family. As soon as she was rested and the bruises faded, they’d take her shopping and buy her all new things. He couldn’t fix all the hurt and pain between these sisters but it was a small action he could take that might make her feel better about herself.
With Billie asleep, Tyler slipped out of his seat and went to the back of the airplane where Sierra was sitting and reading a magazine. A cup of coffee sat in front of her barely touched and growing cold.
He sat across from her and waited until she looked up. “Can we talk for a moment?”
Folding the magazine closed, she shrugged. “I suppose so.”
The charm offensive had been at the apartment but now he wanted to be honest. “First of all, I don’t think we’ve actually been introduced. I’m–”
“I know who you are,” Sierra interrupted, her expression solemn, giving nothing away as to her emotions underneath. “You’re the big movie star Tyler Gaylord. You’re marrying my sister. I saw it on television.”
“Yes, I am,” he easily agreed. “That makes us family too. I want to be sure you know that you have more than just Billie to help you, Sierra. You have me and I’ll do anything to make sure that you get a chance at a new life.”
“Thank you,” she said quietly, but nothing else. She wasn’t much of a talker.
“When we get to Los Angeles we’re going to go to my home. You’re welcome to stay as long as you like. Forever, if you want. There’s a guest cottage behind the main house that you could stay in if you like your privacy. Billie used to live there.” Tyler grinned at the memories. “That’s how we met actually. I was her landlord.”
Sierra lips turned up at the corners slightly. Progress. Almost a smile.
“I can help you get a job eventually. I have a lot of contacts and friends. It shouldn’t be too difficult.”
That little smile fell and her features took on a worried, almost scared look. “I need to find work right away. I’m a good waitress and I work hard.”
Taking a chance, Tyler reached out and placed his hand over her much smaller one. It trembled but she didn’t pull it away. A small victory. “I bet you are. Billie’s a hard worker too so I bet it runs in the family. But let’s not worry about that for a few days, okay? You need to get settled and heal a little bit.”
Her fingers flew up to her still discolored cheek. “He was really angry this time. Normally he’d only hit me where the bruises wouldn’t show.”
Tyler was definitely going to kill this guy. Slowly and painfully. The fucker had put that much thought into his beatings.
As sorry as Tyler felt for Sierra – and he did feel sorry for her – he had something he needed to say.
“Sierra, I know that you and Billie have a few issues to work out. And damn, I know you’ve had a rough life. Billie told me about how you two grew up and I’m real sorry all that happened to you. But I need you to understand that I love Billie more than anything in the world and it’s my job to protect her. I understand there are things that I can’t keep from hurting her but there’s one thing I won’t allow you to do. I won’t let you hurt her.”
Tears welled up in Sierra’s eyes and she nodded. “I’m not mad at Billie and I don’t blame her. Not at all. This is my stupid mistake.” She shoulders shook as the sobs came harder. “I’m just so ashamed. Look at what a fucking mess I’ve made of my life.”
He moved to comfort her but suddenly Billie was there, inching him over so she could embrace her sister.
“You don’t have anything to be ashamed of,” Billie said, pulling her bruised sister into a careful hug. “Brian’s the asshole here.”
Sierra shook her head, more tears baptizing her pale cheeks. “I should have left but I just couldn’t. I was afraid. I was afraid of so many things. He convinced me that I was worthless and that I couldn’t stand on my own two feet. Then when you left he said that even my own sister didn’t want me and that he was all I had in the world. If I left him bad things would happen.”
That little son of bitch. He’d done quite the mind fuck on Sierra.
Billie’s nose wrinkled in distaste. “He’s the worthless one, and you did finally leave. You’re going to be fine and we’re going to get you a new life. He can fucking go to hell. You didn’t deserve any of it. No one does.”
Sierra turned to Tyler. “And I won’t hurt her. I promise.”
Whipping her head around, Billie gave him a dirty look. “Just what did you say to my sister?”
Shit, he’d better watch himself. They were going to gang up on him and it was two against one.
“It’s fine,” Sierra assured her sister. “He was being protective, that’s all. He wanted to be sure that I wasn’t going to try and blame you.”
Billie’s lips turned down. “I should have–”
“Gone and built a great life for yourself,” finished Sierra. “Staying wouldn’t have helped me. The social worker and the therapist have helped me understand that I had to help myself. I had to want to get away more than I was afraid to leave. And that last time he beat me it happened. As I lay on the kitchen floor I thought to myself that this was it. I was going to die this time and I realized that I didn’t want to die. I wanted to live and get away from him.”
A few tears slipped down Tyler’s cheeks and he quickly wiped them away. At this rate, they were going to drown over dry land. He didn’t cry much either but if any event warranted a few tears it was this one. His beautiful girl finally had her sister back. She’d never complained but she’d been in a great deal of pain losing Sierra. Now they could heal.
“I’m glad you’re here,” Billie said simply, giving her sister another hug. “We’re a family again. I’ve missed this so much.”
“Hey, I’m part of this family too,” Tyler complained playful, trying to lighten the atmosphere. “When do I get a hug?”
Both women grinned and Billie launched herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and placing a big kiss on his lips. Sierra was much more restrained but at least she was wearing a smile. It was the first one he’d seen.