Heartless Savage by Ivy Blake

Chapter Twenty Seven

Megan

When my eyes fluttered open the next morning I was momentarily disoriented. Quickly, memories started flooding back. Memories of the masked man, his gun, him holding me down as he was about to assault me. The fact that my stalker was Austin’s stepdad.

I felt like everything that had happened the night before was a dream. My whole body was aching but especially my right arm. I looked down to see that it was in a sling and that I was in a hospital bed.

“Hey,” I looked up to see Austin standing beside me. He looked like he hadn’t slept at all, but he still managed to look as gorgeous as ever.

“Hey,” I said back, my voice croaky and dry. Austin grabbed a glass from the table beside me and held the straw to my mouth.

“How are you feeling?”

“I feel like a sack of shit,” I chuckled, discovering that it also hurt to laugh.

“You look it,” Austin shot back with a smile.

“Fuck you.”

“I’m just kidding, you look beautiful as always.”

We were both silent for a moment as we looked at each other. So many words hung between us, I didn’t even know where to begin. All I knew was that I was so grateful that he was here, so grateful that he had saved my life.

“I’m so sorry Megan,” Austin said gently as he sat on the bed. He took my hand in his.

“I don’t even know where to begin, this is all so fucked up. I’m sorry about the pictures, I should never have blackmailed you in the first place. Even though I didn’t send them, if I hadn’t taken them, Steven would have never been able to send them.”

I nodded my head as I tried to process his words. His beautiful eyes were watery and I could tell that was speaking from his heart. I didn’t even know where to begin, it felt like so much had happened between us that no words could ever truly make up for it. But that didn’t mean I wasn’t going to try.

“I’m sorry too,” I croaked. “I’ m sorry that I didn’t believe you when you said you didn’t send the pictures-”

“It’s okay, there was no way that you would have known that Steven had hacked into my shit!” Austin cut me off.

“You’re right, but I’m still sorry. I wasn’t fair to you with everything going on with your family. I can’t imagine how you’re feeling right now.” Austin’s gaze dropped to my hands and he played with my fingers.

“It’s not been easy but we’re getting there. At least this time, we’re all certain that Steve is going to jail. And for a long time.”

“Good,” I said, shivering as I remembered the way he’d touched me the night before.

“Can I ask you something?” Austin said, his voice hesitant.

“You just did,” I teased until I realised that he actually wanted to be serious. “What is it?”

Austin cleared his throat as he contemplated his words.

“It’s okay if you were, I just want to know,’ he said slowly, his eyes fixed on mine. I sat up in my bed, making sure to be careful with my arm

“What are you talking about?” I asked gently.

“Were you lying when you said you loved me?” Austin’s voice was so quiet, it was barely above a whisper. My breath caught in my throat and my chest suddenly felt really tight.

“Of course I wasn’t!” I said enthusiastically before shrinking back, slightly embarrassed for my eagerness. Austin’s eyes lit up and his face broke into a smile.

“Are you sure?”

“100%,” I said. “There were moments when I wish I didn’t because it hurt so much to think that you would do something so awful to me after everything, but I never stopped loving you,” I breathed, tears pricking at the corner of my eye.

“I never stopped loving you,” said Austin.

He brought his hand to my cheek and his lips to my mouth and we shared a kiss before someone announced their presence in the room by clearing their throat. Austin pulled away and I opened my eyes to see my Mom standing at the foot of my hospital bed.

“Mom!” I said, embarrassed that she’d caught me kissing the guy I’d put on blast only the night before.

“I’m glad to see you’re awake, Meg.”

She turned to Austin. Austin’s face had gone still as stone as he waited to be lambasted by my mom.

“I have a lot of words for you young man, but for the time being I’d like to thank you for saving my daughter.” I watched as he let the tension dissipate from his body, relief washing over his face.

“I’m sorry about everything, I’ll be really happy to explain. I just care about Meg so much, I’ve just been a real prick to her and I’m really sorry,” said Austin sincerely.

“We’ll see,” said my Mom shortly as she lifted the drinking straw to my lips.

“I’ll do whatever it takes to get you both to trust me again.”

“Anything?” I said with a smirk. Austin’s eyes widened as he nodded eagerly.

“You name it Megan, I’ll do it.”

Mom raised her eyebrows but didn’t make a comment, she simply stroked my hair.

“I’m gonna get you to watch all the Twilight movies,” I said smugly, half expecting him to object, given our first encounter.

“Deal!” he said. Austin looked over at the TV hanging opposite my bed. At the same time we both noticed there was a DVD player.

“I’ll be back,” he said, giving my hand one last squeeze. Austin waved goodbye to Mom and me before rushing out the hospital room, presumably on his way to track down some teenage vampire DVDs. Mom chuckled as she sat down beside me.

“That boy really likes you, huh?” she said after a moment. I nodded, feeling slightly embarrassed talking to her about my feelings.

“I like him too,” I said quietly. “I know things have been crazy but-”

“I want what’s best for you, but you’re grown up enough to know what’s right for you,” Mum said, cutting me off. “As long as you’re being safe and you’re sure about this guy, I’ll be here to support you.”

“Thanks Mom,” I said, squeezing her hand.

“I’m just so glad you’re okay and that that man is going to be locked away where he can’t hurt anyone. I’ve also spoken to your school and the cops about the picture fiasco, and they’re going to sort it all out.”

I was so glad. I still couldn’t believe that someone could be so evil. Not only had he abused Austin and his Mom, he’d hacked into Austin’s phone, stalked me and spread pictures of me to the school. Not to mention the fact that he basically kidnapped me and tried to force himself on me in the forest. Steven was a monster and he belonged behind bars.

“Hey, mind if we pop in?” I looked to the door and smiled as I saw Sophie and Lola in their school uniforms with flowers and chocolate.

“Hey guys,” I said.

“I’m so glad you’re alive!” exclaimed Sophie as she threw her arms around me. I leaned into her familiar scent and was glad to still have her as a friend.

“Me too,” I chuckled as she pulled away.

“You’re the talk of the town,” said Lola as she handed me the chocolate bar. My stomach had started growling and I was immediately grateful for the sweet bar of goodness.

“Well Austin is, he’s kind of the hero, as you’d expect.” Lola winked. “I still can’t believe that his stepdad was stalking you!”

“Me neither!” Sophie chimed in, her eyes wide in disbelief.

“It’s crazy,” I said, but I was so glad that I’d made it out of the forest alive, thanks to Austin, and I was now surrounded by the people I loved.

“Where is Austin by the way?” asked Lola.

“I swear I saw him sprinting down the hallway-” Lola’s words were cut off by the door banging open. We all turned around to see Austin standing at the door with his bed hair and running clothes, clutching a teddy bear in one hand and the Twilight Saga boxset in the other, a big grin on his face. Where he’d managed to find the DVDs so quickly, I had no clue. But as I watched Austin walk across the room my heart filled with so much love for him.

“Anyone up for a movie?” We all chuckled as Austin figured out how to work the little television.

“We’re gonna leave you to it,” Mom said with a chuckle before she proceeded to shepherd Lola and Sophie out the door.

“Call us if you need anything,” said Sophie with a wink. I waved them goodbye and as they shut the door behind them, Austin settled into the little bed beside me.

“This better be good,” he said as he wrapped his arm around me.

“Oh it’s brilliant,” I said as the opening scene of Twilight began.