Page 55 of Securing His Obsession

As Damon listed her injuries like he was reciting his weekly grocery list, fragments of what happened to her came together to form a picture.

Ivan taking her.

Ivan drugging her.

Ivan beating her.

As if her body recalled every punch Ivan had meted out, pain shot through her, and she moaned.

“Are you alright? I’ll call the doctor.” Damon reached above her for the call bell, but she managed to lift her arm and stop him, jiggling the IV line a little.

“Not yet. I’m okay. I was just remembering everything.”

Anger lit his eyes for a moment before he blinked it away, as if he didn’t want her to see it. As if worried it may frighten her. It didn’t. No way would Damon hurt her like Ivan had done.

“Where is he?” She didn’t want to say his name. Those four letters didn’t deserve to pass her lips.

“In custody.”

Margot let that sink in. It was what he deserved. He’d done unspeakable things to her, but he also hadn’t been himself. Hadn’t been the person she’d first met when he popped his head over the fence the first day he’d moved in. Nor the man he’d been on the dates they’d gone on.

“He’s not well,” she murmured.

Damon nodded. “Yeah, it came to light that he’d stopped taking his medications for his mental health issues after his mother died. He’s been charged with assault and kidnapping. He’ll be assessed, and a determination will be made as to whether he is capable of standing trial, or otherwise put into a treatment facility.”

“I hope he gets the help he needs.” She shifted and grimaced a little at the discomfort of her injuries and everything that was wrapped around various parts of her body.

Tiredness was swimming through her, but she didn’t want to go back to sleep. She wanted to stay with Damon.

As though he could tell what she was going through, he squeezed her hand. “Sleep. I’ll be here when you wake. I promise.”

Somehow she knew he would keep it, like he would keep all the promises he gave her. “Okay. I love you, Damon.”

“Ahh, Little Pearl, I love you too. So damn much.” Once again, he leaned forward and lightly touched his lips to hers. “Sleep. I’ll watch over you.”

The corners of her mouth twitched into a smile before she succumbed to her exhaustion.

Margot sat in the wheelchair, waiting for Damon to come back from getting the meds the doctor had prescribed for her.

It had been two weeks since the first time she’d woken up in the hospital. Her bruises were fading to an ugly shade of yellow. Her ribs still hurt, and would for a few more weeks, but she was breathing a little easier.

Her movement was going to be restricted for a little longer with one leg and arm in a cast. What she wouldn’t give to be able to stand under a shower and let the water wash all over her, but for the foreseeable future, she’d have her casts wrapped in plastic bags and be sitting instead of standing. Little inconveniences that would pass, because all that mattered was that she was alive.

“Right. I’ve got everything you need.” Damon strode into the room holding up a paper bag.

“Great. Now we can leave.” She been anxious to get out of hospital. Two visits within a year was two visits too many, but at least she was leaving. There were many who came in and didn’t.

Damon squatted down by the wheelchair and brushed her hair off her face. “I know it’s been difficult, but you are amazing, and I love you.”

As promised, he’d watched over her for the majority of her stay. Only leaving when she’d told him to go to the office. Or when Tabitha and the other women came in to visit. Those visits had been full of laughs, and she was grateful for their friendship. They’d already arranged to have a monthly girlie lunch once Margot was mobile again.

“I’m not sure I’m amazing, but I love you too. Thank you for being here for me.” She’d been grateful that he’d somehow arranged with the hospital to stay in her room at night, because when the nightmares had come, he’d been there to soothe her and help her through them. Damon had also gotten Wilt to find Tatum, Ivan’s former girlfriend and discovered she was safe and in a new relationship with a guy who adored her.

Once she was settled, she would seek out therapy to help her process all that had happened to her. Something she should’ve done after Camille had taken her. If she had then, her panic attacks might not have happened, but they had, and somehow, they’d led her to Damon’s arms, and she couldn’t be sorry for that.

Margot had a feeling the panic would never go away, and what she’d gone through with Ivan wouldn’t help, but she wanted to be able to manage it. To have the tools to help her. Damon would also help her and go with her, he’d already said he would after they’d discussed it earlier.

“There’s nowhere I’d rather be than right here with you, Little Pearl.”